Thought I'd asked this before but cannot find thread so I'll try again.
Kids grown up and doing their own thing with other halves for Christmas. Mrs B has no appetite for a (third) Christmas in caravan - last year was a bit of a 'mare as I ricked my back pegging awning out.
Is visiting The Big Apple over Xmas (21 or 22 Dec to 26 or 27) a reasonable shout? Got quotes for flights and a suites type hotel on Times Square all affordable. Never been before so no knowledge of place at all.
Or am I mad and should I be going somewhere warm?
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We've never been before either! - but my brother and his wife went for exactly the same dates last year, and apparently thought it was fantastic! they are currently saving up to go again, I think that is a good as it gets recommendation. Apparently the xmas dec's are worth seeing alone!
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We went to NY a couple of years ago. Not xmas but in the winter, it was good ticked plenty of boxes and was busy everyday. However we both agreed, wouldn't bother going back. Been there done that.
Although i know some couples that go nearly every xmas and have been about 20 times.
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>> Or am I mad and should I be going somewhere warm?
No, absolutely the right place to go, at the right time, and the right period in your life.
Goferit
(The keyword is layers, lots of layers clothing wise)
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Absolutely go for it.
It will be cold, you should research the available activities, and your starting position needs to be that Christmas in a hotel in a city appeals.
It will be exciting, new, with loads of things to see and do. You'll find it amazing seeing so many sights that seem so familiar but that you've never seen in real life before.
How will you ever know what you think of Christmas in New York unless you go and find out?
There is no way on earth you will regret the trip. You may or may not want to repeat it, but I'd pretty much guarantee you'll love the experience.
Just check that your hotel is somewhere you will be comfortable spending time, and consider which facilities it does or does not have to make sure your head is in the right place.
About the only other thing is that you should think about the duration. You might want to factor in New Years Eve.
Otherwise, JFDI
Last edited by: VxFan on Wed 29 Jan 20 at 10:38
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Get it booked ! You never know what’s around the corner so do it whilst you can. I’m not a city type of person, could never live in one, but enjoy spending a few nights in them. NY isn’t in my top 5 of cities still to be visited, but I’ve been to SF many times whilst staying with friends who live a few hours away, and being big Giants fans we always watch a game or two when in the area.
At the moment my top 5 cities still to visit are San Diego, San Antonio, Bilbao, Stockholm and Salzburg.
And I never want to visit my city of birth, Bradford, ever again.
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Got me thinking as to my five favourite European Cities.
Paris,
Lisbon
Valletta
Budapest
Llubliana
Worlwide
Vancouver
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>> Got me thinking as to my five favourite European Cities.
London
Berlin
Barcelona
Amsterdam
Rome (or Naples cant make up my mind)
>> Worlwide
San Francisco.
Not done but want to - Istanbul.
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Rome would have been on my list had I not revisited it last year. Seems a lot more tatty and dirty than I remembered it from ten years back. Seems to have lost a lot of it's charm.
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>> At the moment my top 5 cities still to visit are San Diego, San Antonio,
>> Bilbao, Stockholm and Salzburg.
San Antonio is certainly worth the effort. Spent a week or so there in April last year while Mrs B was at a conference.
>> And I never want to visit my city of birth, Bradford, ever again.
If I were free to do so I'd move back to the West Riding in a heartbeat. For all the dodgy postcodes it still has some decent suburbs.
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Ha. Very disingenuous Bromp. The old West Riding is a very different kettle of fish to West Yorkshire.
I have a BD postcode, yet live within the YDNP in North Yorkshire !
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Hmm?
I've been to NY twice.
First a couple of weeks before Xmas. It snowed heavily overnight the first night. They can deal with it but it was so cold.
The Xmas decorations and displays are something else and well worth seeing. You can get into the Xmas spirit. BUT it is somewhat manic with rampant consumerism on the run up in evidence.
The second time was early November when Mrs H was doing the NY marathon. Weather was still good.
It's a long way. I would have some doubts as to whether I would want to be there over Christmas Day though. Albeit it is the city that never sleeps I would be thinking that the 25th might be different. But that would depend how your hotel can cater for you on the day.
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I guess it depends what you enjoy. Shopping isn't high on our list when on hols, but many go to NY just for that. (Mind you, it's not as though its cheap any more either!)
We went through a number of years of visiting different Christmas markets around Europe, I suppose before they became quite so !"fashionable" and certainly before they started appearing over here. I guess they will now be more commercialised but particularly the ones in Munich and Valkenburg would take some beating for Christmas atmosphere. But a day at each would be about my limit... though there is plenty else to see in Europe!!
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We only ever attended one European Christmas market, at La Defense, Paris. It was very ordered and had nearly no seasonal cheer. We spent one Christmas in Bruges but the only public activity seemed to be one or two spots with a brazier and with mulled wine on sale. This was absolutely foul and a consumption crime, when there is so much lovely beer to be had there.
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We went for it.
