Trip report 21st - 28th dec...

After waiting so long our trip finally arrived.

21st dec we flew in from Dublin..must say it was great clearing immigration in Dublin before we left,and after our 2 hour delay we were off.

We arrived in JFK about 3pm(in the middle of the transit strike and didn%26#39;t know what to expect). Outside at the taxi rank the price we were given to Manhattan was 70 dollars plus toll and tip. I was more than happy to pay this as I thought it would be 30 dollars each, but as we were 2 adults, one 15 yr old and one 12 year old he charged for a family. Our ride into midtown was good, and the driver was very talkative and friendly, and took about 1 hour with all the traffic.

We checked into our hotel (courtyard Manhattan midtown east. Review of that already done!!!) and by 5pm we were heading out to explore. No unpacking, just out, and fast as we were all so excited to finally be there.

Quick bite to eat, and our first stop was The Waldorf Astoria.. my son was concerned we couldn%26#39;t go in as we were not guests, but in we went. Fabulous! On down towards Byrant park for a quick look, and on to Time Square. My son had an urgent appointment at toys-r-us!!! Everyone on the ferris wheel. didn鈥檛 care about looking silly as everyone was the same. The children were so excited anyone would have thought they had jumping beans in their shoes.

The only BIG disappointment was we had been allocated a big apple greeter for the next morning, but because of the strike, when we called to say we had arrived she had to cancel although she sounded as upset as we were, and told us to call her if we needed any help or advice about NYC, which I thought was nice.

Back to our hotel, now about 10.30pm, everyone exhausted, but very happy.

Thursday 22 dec...All up and out early. Strike still on so we walked to ESB. our hotel was on 3rd ave,52 st, so we were able to take in plenty of atmosphere in our walk. Arrived ESB around 9am. No queues at all, straight up to the top, and WOW!! The sun was out, ok it was cold but those views. We didn%26#39;t know what to expect, but they were better than we had expected. WE stayed up there for about two and a half hours, although I could have stayed all day. Lunch was in a deli in 34th st..the children are fussy eaters, so delis set the pace for eating most of the week, as they usually had something to suit everyone.

Spent a while in Macys (daughter loved there), and we went up to see Santa on the 8th floor. Really knew it was near Christmas then. Back up to Byrant park, as son had seen the ice rink and NEEDED to do there. Husband and son skated for a while and my daughter and I went round the Christmas market shops. All in all a really lovely afternoon. Quick dinner, and over to the Shubert theatre to pick up our tickets for Spamalot. This was fantastic. A really super show enjoyed by everyone. Walked back to hotel via 5th ave and saw the rink and tree at Rockafella center, and radio city on the way. Exhausted after a great day.

Friday 23 Dec...We started our day at the Sony Wonderlab (an interactive science museum) which was enjoyable, but I wouldn%26#39;t say is a must see if time is short. On to Grand Central Terminal and bought metro cards. The strike finally over. Our first trip on the subway was an experience. Down to Bowling green station, and we got the ferry over to Station Island. The views were amazing of lower Manhattan, and the SOL. Another quick lunch on Staten Island, and we got the ferry back. Today was a lot warmer, and really pleasant for walking around all the sights. Saw ground zero site, quick in and out of century 21.. it was so busy in there, and then we got the subway to Canal st..China town. Again we didn%26#39;t know what to expect, but when you come up the steps from the subway you really would think you had arrived in a different country, the buildings, shops and even the smells of all the cooking in the air. Walked around and then over to Little Italy. I thought this area seemed really classy. After a little shopping we took the subway back up to our hotel after another really enjoyable day.

Saturday 24th dec (Christmas eve)..

WE took the subway to Penn station and walked over to 12th ave for our ride in the helicopter. We went on The Big Apple tour which lasted approx 10/12 minutes, and this was really amazing. We all buzzed with excitement after this, the weather was great for our ride and it really was beautiful to see everything from the air. A real one off experience. Lunch, then we took the subway up to 110th st central park north (yes, we did enjoy the subway by now, all part of the great NYC experience). We then took a bus all the was down 5th ave to sight see. This was a far cheaper option than the hop on/off tour buses, and we saw everything as the traffic was so slow moving.

