Vacation Tips For New York City

Find flight deals to New York City

from just about any major city in the world. Fly into either JFK Airport or LaGuardia, which are both located outside the city. Flight deals from London to New York can be obtained easily when booking early.

For the quickest way into the city, hire a cab. This may not be the cheapest way to travel but will save a good deal of time. Another way into the city is by shuttle. Most vacation packages include shuttle transfers, which will end up saving money. The best places to stay are in the Times Square area, which is centrally located and is next to the Theatre District. The Marriott Marquis offers very reasonable rates and is on the classier side for hotels.

Even though restaurants are featured in every hotel, it’s more economical to locate one of the many markets that offer fresh fruit, pastries, homemade bread and coffee for breakfast.

Depending on the lodging location, enjoy Manhattan on foot to many landmarks and attractions or find a subway station. Riding the subway is quick, safe and cheap and can be found every few blocks. On the north side, Central Park offers carriage rides and an interesting history told by the driver. Famous buildings will be pointed out as well as the celebrities who have homes there. During aggreeable weather, visit the Central Park Zoo.

A short walking distance heading south is Trump Tower

. Grab lunch at the lunch counter right inside this impressive building. Visit FAO Schwartz for a look at some life-sized stuffed animals and the newest toys on the market. Interact with the big piano by stepping on the keys.

Further down, the Empire State Building boasts spectacular views from the top. If the height is not favorable, the Skyride inside the building is a safer way to go. Just outside the Empire State Building is a nice pub that features microbrewed beers.

Ride the subway to Chinatown, a very interesting part of the city. Try to ignore the numerous sales pitches for first-run movies, watches and designer handbags. The movies are of low technical quality and the designer items are most likely fakes. Instead, focus on the bright colors, teahouses and establishments that feature famous noodle dishes. Walk through Chinatown to Little Italy. Most pizza eateries use real brick ovens for cooking such as Puglia’s, which is a family owned pizza parlor that has been in business since the early 1900s.

Take the subway to Battery Park at the southern end of Manhattan. Here, purchase tickets for the ferry that takes passengers to Liberty Island. As the ferry nears the island, there are great photo opportunities of the Statue of Liberty and also of the New York City

skyline. After Liberty Island, the ferry will depart for Ellis Island, where immigrants were detained until cleared for their arrival to the United States. Letters, clothing, furniture and other personal effects are reminders of what life was like while being kept here.