Putting on the Ritz in summery New York
Many an artist has sung about New York City, AKA NYC, the "city of dreams" – and it's only when you touch down in the USA's most populous city that you really begin to see what the fuss is all about.
For it is truly a place that is suitable for everyone from music lovers to history buffs, and foodies to fashionistas. And you can do a lot in just a few days, as we recently found out.
We flew out from Dubai courtesy of Lufthansa, stopping at Zurich Airport, Switzerland, before taking our connecting flight to New York. Each flight took around seven hours, so this transit option is recommended for those who do not like very long direct flights.
Once we landed, we had transportation waiting for us, as part of the airline's service – which was just as well, as it is approximately a 45-minute drive from JFK Airport to the city centre, Manhattan. We stayed at the ultra-glam Ritz Carlton Hotel – just opposite Central Park – smack bang in the middle of Manhattan; a few minutes' walk to places such as Times Square, for example.
The key to getting the most out of only three or four days in NYC is to adjust your sleeping pattern on the flight from Dubai to Zurich, and from Zurich to New York. Your chosen airline would be able to advice you on what to do in order to avoid jet lag.
There may be a tonne of things you want to get up while there, but if you didn't manage to look up or book any entertainment online prior to your trip, it may be worth your while visiting NYCgo.com, which is the official tourism office offering visitors a variety of places to go, and things to do, depending on an individual's taste. This office is located a couple of minutes from Times Square, and any taxi would be able to take you there.
If you don't feel like wasting that much time, then head straight to Broadway in Times Square, where there are plenty of providers offering hop-on/hop-off big bus tours, each with different routes. These are a convenient way of getting around and seeing as much of the city in as little time as possible.... Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State Building, world famous Wall Street, Statue of Liberty – the buses take you everywhere, so it really is great value for money.
After you've completed a day of sight-seeing, it's worth asking your hotel's concierge of what other tours/museum deals/special festivals are happening, and pick something you're personally into.
For the next couple of days, we opted for three other daytime adventures. First up, we tried the Harlem Bronx Hip-Hop Tour, where rapper guides take you through NYC's most well-known places associated with the genre, including video locations, birthplaces of certain rappers and sites of historical battles. Thoroughly entertaining and highly recommended if you listen to that type of music.
We also tried the movie and TV – again great if you're into tour shows, such as Friends, as the tour guides take you around NYC's filming locations of shows such as yes, Friends, as well as Seinfeld, Ugly Betty, Gossip Girl, Will & Grace…etc.
However, our absolute highlight in terms of sightseeing was taking a 15-minute helicopter ride over Manhattan. Although it isn't cheap (around $95 per person), it is totally worth booking – if you're not afraid of heights. This will give offer you a bird's eye view of NYC's skyline – iconic skyscrapers, bridges, waterways, islands and monuments.
When the sun sets, there's no need to slow down, as there are plenty of dining or nightlife options to explore.
We had three nights, so split them between catching a show on Broadway, luckily finding spare tickets to Lady Gaga live in Radio City (an amazing gig), and visiting house music institution Pacha, which kicked off at midnight and remained open until 9am. New Yorkers have stamina!
We could go on, but we'd simply run out of space. Even if you're the type who prefers relaxing days in the countryside over a busy vacation in the city that never sleeps, NYC is just one of those places you have to visit at least once in a lifetime, just for the experience of it all. We can't wait to go back.
TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
How we got there:
We flew with Lufthansa (www.lufthansa.com). Return economy fares from Dubai to?New York via Zurich start from Dh6,040 per head.
Where we stayed:
The Ritz-Carlton Central Park (www.ritzcarlton.com), its BLT?Market restaurant (below) is known for its classic American food. Rooms start at Dh2,740.
Don't forget:
Make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months prior to travel, obtain the correct visa, and complete all the appropriate paper work. US passport control has a reputation for being slow and incredibly picky, so the more you have done/less mistakes you have on paper, the least likely you'll be waiting in line for hours.