Then we needed shopping, so it was into FAO Schwartz (about 90 mins), Trump tower, Tiffany鈥檚 (windows only as it was closed by now, so decided we would need to go back to that one!). Dinner in Shbarros. Back to hotel, and bed, starting to panic now that our time was going too fast and we wouldn%26#39;t be able to fit all our plans in.

25th dec..CHRISTMAS DAY..

Had a bit of a lazy morning today as we were all exhausted. Never done so much walking in our lives. Out at 10.30 and round to see St Patrick鈥檚 cathedral. Morning service was on and it was really moving to be there an Christmas morning. Down again to Byrant park. We all went ice skating this time, and it was a great atmosphere for Christmas day. Mid afternoon the rain started and lasted the rest of the day. Quick bite to eat (no big fancy Christmas dinner for us. We were on a mission to see and do as much as we could), and we then picked up our tickets for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. WE all really enjoyed this and again the atmosphere made it seem really like Christmas. Excellent show, but back to our hotel, and bed.

Monday 26th dec...

We%26#39;re getting later in the morning. Out to Bloomingdale鈥檚 at 10.45am.

Then we took the subway to 34th st to pay another visit to Macys, Manhattan mall etc...

Walked back up 5th ave, children got bears in Build a bear shop, and although they are 12 and 15, they were both like little children in that store. Up to Tiffanys..It was open this time! Spent ages looking around there and dreaming. Bought daughter a bracelet for her 16th birthday next month, and I think it was me who was more excited to get a Tiffanys box and bag! although she was over the moon, and it is something she can always keep.

Another day over. The time seemed to go in so fast.

Tuesday 27th dec..

Our last full day. Took the subway to Clark st in Brooklyn, walked around, and down the promenade, again the views of lower Manhattan were amazing from here. Walked back over THE bridge. FANTASTIC. Saw city hall the stock exchange, Wall street, and called into the police museum. The tribute in there to 9/11 was very moving and humbling. The buildings all around here were beautiful. Subway back to time square, Madam Tussauds, dinner and bed.

Wednesday 28th dec..

Home today. Up, packed and the hotel got us a car to the airport. Checked in and had a smooth flight back to Dublin, from where we had a two hour drive home to reflect on our time in The Big Apple.

All I can say was we all really enjoyed our trip, sorry this report is so long winded, and a really big thank you to everyone on the TA for all advice and information prior to our trip.

HAPPY AND HEALTHY 2006 to everyone.. X

Trip report 21st - 28th dec...

Sounds like a really well planned wonderful trip. Were you actually able to get inside St. Patrick%26#39;s on Xmas day without a reservation??

Happy New Year!

Trip report 21st - 28th dec...

Sounds fantastic...every time your daughter wears what was purchased at Tiffanys she will think of your trip and all of those great memories, and that is what it is really about!

Glad it all worked out for you, even with the transit strike....sounds like a great time was had by all.

Happy %26amp; Healthy New Year to you, too.

nywhiz,

Yes, on christmas morning we were passing st patrick%26#39;s, just planning to take photographs, and others were going in and out, so I decided to try to get in. Ok I was at the very back..standing room only, but I felt very privileged even to be able to get in at all. Some place..especially on christmas morning. Beautiful.

sm3

Wow is all I can say. You lucky duck. I%26#39;m envious. Happy and healthy new year to you and your family. Sounds like a great way to end a year.;)

Enjoyed your report. I never find any report too long. Happy you all has a great time!! A happy ans healthy new year to all of you.

What a great time! You really got to sample quite a lot of Manhattan. Feel free to chime in and use your experiences to add to the great advice on theis forum. Thanks and happy new year.

WE really didn%26#39;t stop for the whole week. The only thing we didn%26#39;t do properly was eat...we didn%26#39;t have time!!

Hopefully sometime my husband and I can return on our own without the children. They really did enjoy their holiday so much, and there was still so many places and things we didn%26#39;t manage to fit in, but it would be nice to be able to sample some of the great restaurants and find a relaxing break in NYC..I%26#39;m sure there is a relaxing side to it all somewhere! Until then ...