Trip Report October 2006-Long

Hi Guys, here’s my Trip Report

Had planned this trip for most of the year, it was a 26th birthday surprise for my girlfriend

Told her a week before we went, she was surprised!!!!!

Flew from London Heathrow 8.30am 2nd October, no problems good flight, In-flight movies included The Break Up %26amp; Cars, which helped the 7 hours go quicker. The American Airlines flight was half empty

No problems at JFK and we where in a Cab within 20 minutes. I had prebooked and paid for super shuttle but after some really bad reviews on TA didn’t bother.

Stayed at Affinia Manhattan, great location, lovely big room and massive bed-it was like sleeping on my own! We’d asked for a room as high as possible, we got one on the 25th floor with great views, could see ESB and Chrysler Building.

Didn’t really have anything planned for Monday, so we dumped our bags and went for a walk to Time Square. We’ll in New York! Loved Time Square, even if there’s not a great deal to do there. We went in the Hershey’s as my Girlfriend loves the peanut butter cups and I’ve always got a sweet tooth, thought I’d pick some up for the folks back home as well, $55 later we headed to the Virgin Meagastore, picked up some great priced DVD’s (as I usually import them for U.S) then headed back to the hotel. We went to the nearby Deli for food then an early night. So exhausted.

Tuesday

Up at 7a.m, got the subway to Fulton Street near WTC site, went straight to Century 21, we where early so not many people in there, didn’t get much (more on that later) but did get a nice pair of diesel trainers (Sneakers!) my girlfriend had seen a pair of Marc Jacobs shoes but didn’t get them.

Went across to a little breakfast bar and had pancakes, not bad but not great and a bit touristy-$20 for 2 lots of pancakes and coffee. Then went across to the WTC site, very moving. Walked around the outside and then into the World financial centre, looked in Banana republic-not as great as ‘Will %26amp; Grace’ say! Walked from there along the river to WTC Sphere, then though Battery Park to the Staten Island Ferry, just missed one so we had a 30 minute wait, there’ nothing in London that’s as good as the SIF for free with a very clean waiting area. The Ferry was excellent, got some great photos.

From there we went along Wall Street and stopped at Bobby Van’s Steak House, very nice, a little dear for lunch tho. Then walked around for a bit, near the court house and ended up in Daffy’s, no where near as good as C21.

That night we thought we’d give Empire State Building ago, had read some poor reviews on TA so it wasn’t planned, but hey it’s the Empire State Building! We got there thinking it’ll be ages to get to the top, but the was only a couple of people in front and took about 20 minutes to get outside, what a view, well worth going, seeing the city at night. We were told it was the clearest night for 3 weeks. We spend around 2 hours up there.

Wednesday-Girlfriend’s Birthday

Up at around 8 and got a cab to Grand Central Terminal, after a little look around we went to Juniors for breakfast and got some cheesecake to takeaway.

Got a cab to Central Park, weather was great, had the cheesecake, gotta say it’s the best I’ll ever had, it’ll be worth a trip to NY just for that!.

Went to the Zoo, bit small but was only $8 each so cant moan and the sea lions where superb.

Walked though the park to the upper west side and down to Columbus Circle and into Time Warner Center. Got a cab back to Grand Central Terminal and went to the Oyster Bar for food, best meal so far.

That night went to Roseland Ballroom to see Massive Attack, who where not on form and was a poor gig, 1st time i%26#39;ve never stayed til the end at a gig.

Thursday

Shopping day! But first Top of The Rock, which I’d pre-paid on line for 8.30am, cant recommend this place enough, so much better than ESB (Which is good anyway) even the lift to the top is a ride in its self (wont say anymore), everyone was so friendly and helpful, got some amazing photo’s has it was a clear day must have been there for 2 hours, really loved it. Went downstairs for breakfast and then the nearby FDNY store for a T-shirt for a friend back home.

Got a little lost as we went the wrong way towards Bloomingdales and ended up at the Flatiron Building, took a few photo and then went back to the hotel to start again! My poor feet where killing me.

