As a big Sex and the City fan, New York has been on my bucket list for a long time. No other city I had browsed so many travel guides, online reports and illustrated books. The days before our trip I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge the streets of New York several times via Google Street View 😆 I had the feeling that I knew the city before our visit. There was only one thing we had absolutely not expected …
We landed in New York in the late afternoon. The taxi ride to the hotel alone was an experience. We had chosen an accommodation right on Time Square – Hotel Millennium Broadway
From the hotel room we had a good view of Time Square. After a short orientation round, the stomach started growling and we decided on the restaurant chain Bubba Gump. From there you had a great view of Time Square and we could watch the hustle and bustle at dinner.
We were just happy. However, that should change quickly on our first night …
We were sound asleep when suddenly a loud alarm went off in the entire hotel building. It took us a while to understand where we were and what was happening. Shortly afterwards there was an announcement that all hotel guests are not allowed to leave their rooms and that we should wait for further instructions.
I got very queasy. I immediately thought of 9/11 and ran to the window to see if anything was happening at Time Square. Blue-light cars drove by all the time, but this was not unusual in New York. I noticed that Sven (although he tried to hide it) was no longer so relaxed. However, we tried to calm each other down and decided to go back to bed. I have no idea how and when I managed to fall asleep again.
About an hour later another voice rang out that gave us the all-clear and apologized for the inconvenience. The next day we found out that a drunk had set off the fire alarm 😉
We started our tour relatively early with a coffee to go and a muffin. There was a lot on the program. We wanted to go to the World Financial Center / Ground Zero first, from here to walk along the Hudson River to Battery Park and from there to Wall Street.
In 2011, only one construction site could be seen at Ground Zero. We resolved to come back as soon as the One Tower was up.
In New York you have the feeling that something exciting could happen at any time or you could meet someone famous. Everywhere you can find camera teams or a set for some kind of filming.
A short detour to Pier 17 … and on we walked over the Brookly Bridge.
After 15 kilometers of walking we decided to take the subway back. We freshened up at the hotel and were really looking forward to the Circle Line Cruise at sunset.
Our captain was also in a noticeably good mood. He told us that it had only rained for the past few days and that this would be the first clear night. So we were lucky. This sunset cruise was my absolute New York highlight 😊
After a delicious breakfast at Apple Bee’s, we wanted to see the city from above. We opted for the Top of the Rock (observation deck in Rockefeller Center) by day and the Empire State Building by night. In between we strolled up and down the famous 5th Avenue.
It was supposed to be extremely hot on our 3rd day in New York. So we decided to spend the day in Central Park. In the afternoon it became unbearable and we decided (although we are normally not museum lovers) to visit the air-conditioned rooms of the American Museum of Natural History. I have to admit we had a great time and can absolutely recommend this visit.
We ended the evening with a few cocktails in the 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar in Midtown.
Since the dollar exchange rate was very good at the time of our New York trip and we were recommended the Jersey Gardens Outlet, we sat in a bus from Manhattan to New Jersey on our 4th day. The journey took just 30 minutes. It was actually a shopping paradise and the day trip to the outlet had paid off for both of us 😉
Day 5 – our last day had dawned. In the evening our flight went back to Europe. We decided to walk around New York for a while and ran into a couple of guys from the US Navy 😉
We used the last few hours in the Big Apple and took a last ride on the free Staten Island Ferry.
One last final meal in the Hard Rock Cafe and we were already back on the plane to our home country. The past 5 days were exciting, beautiful but also terrifying (alarm in the hotel) – this New York trip has to be repeated 😊
Our personal opinion about New York:
- very exciting and impressive city
- Entertainment 24 hours
- our highlight was the Circle Line Cruise at Sunset
You can get a very good overview of New York on the following pages:
Best travel time:
New York is worth a trip all year round. In our opinion, however, the best travel time for sightseeing is in spring and autumn. The most pleasant temperatures prevail here. Christmas shopping in December and New Year’s Eve at Time Square are also very popular.
Hotel recommendation:
Hotel Millennium Broadway at Time Square
Restaurant recommendations:
- Bubba Gump at Time Square
- Apple Bee’s
- T.G.I. Friday’s
- Ellen’s Sturdust Diner at Broadway – known for the singing waiters
- 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar
- Hard Rock Cafe
- Magnolia Bakery – best Cheesecake ever!!!
More tips & recommendations:
We recommend the Top of the Rock viewing platform at Rockefeller Center during the day, as you have a fantastic view of Central Park from here. You can also admire the Empire State Building in all its glory.
We recommend visiting the visitor platform of the Empire State Building on the 86th floor at sunset. Here, too, there is the greatest rush, but the waiting time is worth it.
The best way to get to the Jersey Gardens Outlet is by bus from the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The journey takes about 30 minutes. At that time, we showed our European passports immediately after arriving at the Infopoint and received further discounts on the already reduced goods. The Woodbury Common Premium Outlet is also said to be very popular.
The Staten Island Ferry is a good low budget travel tip. This commutes between the southern tip of Manhattan and Staten Island. The crossing takes about 20 minutes and you can enjoy a fantastic panorama of the New York skyline.
