MY GUIDE TO NEW YORK CITY – Part 1
My very first visit to Manhattan was for my 21st birthday, in 1997. My mum and I went for a girl’s weekend away – obviously there was a fair amount of shopping to be done but more than anything we wanted to explore ‘The City that never sleeps!’
On that trip I fell in love with The Big Apple; I loved the excitement and buzz of it. We went to some fabulous restaurants and cocktail bars, one of which was on the 107th floor of the Twin Towers -Windows of the World. A truly amazing spot where you could watch the sun set behind the Statue of Liberty.
Since that first trip, I have been back to NYC more times than I can count! I’ve been filming for travel shows and to interview movie stars such as Nicole Kidman, Harrison Ford, Meryl Streep, Robert de Niro, Julianne Moore, Ben Affleck, Harry Connick Jnr…the list goes on and on!
I’ve also been back with my mum since and other times with friends, yet no matter how many times I visit the place, I still learn or discover something new.
For years I have been compiling a list of things to do/places to stay/restaurants to try out whilst in town, and I have decided that I should share this list with you!
When friends are heading across the Atlantic, they often call beforehand to ask me to send over my recommendations and all I ask is that they add to it or amend it on their return…and I’d love it if you guys could do the same. After all, the more of us that get involved in creating the perfect guide to NYC, the more perfect our stay there will be!
1. TIPPING
You might not be in the habit of tipping that much in the UK – you probably don’t tip the barman in the pub when you are buying a round after work on a Friday, however, in the States you do just that! Now, it may be a bit frustrating to add a few extra dollars of your hard-earned money onto the bill, but it is expected and should be considered a must. Those involved in the service industry in NYC factor tips into their wages – therefore they are expected and greatly appreciated. To avoid awkwardness in any situation when you head there, here’s my guide on who to tip and how much:
Waiters/Waitresses in restaurants – 15-20% of final bill
Hotel doorman: $1 for hailing a cab
Porters and bellboys: $1-$2 per bag
Maids: $1-$2 per day of your visit, or as much as $5 per day
Waiters: 15-20% of total bill
Bartenders – $1 per drink
Taxi drivers: 15-20% of total fare
Hairdressers, manicurists, beauty therapists: 15-20% of total service cost
Tips for other service personnel, such as theatre ushers, tour guides and coat-check staff are always appreciated.
For my list of suggestions on where to eat and drink, click HERE.
It is worth abiding by these rules, particularly in your hotel or in a bar as you never know when it will have come in handy to befriend them! Even if you don’t feel that the service was that hot, you are still expected to leave a tip.
2. SALES TAX
If you haven’t been to the USA before and you are planning a shopping spree whilst you are there, then you must be aware of the sales tax or you could be in for a nasty shock at the till!
While price tags may say one thing, prices marked typically don’t include tax. New York City sales tax on goods and services is approximately 8.5%. But there are a few exceptions:
No sales tax on food items purchased at grocery stores, or on prescription drugs
A New York State tax of 4.375% is charged on clothing and footwear when the total exceeds $110
3. WHAT TO DO IN THE BIG APPLE
The New York Skyline is recognized the world over and really should be considered an attraction itself. You’ll recognize loads of the skyscrapers – the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the Statue of Liberty, to name just a few. The skyscrapers all date back to different times in NYC history and so the styles of architecture are really diverse. For instance whilst the aforementioned Empire State and Chrysler Building are art-deco, the Rockefeller centre is quite a contrast!
The top of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is a place to grab spectacular views. Obviously you can see each of these buildings from street level, but for the most impressive view, get up high! That way you can take the buildings in collectively.
Places to view the skyline are :
The top of The Empire State Building
86th Floor Observatory: 1,050 feet (320 metres), reached by high speed elevators, has both a glass-enclosed area, which is heated in winter and cooled in summer, and spacious outdoor promenades on all four sides of the building. Binoculars are available and the 86th floor has disabled access.
102nd Floor Observatory: 102nd Floor Observatory tickets are only sold upon arrival at the Empire State Building at a cost of $15.00 in addition to regular admission tickets.
Open daily 365 days a year. 8:00AM to 2:00AM 7 days a week. Last elevators go up at 1:15AM.
The Mandarin Oriental Hotel bar (SW corner of Central Park)
You get a great view of the park – you won’t appreciate just how expansive the place is till you see it from above and this way you get to sip a nice cocktail at the same time. Not necessarily the cheapest view, but if you bag a seat by the window, you’re onto a winner!
The Top of the Rock Observation Deck at the Rockefeller Centre
Of course, if you’re feeling flush, you could go on a helicopter flight over Manhattan – the best views for sure!!!
