New York, New York...so good I spent my salary twice. A trip report !
Aug 31st, 2008, 08:42 AM
#22
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Edit : I forgot to say that we spent a couple of hours in MOMA on the Thursday afternoon.
Great tip I got from here : If you have kids you can order tickets from highfive.com, and get a whole family in for 10 dollars. Great tip, and why i love this forum
Anyways...day 8 (the last day)
Up early to tidy the chaos in the kids room. We also leave a considerable tip for the cleaning staff who must have had a nervous breakdown on entering the younger Macs room each morning.
I could imagine them pulling straws to see who had to put on the rubber gloves and move in. God, it makes me shiver at the thought.
We were leaving at 14.30 to JFK, so we spent the morning in two of our favourite areas that we'd visited...West/Greenwich village and then to Brooklyn Heights.
We had breakfast in our favourite cafe in the village, then much to MacEtte's delight we discovered a couple of pet shops with puppies in the window....it may be a...ehmm...'village' thing, and I'm undecided if it's good for the puppies or not, but it took us completely by surprise and delighted MacEtte.
She had her favourite picked out, together with pink carrying bag and European quarantine forms, before I had the time to say 'don't even think about it'.
A packet of jelly Belly beans kept het temporarily quiet, but trust me, she's sitting on the couch just now still moaning about not getting a puppy.
And across to Brooklyn Heights for a walk around the streets, a stroll along the promenade, and a coffee in the Brooklyn Heights cafe on Montague Street.
This turned out to be the boys revenge on the women for A&F, as the waiting staff seemed to consist of Eastern European blonde models.
Give me another coffee please, and take your time.
And then it was goodbye. A cab out to JFK, and easy check in, and a flight with British Airways which left on time.
BA, and it's nothing to do with being patriotic, was much, much better than American.
Very attent stewardesses, although again slightly mature (is it a trans-atlantic thing) and good in-flight entertainment whcih actually worked.
And you didn't have to pay 6 bucks for a tiny bottle of wine.
We connected at Heathrow back to Amsterdam (where we live)...and here I am.
To the poster who asked about jet lag.....yesterday was tiring. You lose 5/6 hours overnight and basically a night's sleep.
I slept for 16 hours last night and feel fine today....if a little dizzy and still missing NYC.
So in summary....NYC was everything...in fact much, much more than we'd hoped for.
It's wonderful. It's frantic. It's stunning, and it's fascinating.
It's safe, and the people are terrific.
In Europe you sometimes think that the small pleasantries of life...the 'please', 'thank you','you're welcome' and 'excuse me'..have disappeared.
Not in New York they haven't.
Yes, it's busy. But people...and I mean everybody we encountered...are unfailingly polite and helpful, despite the fact that their city is overrun with foreigners.
It's a wonderful trait, and something that is often missing in London and Paris.
It's a great holiday for a family with teenagers because nobody is ever, ever bored.
That doesn't mean if you have younger kids you shouldn't go, but you'd have to pace your day differently. However, if you can, do it.
Me personally ? Well, I've fallen in love....I'd go back this afternoon.
What a city...
Great tip I got from here : If you have kids you can order tickets from highfive.com, and get a whole family in for 10 dollars. Great tip, and why i love this forum
Anyways...day 8 (the last day)
Up early to tidy the chaos in the kids room. We also leave a considerable tip for the cleaning staff who must have had a nervous breakdown on entering the younger Macs room each morning.
I could imagine them pulling straws to see who had to put on the rubber gloves and move in. God, it makes me shiver at the thought.
We were leaving at 14.30 to JFK, so we spent the morning in two of our favourite areas that we'd visited...West/Greenwich village and then to Brooklyn Heights.
We had breakfast in our favourite cafe in the village, then much to MacEtte's delight we discovered a couple of pet shops with puppies in the window....it may be a...ehmm...'village' thing, and I'm undecided if it's good for the puppies or not, but it took us completely by surprise and delighted MacEtte.
She had her favourite picked out, together with pink carrying bag and European quarantine forms, before I had the time to say 'don't even think about it'.
A packet of jelly Belly beans kept het temporarily quiet, but trust me, she's sitting on the couch just now still moaning about not getting a puppy.
And across to Brooklyn Heights for a walk around the streets, a stroll along the promenade, and a coffee in the Brooklyn Heights cafe on Montague Street.
This turned out to be the boys revenge on the women for A&F, as the waiting staff seemed to consist of Eastern European blonde models.
Give me another coffee please, and take your time.
And then it was goodbye. A cab out to JFK, and easy check in, and a flight with British Airways which left on time.
BA, and it's nothing to do with being patriotic, was much, much better than American.
