New York, USA
The city that never sleeps
The City that Never Sleeps is the very capital of the modern world – an ethnic and cultural melting pot and legendary cinematic backdrop that almost defies description, it offers an unrivalled fusion of people, cuisine, culture and experiences, 24 hours a day.
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Destination overview
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| Language: | English | |
| Currency: | US Dollar | |
| Time zone: | GMT -5 hours | |
| Flight Time: | 8 hours | |
| Holiday type: | Summer sun, City break | |
| Weather: | Average maximum temperature: 28°C (Summer) Rainfall: 1180mm a year |
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Airport Information
| Airport Name | Code | Distance to City |
|---|---|---|
| New York JFK | JFK | 15miles / 25km |
| New York Newark | EWR | 16.6miles / 26.7 km |
Must See:
The iconic Statue of Liberty - daily ferries depart frequently from Battery Park or the New Jersey shore to Liberty Island.
A couple of must-sees on your first trip, or even your fifth, is the iconic Empire State Building during the day or night. This is where you’ll get to see the city away from the hustle and bustle of the avenues, streets and blocks.
The 'Top of the Rock’ tour at the Rockefeller Centre is also a unique view down on the city as well as the Empire Building itself. Visitors shouldn’t forget Lady Liberty herself, where you can take daily ferries, which depart frequently from Battery Park or the New Jersey shore to Liberty Island. If you’re in the mood, you can go onto the famous gateway at Ellis Island where millions of immigrants to the US first landed, and you can search passport records to see if your ancestors made it to the gates.
I would also recommend a trip out of Manhattan and cross over the renowned Brooklyn Bridge for a ‘Slice of Brooklyn’ pizza tour which naturally covers pizza – the way pizza should be and highlights Brooklyn's famous neighbourhoods, parks, including Coney Island, not to mention a few famous movie locations.
And last but not least, how could we forget Broadway! This is the place to catch a show, where American Airlines have their very own theatre so you shouldn’t forget to ask your flight attendant what’s on and good to see. Jenny - Press Officer
Well-travelled tips:
If you haven’t got $20 left to pay for entry into MOMA – you can spend the day gallery-hopping in Chelsea... and it’s free!
Visa:
British citizens can normally enter the US for business, pleasure or transit using the US Government’s Visa Waiver Program. A range of very specific conditions apply to this programme, and you can find out more here
If you intend to travel to the US using the Visa Waiver Program you'll need to get an electronic travel authorisation before you go. See the US Embassy for more details
Duty free shopping:
As the USA is not in Europe, you can benefit from duty free prices on certain items purchased when travelling to New York through our terminals. More information.
Money
The stable US dollar is the only currency generally accepted in the country, though a few places near the Canadian border also accept Canadian dollars. The US dollar is divided into 100 cents (¢). Coins come in denominations of 1¢ (penny), 5¢ (nickel), 10¢ (dime), 25¢ (quarter), the seldom-seen 50¢ (half-dollar) and the $1 coin. Quarters are most commonly used in vending machines and parking meters. Bills come in $1, $2 (rare), $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 denominations
Tipping
Tipping is standard practice across America. In city restaurants, tipping is expected. Less (no less than 15%) is OK in an informal diner, while top-end restaurants expect 20-25%. Bartenders expect $1 per drink. Taxi drivers expect 10% to 15%. Skycaps at airports and porters at nice hotels expect $1 a bag or so. It’s polite to leave a few dollars for the hotel maid, especially if you spend several nights.
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American Style Burger Joint (Inside Le Parker Meridien Hotel)
Hidden behind curtains in the reception, this place is fantastic. Cooked to order, high quality burgers to suit everyone. Go before 11:45am or after 1:15pm to avoid the rush. Seating is limited but well worth it! Bev - Marketing
Must eat at:
Brassiere 1605 at the Crowne Plaza, not only does this overlook Times Square but if you can take your eyes off all the lights, they also do very good food and pre-show menus.
Must be there for:
St Patrick’s Day on 17 March brings New York’s burgeoning Irish (and wannabe Irish) population out on to the streets for a festival of green, white and gold, a huge parade... and just a touch of the blarney.