I’m starting a new topic to inform you about our trip from which we have just returned.
Thank you all for helping me perfect this stay.
Practical questions above all:
-The MetroCard (in our case 7 days, 37 dollars) can be purchased in metro stations and the “machine” asks us for our Zip Code. Type and stay the same number as we want: 11111, 99999, etc….
-Second point: The Revolut bank card, although very useful for currency exchange, can also cause problems for the MetroCard. So avoid Revolut in this specific case. A bit of nerves with fatigue mean that these little problems can be difficult to deal with.
-JFK taxi to Times Square: I asked two drivers for the price beforehand and took the cheapest, 82 dollars and 10 dollars tip.
-I wouldn’t go back to NY for Christmas again. Unsustainable at the people level. Less beautiful to look at, and the Christmas decorations don’t make up for it. This is our opinion. Much preferable at the end of spring or beginning of autumn, the month of August being also hellish. But this time we had no choice.
-Hotel Résidence Inn by Marriot Time Square/Manhanttan: strategic and therefore super well placed (metro station at the exit, bus and Bryant Park 20 m.), everything else is very mediocre, old hotel, lousy lunch buffet. We therefore paid for the location and at a high price considering the times. I wanted a place near the Chrysler and I got it.
-We also took the NY pass by Go City for 7 days, well paid for!
- And an NBA game on the last day for my son and my husband, expensive but the experience was worth it. As for me, having my Chrysler next to me…
-and also the Summit and which was my favorite of the 5 we did.
-Times Square, as Souris Grise is often said, is there all the time and wherever we go we see it, no need to plan to place it in a schedule because we take it in every way… and at Christmas time I’m not telling you…
Let’s get back to the schedule (retirees, poor health and a 20 year old kid) where we walked between 12 and 18 km per day. Nothing to do with our first stays where we did 25 km per day.
Take advantage of the time difference (that was my basic idea but I had to modify my schedule on many points) to travel to distant destinations and so we started with Battery Park, taking the free return ferry (you have to get off the ferry and take another) and the Statue is still in its place. Great walk back on Rive Hudson to World
Trade Center on foot. We took the metro back to Pier 83 to locate where the boat for Cruises would exit (Circle Line included in Pass) and returned to around 6th/42nd to shop for food at Whole Foods and take a look at Time Square. Crossing TS took us an hour because there was a very, very tight crowd.
Chelsea Highline. Artechhouse Museum included in the pass (meh!) So we went back down a bit to Chelsea Market, did the whole Highline in peace (less pleasant in winter). Little Island, not green at all given the time and frankly I don’t think it’s great but on the other hand very photogenic like almost everything in NY. Hudson Yards with Vessel (pleasantly surprised by this neighborhood which was also super well decorated). Return home with pain au chocolats and hot chocolate at Maman’s (the media here in Spain go hard with Maman but in France given the quality of the bakery and pastry, it’s not worth the detour).
Point G, be ours: Bryant Park, 5th with its crazy lights at Saks Dior, Central Park, Columbus, Times Square far away as if she had the plague poor thing, see my Chrysler and spot the doormen so that they let me to return. Brief stroll throughout this Bermuda triangle and obligatory skating rink for son at Bryant Park. Climb to the Empire State included in the pass (like most buildings, they are pretty from the outside,
Early in the morning, we went to Pier 83 to book the 2-hour Harbor Lights Evening Cruise. Then Intrepid Museum (always interesting for my travel companions).
Climb to the Edge (one more view, nice but once you do a building at dawn or at sunset, this remains impactful the first time but after that it is more to crown the tours and cushions the pass) we we abandoned the idea of doing the Brooklyn Bridge and Dumbo because it was definitely Time Square in length (TikTok, Instagram are wreaking havoc with their trends!) I don’t know how the poor thing hasn’t collapsed these days -this. So no respect for the schedule. Return for nap and evening cruise at 7 p.m. really good with great and surprising views. I recommend this cruise. Views of the bridge from below, sugar factory,…
31/12 and we find ourselves literally stuck in our triangle G. Streets barricaded, because we have to take our seats early in the morning for the famous ball. So we drove around our neighborhood with majestic Grand Central and me my Chrysler and my tears. The guards didn’t know whether to detain me or let me pass. So I had the immense joy of touching, seeing, caressing my pretty Chrysler building while crying with emotion (to each their own, it’s the Chrysler that ecstasies me and the Pyramids of Giza).
We did Rockfeller Center without going to the Top and waited in line at the Lego Store. Coffee break and climb to the Summit at 4:30 p.m. (to be paid separately as there is no agreement at this time with any of the passes). Highly recommendable, great views, very classy and photogenic. This was my favorite “climb”. Returned home with the intention of going out and seeing the fireworks in Central Park but the bed won.
First of the year dedicated only to the Hop on Hop off bus because the planning was made with a view to going to bed late. Included in the pass, we did both routes throughout the day, the downtown route being much better. So we took advantage of this transport to do Chinatown Little Little Italy, Wall Street with the poor hoarded bull, and the Flatiron because I wanted the 230th rooftop for brunch. Decline of this place which now seems quite abandoned and closed that day. We took a taxi to Edge as the stay was starting to cost me.
In the evening we went to Côte Korean Steakhouse, a Michelin star for the quality of its Waguy Kobe meat (the rest being pretty normal.
Downtown we redid WTC which I liked the most, One World and the exterior area of the Memorial. With its two fountains and collection points for so many families. But what I liked the most was Calatrava’s Oculus. A winged skeleton according to the view of this place. Really beautiful work and the neighborhood is finally quite pleasant after so much suffering.
Visit to Madison in the morning as a preview of the evening match, return home with a trip to the Top of the Rock, shopping and other things in the G triangle and here I am all alone in front of my Chrysler struggling with the guards to get them to leave me return once closed. I finally won my case while my son and husband are in Básquet. I treat myself after a great cocktail in a local rooftop, super happy and blissful.
Exhausted, we are rebuilding a great Japanese store next to our hotel. Specializing in manga and other exquisite things from the Japanese country. We spent hours there throughout our stay because it is great. Asking for a taxi price, one tells me 85 and the other 80, we take the one for 80 and 5 dollars tip. Long journey home
Summary: Smacked, but delighted. We could have done more, yes. We did museums years ago. Doing other neighborhoods is sure, but we were also tired and we already knew a lot of things.
As for tips: I operate by feeling and my policy is a little harsh. I believe that it is the employer who should pay his workers better so that they do not depend on tips. I know, it’s cultural but it might be time for a good revolution on this theme. I refuse on principle to enrich the employer. The employees’ salaries are not my problem (it’s up to them to fight to get their boss to pay them more). I know, this opens a debate. So in principle 0 tips but if the server is nice, I am able to give him 30% tips. Irrational, I know. I was a waitress myself and I know tips well. In short, it’s not the topic of conversation anyway.
Thank you to the people who helped me (the jazz could not be done because they were too tired) and I am attaching some great photos to give you a taste of your future trip
2024-01-07 18:40:12
#Return #York