We went to all the main shops, Macy’s, Bloomingdales, H%26amp;M, Gap, Sak’s, FAO Schwarz (just to see the piano) Abercrombie %26amp; Fitch (could have bought most of the men’s clothes) Spend far to much in Diesel, where I saw my C21 trainers but $50 more, couldn’t believe C21 had currant season stuff, We went into Barneys and my girlfriend saw the Marc Jacobs shoes she’d seen in C21, but $320 more!!!! At this point I knew that we’d be going back to C21. It seemed that in most shops what I’d pay in London in pounds was the same in NY but dollars, so nearly half as cheap. Didn’t get back to the hotel until 8.30pm, we’d been walking around all day, my poor feet.

Friday

Last day, up at 7am and yes we got the subway to C21, were we spend out, my girlfriend got 2 pairs of shoes and a bag and I got a coat and another two pairs of trainers, as we went to leave it started to rain, so we went back and got a plain black Moschino umbrella for $22.We’d been so lucky with the weather, this was the first time it was raining and it was only for an hour or so.

Got the subway back to Penn station and grabbed some breakfast. Went to the hotel and packed, we’d asked to checkout later instead of 12noon and where told we could checkout at 2pm with no extra charge. After we packed we went back to Time Square for one last look around, went into a local drug store and got the new Gillette Fusion Razor for $12(its £10 in London) and a few snacks for the flight. Got a cab to JFK.

Not impressed with JFK airport at all, when we checked in we wasn’t asked any questions “did you pack your own bag”etc…, and now of the staff seemed to care, my suitcase was over weight 57kgs! I was told “its over weight-never mind” and off it went, thought I’d have to pay extra. We just had to sit around waiting for our flight very small duty free and bar, nothing worth looking at. Got on the plane on time but sat on the tarmac and taxied slowly to the runway for 2 hours 30 minutes! But the flight only took 5h 40m, so we where only 30 minutes late.

That’s it, can’t wait to go back, maybe end of next year or 2008.

Favorite Bit: All of it! Also Every things cheaper than England.

Worst Bit: Massive Attack Gig.

Thanks to everyone on here for tips and help.

Trip Report October 2006-Long

My feet are hurting reading your report, you walked your legs off. Also, it was no surprise your bags were overweight with all that shopping! Aint New York great? Any chance of seeing the pictures?

Trip Report October 2006-Long

Sounds great, glad you had fun, and that you want to come back.

Wow, is your grilfriend lucky! What a great BF you are!

Congrats on a great visit, and thanks for all your insights. Nice comparisons and useful info. Come back soon!

On behalf of the US economy - thanks!

Isn%26#39;t the Oyster Bar great?

Thanks for sharing.

Wow what a trip! My trip booked for March 07 is for my boyfriends birthday too, what lucky other halves we have!

Sounds like such a good trip. Im definetley going to use some of as inspiration for my trip. Im excited to go to C21, what kind (as in designer) of bag and shoes did your gf get? And the prices? Im a bag and shoe nutt! Last time I went to New York, I found the same as you, that the prices in dollars were the same as what they were in GBP, so you do get everything pretty much half price.

Can I just ask, who did you book your holiday with?

Oh and I agree with the JFK airport, I was suprised at how little and how different to Heathrow it is. I expected a lot more security and shops etc.

Great trip report. What a lucky girlfriend. You certainly saw and shopped a lot. I can%26#39;t believe that you didn%26#39;t have to pay for the overweight bag though. Thanks for sharing.

Amazing how many people finish their reports with hints of a return journey!

Helen in Aus

240

Hi Odlie

C21 had most makes for shoes and bags D%26amp;G, Gucci, Chloe, Stella McCartney. I%26#39;m a fan of converse trainers, on the tuesday there wasnt many there, but when i went back on the friday they had new stock in with loads of differant styles.

Booked my trip though Expedia.

Hope this helps