Very attent stewardesses, although again slightly mature (is it a trans-atlantic thing) and good in-flight entertainment whcih actually worked.
And you didn't have to pay 6 bucks for a tiny bottle of wine.
We connected at Heathrow back to Amsterdam (where we live)...and here I am.
To the poster who asked about jet lag.....yesterday was tiring. You lose 5/6 hours overnight and basically a night's sleep.
I slept for 16 hours last night and feel fine today....if a little dizzy and still missing NYC.
So in summary....NYC was everything...in fact much, much more than we'd hoped for.
It's wonderful. It's frantic. It's stunning, and it's fascinating.
It's safe, and the people are terrific.
In Europe you sometimes think that the small pleasantries of life...the 'please', 'thank you','you're welcome' and 'excuse me'..have disappeared.
Not in New York they haven't.
Yes, it's busy. But people...and I mean everybody we encountered...are unfailingly polite and helpful, despite the fact that their city is overrun with foreigners.
It's a wonderful trait, and something that is often missing in London and Paris.
It's a great holiday for a family with teenagers because nobody is ever, ever bored.
That doesn't mean if you have younger kids you shouldn't go, but you'd have to pace your day differently. However, if you can, do it.
Me personally ? Well, I've fallen in love....I'd go back this afternoon.
What a city...
Aug 31st, 2008, 08:46 AM
#23
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Mac: Loving this refreshing report on NYC - I live 1.5 hours from the city, try to get DH to go in for a weekend now and then, and you've given me some good "ammo" (Tenement Museum, Top of the Rock, Dumbo) of places we've NEVER been. Come back again!
Aug 31st, 2008, 08:55 AM
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Yes - transatlantic FAs are always the most senior - since those are the plum jobs - and with seniority they get the choice of flights. The most junior FAs are the ones that get all the short hops to cities no one wants to visit.
(And since the laws were changed - so airlines can no longer "encourage" more mature FAs to "retire" you will always see the seniors there.)
But - with American the attitude is not due to seniority - this is just something that AA inspires in most of their employees. I'm a super premium member of a bunch of airlines - and AA has the only FAs and even club agents - that are routinely rude - not just to me, but to many people.
(And since the laws were changed - so airlines can no longer "encourage" more mature FAs to "retire" you will always see the seniors there.)
But - with American the attitude is not due to seniority - this is just something that AA inspires in most of their employees. I'm a super premium member of a bunch of airlines - and AA has the only FAs and even club agents - that are routinely rude - not just to me, but to many people.
Aug 31st, 2008, 10:01 AM
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MacSporran:
We visit often to see our son and his family who make their home in the city. We have always encountered friendly, helpful, considerate people as we have roamed about.
Because the hotel maids change I would recommend tipping on a daily basis rather than at the end of your holiday.
Loved your report and I hope you get to return to NYC very soon.
Sandy
We visit often to see our son and his family who make their home in the city. We have always encountered friendly, helpful, considerate people as we have roamed about.
Because the hotel maids change I would recommend tipping on a daily basis rather than at the end of your holiday.
Loved your report and I hope you get to return to NYC very soon.
Sandy
Aug 31st, 2008, 10:55 AM
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Thank you for your wonderful report. It made me a little teary eyed because I so appreciated the fact that you ran into so many helpful NYers. Yes, we can be tough but I'm a proud NYer and love to hear that others love our city as much as I do.
Aug 31st, 2008, 12:00 PM
#29
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Thanks everybody for the lovely comments..
To HPYFT...one small anecdote which just came into my head.
We were taking the M50 bus from Pier 83 across town.
At one stop this guy came on who under normal circumstances you may call 'looking threatening' (sorry for using generalisations, but you know what I mean).
Next stop, a little girl came on with her grandmother. as soon as the doors closed and the bus pulled away, the little girl realised she'd left her cuddly toy back at the bus stop.
The previously threatening looking guy asked the driver to stop and open the doors.
He then back along the street and found the toy, bringing it back into the bus with a 'there you go little lady'.
Smiles all round...top class.
I know it sounds a bit cheesy, but it's true that we did meet unfailing helpfulness from any New Yorker we encountered...and considering that they must need the patience of a saint to deal with so many idiot foreigners, this is no mean feat.
You genuinely feel that people are happy that you chose to visit NYC, and that's something that can often be missing in London or Paris...
To HPYFT...one small anecdote which just came into my head.
We were taking the M50 bus from Pier 83 across town.
At one stop this guy came on who under normal circumstances you may call 'looking threatening' (sorry for using generalisations, but you know what I mean).
Next stop, a little girl came on with her grandmother. as soon as the doors closed and the bus pulled away, the little girl realised she'd left her cuddly toy back at the bus stop.