Arrived yesterday after excellent flight on United 767, 2+4+2 seating so no compromise between my preference for window and hers for aisle. Interesting landing Runway 22L at Newark in low visibility; probably CAT II/III stuff which I've never experienced before, followed by very heavy braking. Latter I think to make a turn off and avoid taxying complications. Judging by announcements for those connecting on they'd been on lowviz all day.
Hotel on W39th exactly what we expected. Room on 30th floor with views of Empire State and Hudson River. Mini suite so we've got fridge, hob and microwave.
Knackered last night but managed to wander down to a restaurant on 42nd Street and get a decent steak. Woken around 7am by the dawn chorus of hooting and tooting in street below.
Today, after a night's kip, we've been getting our bearings in the area. Walked up Broadway to Central Park. Got ripped off for $20 by a set of shysters 'promoting their band' in Times Square; lesson learned. Weather OK broken cloud but windchill from a biting breeze. Back at hotel now to eat lunch and warm up; need to get a buff or something to seal neck of my coat. Weather tommorow looks good - sunny but cold.
Can only look at Statue of Liberty. Latest storm of toys from Trump's pram about funding the wall the Mexicans were supposed to pay for mean it's that like other National Park faciities and closed due failure to agree appropriations.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Sat 22 Dec 18 at 20:03
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Excellent, good for you. I hope you have a great time.
If Jazz is your thing, try Smalls in West Village.
p.s. go early.
Last edited by: No FM2R on Sat 22 Dec 18 at 20:07
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So much to do. But I would recommend Ground Zero Memorial and Grand Central Station amongst many other activities.
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I'd add in the USS intrepid* and one of the boat tours. Its nice looking at the skyline from a different angle.
Not quite sure that the OH enjoyed it but I did plus I got in for free which is always nice :)
Last edited by: sooty123 on Sun 23 Dec 18 at 07:38
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Isn't there a Fleet Air Arm Phantom there..
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>> Isn't there a Fleet Air Arm Phantom there..
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I can't remember what paint scheme it's in. Might well have been in faa paint scheme.
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>> I'd add in the USS intrepid* and one of the boat tours. Its nice looking
>> at the skyline from a different angle.
Thanks Sooty. Saw that in the guide book. Given the connection with space missions I might even get Mrs B to go.
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We regularly visit NYC, a special place for us is Trattoria dell Arte on 7th Avenue, Two blocks south of Central Park and opposite Carnegie Hall. Might not be for you but if you like Italian food this is quite a place. Russ and Daughters on the Lower East Side is very much a go to place for breakfast/brunch, you may need to queue, Forget the nearby Katz’s Deli (where Harry met Sally, “i’ll have what she’s having”), it’s a tourist trap and frankly not very nice. Not sure if at this time of year it is going, but Monday Night Magic, when the theatres are closed, In Greenwich village is great fun. We use the subway to get around, cheap and efficient as well as safe, at least these days. Uber is also good as well as fixed price in advance. NYC is a city of endless possibilities so enjoy exploring. One evening we found ourselves eating spaghetti opposite Elvis Costello, I don’t think he was too impressed, but there we are.
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>> Albeit it is the city that never sleeps
>> I would be thinking that the 25th might be different. But that would depend how
>> your hotel can cater for you on the day.
Staying in vicinity of Times Sq no difficulty at all with eating out etc. Applebees in 42nd St, our breakfast stop for last few days was open as normal on Xmas day. Superb evening meal at Brasserie Cognac on Broadway/55th, not quite French as it could be but excellent Moules Marrinierre with Ricard before and Calvados to finish.
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>> Glad you went?
Absolutely.
Presently in departure at Newark for flight to LHR at 22:00 EST. Forecast for lhr tomorrow is 30% probability of fog with visibility 300metres.........
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Thu 27 Dec 18 at 00:55
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Glad you enjoyed it, Bromp. Sounds like a lovely Christmas experience.
Now, will you get Her Ladyship into a caravan next year or are you now destined to a life of expensive Christmas holiday?
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Now you have experienced one alternate Christmas, you wont be satisfied unless you have another experience.
1/ Christmas in the heat at Bondi Beach. (bit crowded actually, how about paddling with wild dolphin calfs at Shark Bay Western Australia)
2/ Ice Hotel, Lap land.
As mark said, A caravan at cleethorpes just dont cut it.
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"A caravan at cleethorpes just dont cut it."
It does if you want to get away from it all.
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>> "A caravan at cleethorpes just dont cut it."
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>> It does if you want to get away from it all.
Dignitas would be more rewarding.
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Well, finally, the last of "them" have now left...
Yaaaaaaaaay !!!!!
;-)
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>> Well, finally, the last of "them" have now left...
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....seduced by the more exciting prospect of a caravan in Cleethorpes?
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With some of that lot, such high living and adventure would be beyond their wildest dreams...
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>> Well, finally, the last of "them" have now left...
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>> Yaaaaaaaaay !!!!!
>>
>> ;-)
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It all starts tomorrow for me. Beers are in the fridge already :-)
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New York for Christmas - devonite