Get on the Staten Island Ferry
You’ll see the Statue of Liberty and New York Harbour as well as the Manhattan skyline. It’s a means of transportation for commuters but is also an attraction in itself! What’s more – it’s free!!
If you’re in NYC and you have some time to kill, then the one place I would whole-heartedly recommend spending some time is Central Park. A simple walk, picnic, jog, taking photos…it’s a place to experience. It’s a location used in thousands of movies and you’ll undoubtedly recall scenes from many as you wander through. Not only that, it’s free, open to everyone and frequented by all New Yorkers who crave open space.
It spans more than 800 acres (3.24 square kilometres) in the heart of Manhattan, and has rolling fields, walking trails and tranquil waterways. Designed in the mid-19th century by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the park today is the centerpiece of the city’s public parks system. Among its landmarks are Wollman Rink, the Central Park Zoo and the Friedsam Memorial Carousel-great for kids of all ages. In summer, the Great Lawn plays host to free shows courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic. Elsewhere in the park, Rumsey Playfield is the site of SummerStage, a free performing arts festival featuring music, dance, film and more.
I LOVE Central Park and urge you to take a wander there too.
NO trip to NYC is complete without a visit to Times Sq. It’s lit up 24 hours a day with animated screens, oversize billboards and theatre marquees, and is considered by many to be the heart of New York City-and the crossroads of the world. It is a manic spot with yellow taxis constantly beeping their horns, steam coming out of the drains, people everywhere…but its craziness and relentlessness are a sight to behold. Part of the scenery in Times Square is the Naked Cowboy!! He’s not actually naked, but for the last 10 years this cowboy turns up every day to busk to tourists in a pair of y-fronts, cowboy boots and a Stetson. He plays his music and will pose for pictures with you; all you have to do is place a tip in his boots! He has built up quite a reputation over the years, appearing in pop videos and postcards. He is there rain, hail, snow or shine!
Museum Mile
Bordering Manhattan’s Central Park, the stretch of Fifth Avenue from 82nd to 105th Streets- is known as Museum Mile. Anchoring the lower end of the Mile is the world-renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art. Lovers of art and architecture will also want to visit the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, known as much for its distinctive building as for its collection of modern and contemporary art.
NYC Beaches
Just because you’re in Manhattan doesn’t mean that there’s no beach, oh no, NYC has almost 600 miles of coastline, so you don’t need to head far for a cool ocean breeze on a hot day! If you do fancy some beach life, then there are options close by…
Though you can’t swim in the water, there’s plenty to do at Water Taxi Beach. Ample picnic tables fill the man-made waterfront spot, where you can chow down on some of Harry Hawk’s comestibles, including Black Angus hot dogs, soy dogs and French fries, or just sling back a few drinks. They even have volleyball courts! Plus, hitch a ride on the Water Taxi for free on Friday and Saturday nights from East 35th Street in Manhattan.
In just 45 minutes you can be transported from the glitz and glamour of Manhattan to the old-school amusement of Brooklyn’s Coney Island (a bit like Blackpool). It’s home to the Cyclone, a legendary wooden roller coaster, the New York Aquarium, the original Nathan’s Famous, the Brooklyn Cyclones minor league baseball team, the Boardwalk and of course, beautiful Atlantic beaches,.
At 9:30pm every Friday from June 19 to September 4, Coney Island hosts a spectacular fireworks display over New York Harbor.
During the summer from June 25 – August 28, one thing worth doing is this two hour cruise. Now in it’s 14th year, the annual NYC Rockin’ the River Cruise is one of the city’s most unique venues for catching live music. They have acts like Joan Osborne, Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel Tribute bands. It’s not so cheap, but a fun night out!
$37.50-$50 – Pier 83 West 42nd Street, NY 10036
6 Responses to “MY GUIDE TO NEW YORK CITY – Part 1”
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I have been to NY a couple of times and it is my favourite city also.
Super! I’m there for 5 days in Dec, this is v helpful!
The top of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is a place to grab spectacular views. – ITS NOT
Reading your blog on NY brought back all happy memories of when Bob and I went to NY it was our first trip it was a birthdsy present for me such bliss I also fell in love with the city and up the Empire State Building was awesome!!!
Reading your blog on NY brought back all happy memories of when Bob and I went to NY it was our first trip it was a birthdsy present for me such bliss I also fell in love with the city and up the Empire State Building was awesome!!!
+1
Reading your blog on NY brought back all happy memories of when Bob and I went to NY it was our first trip it was a birthdsy present for me such bliss I also fell in love with the city and up the Empire State Building was awesome!!!
+1
+1