The previously threatening looking guy asked the driver to stop and open the doors.
He then back along the street and found the toy, bringing it back into the bus with a 'there you go little lady'.
Smiles all round...top class.
I know it sounds a bit cheesy, but it's true that we did meet unfailing helpfulness from any New Yorker we encountered...and considering that they must need the patience of a saint to deal with so many idiot foreigners, this is no mean feat.
You genuinely feel that people are happy that you chose to visit NYC, and that's something that can often be missing in London or Paris...
Aug 31st, 2008, 01:47 PM
#30
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This is one of the best trip reports I've read! Thanks so much for posting it; now I really want to go to New York.
After reading about your Abercrombie and Fitch experience, I thought you might enjoy this:
http://improveverywhere.com/2007/10/17/no-shirts/
Lee Ann
After reading about your Abercrombie and Fitch experience, I thought you might enjoy this:
http://improveverywhere.com/2007/10/17/no-shirts/
Lee Ann
Aug 31st, 2008, 02:54 PM
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Your trip report is FANTASTIC! I started reading it this morning and didn't want to leave for work because you weren't done. But, I dragged myself into work and waited patiently until I could go home and finish reading your tale.
We were in NYC in May and absolutely loved it. Your report is being saved for our next trip. Love that you wrote about Brooklyn Heights. I wouldn't have thought to go there, but next time.....
We were in NYC in May and absolutely loved it. Your report is being saved for our next trip. Love that you wrote about Brooklyn Heights. I wouldn't have thought to go there, but next time.....
Aug 31st, 2008, 03:05 PM
#32
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Great report, MacSporran!
Of course, even your description of a misconnect at CDG was a highly entertaining read, so I'm not surprised:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=34949524
Today's blossoming NYC is actually even more amazing for people who have saw the city in the 70s and 80s, when it was literally falling apart, both physically and socially.
Andre
Of course, even your description of a misconnect at CDG was a highly entertaining read, so I'm not surprised:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=34949524
Today's blossoming NYC is actually even more amazing for people who have saw the city in the 70s and 80s, when it was literally falling apart, both physically and socially.
Andre
Aug 31st, 2008, 04:15 PM
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Best report I have read in a long time! Very entertaining. Sometimes my eyes glaze over reading some (even my own), but yours was wonderful.I love NY too. We used to live in nearby Bergen County NJ and would go to the city often. But I think it has become even better than in the early 90s. You sound like a fabulous Dad...lucky little Macs .
.
Aug 31st, 2008, 06:41 PM
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Thanks for a great trip report, Mac. Kudos for your excellent planning and for squeezing in so much of the city in a week. As a NYer, it's great to hear of visitors who are eager to see some of NY behind Broadway and Times Square. You hit some of my local favorites: The Mets, Dumbo, Brooklyn Heights, Madison Square Park. You have great taste and we look forward to having you again!
Aug 31st, 2008, 08:02 PM
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Loved your trip report. I'm feeling the need to make another trip!
I started to write a long message about my first visit to NY and how incredibly friendly and helpful everyone was, but thought that might bore everyone...instead I'll just say that I, too, have had great experiences in NY.
I'm so glad you and your family had such a great trip.
I started to write a long message about my first visit to NY and how incredibly friendly and helpful everyone was, but thought that might bore everyone...instead I'll just say that I, too, have had great experiences in NY.
I'm so glad you and your family had such a great trip.
Sep 1st, 2008, 01:26 AM
#38
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Thanks guys for all the comments...much appreciated.
Lee Ann...what a brilliant link !
I hooted with laughter at it, because I had much the same idea myself in the store...you know when you get one of these sudden urges just to rip your clothes off in the busiest shopping street in the world ?
Sure you do. Well A&F just does that to you..
I'm devastated I missed the whole 'no shirts' thing..haha.
Lee Ann...what a brilliant link !
I hooted with laughter at it, because I had much the same idea myself in the store...you know when you get one of these sudden urges just to rip your clothes off in the busiest shopping street in the world ?
Sure you do. Well A&F just does that to you..
I'm devastated I missed the whole 'no shirts' thing..haha.
Sep 1st, 2008, 09:31 AM
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Loved the journal. As a New Yorker, I am so glad you visited the "hippest" borough in NY. Yes Brooklyn is ignored by so many people, and sadly that is because they think NY is just midtown Manhattan. The food, the people and the sights are abundant and plentiful in Kings Borough. If anyone reading this is planning a NYC visit, drop me a line and I will tell you about some must see or must eat locales. Good job Mac!
Andy
TravelByAndy.com
Andy
TravelByAndy.com
