Just got back - short review

Hey there,

Just arrived back into Glasgow this morning :(

The flights each way were fine, flew with Continental. Managed to get seats with extra leg room on the way out, by checking in on line. One the way back despite being real early for the flight my mum and I got allocated seats apart. The flight was oversold and they were looking to bump people off for $400! Not a huge deal sitting separate, but if you have a chance check-in on line before you set off...

Upon arrival we got a yellow cab to our hotel; the Carlton on Madison Avenue between 28th and 29th http://www.carltonhotelny.com/ We had booked the deluxe room, with two beds (I was travelling with my mum for 50th birthday treat) I had requested a room with a view and upon arrival we were give a complimentary upgrade to a suite.

Nice! The suite was very comfortable and spacious - they even threw in a huge chocolate cake and card wishing my mum a happy birthday! We got a nice view of the empire state building. So overall very happy with hotel so far.

We found the location to be good fairly central for heading uptown or downtown, short walk to ESB, a little further to Macy鈥檚 and Time Square. We were close to the subway on 28th street, which we were comfortable using once we got the hang off it!

On our first half day / evening we walked around a lot stumbling across familiar sites, shops etc. We used our express passes for the Empire State Bldg, it was great skipping the queue and we were at the top real quick. We went at around 6ish when it was turning dark and it was a great perspective of the city.

On Friday we had scheduled a Big Apple Greeter www.bigapplegreeter.org/

session, our guide Sally was great. We met in the hotel lobby, she was really easy going and friendly. We headed downtown on the subway to the Lower East Side taking in little doughnut shop and then walking through China town, Wall Street and Financial district taking in sites such as the Woolworth Bldg, World Stock Exchange, the legal bldg%26#39;s and we even got to take some great pics from the ladies toilets in the Municipal Bldg when the Big Apple Greeter offices are. We paid our respects at ground zero and then took the very to Statten Island. Our greeter spent about 4/5 hours with us and then left us downtown, she had previously pointed out Century 21 discout store, so off we went in hunt of bargines! Unfortunately, the weather took a real turn for the worse and we got caught in some heavy rain. We did managed to navigate back to the subway line, but only after asking a police man to point us in the right direction. I think a combination of the heavy rain, turning dark and maybe the fact the streets were not %26#39;in grid%26#39; made me feel a bit disorientated - as well as soaked to the skin!

The rain continued into Saturday and continued pretty much all day. We had booked the S拢x and the City Tour, www.screentours.com/tour.php/satc/ which thankfully was mostly in a dry bus. We picked up the tour near the Plaza hotel, we opted for the 10am tour and it lasts 3.5 hours taking in lots of sites used in the show. We made stops at Magnolia Bakery(http://www.magnoliacupcakes.com/), we were given cup cakes as part of the tour and I purchased a couple of individual cheesecakes for later which were to die for! Delicious! We got our pics taken in front of Carrie鈥檚 apartment.

The tour finished at the HBO store on 34th Street, I think? We browsed the gift shop and then made our way along to Grand Central where we had a late lunch. Had a browse around Grand Central. On the Saturday evening we had tickets for Wicked. It was a fabulous performance and we both really enjoyed it. I had spotted the diner 鈥楽tardust 鈥?Ellen鈥檚 diner鈥?www.ellensstardustdiner.com/ along the street, so made a beeline for it after the performance, it was busy but we got seats straight away. We grabbed some food, but the highlight, apart from the atmosphere and singing waiting staff, was the alcoholic 鈥榤udslide鈥?shake.

We were please on Sunday to see the rain had stopped. This was our shopping day. We made our way to Macy鈥檚 and shopped around this area making our way back over to 5th Avenue. Sunday night had a very nice meal in Ruby Foo鈥檚 in the Time Square area, made our way back down time square had a drink or two.

Monday was our last day, we took the Subway up to 59th street wandered over to Central Park, took some pictures and then headed over to Bloomingdales. Returned to our hotel, checked out. They stored our luggage and arranged for a car to take us to the airport later in the afternoon.

We took off and head south, stumbled upon Madison Square Park, home to the Shake Shack www.shakeshacknyc.com/ Had some nice burgers and shakes and it was nice to be able to sit out for a while and people watch. Thanks to the trip advisor folks for mentioning this place!

So for us excellent first trip. Would like to come back in slightly warming weather, the last couple of days were pretty cold! We never got to see much of central park, would consider the helicopter ride and possibly the ferry round the island and maybe the shopping outlets!

Just got back - short review

You really go around, and glad you snagged a BAG, the best deal in town!!

Just got back - short review

Great report.

You%26#39;re obviously another NYC convert - a sad face at the start of your report becuase you have left NYC, but you end it with what you plan to do on the next visit.

Mez :)