Yes - a weekend break in New York with work rest and Play!

£590 p/p Economy flights from Heathrow and 3 Nights in standard room

Friday – Go to work as usual, for me that was 8.00 until 3.30, finish work get a lift to the airport about 4.00 which gives you time to rest in the car. We arrived at the airport in plenty of time to catch the 1805 to JFK however unsure of traffic on a Friday We had booked the 1930 to allow us plenty of time to start to play. I began by using my contacts and getting us an upgrade to the BA lounge, parked our bags grabbed a glass of wine and a few nibbles sat down for a rest. (If you don't have contacts there are ample bars, cafes and restaurants in terminal 5).

Now a little retail therapy my form of play. Leave bags in lounge have a wander check out the duty free. Back to the lounge for another glass of wine.

Board plane, get comfy enjoy a film, meal and wine whilst resting on your journey.

We landed at JFK at about 22.30 but were unable to disembark for a while due to technical problems.

Once through customs we went straight through (hand luggage only) don’t be caught by the taxi touts that approach you, exit the terminal and cross road to the NYC Taxi rank – yellow cabs where you will get a fixed price before you set off. Ours was $45 to Midtown Manhattan.

We arrived at our hotel The Mansfield on 44th between 5th and 6th. We were greeted with a warm welcome, complimentary water and the news that the bar closed at midnight, It was now 23.59!!! The reception arranged for the bar to serve us a glass of wine. Meanwhile bags were deposited and all that was left for us to do was go out and play. Although it was late we were refreshed from our rest on the plane and wanting to see a bit of the city that never sleeps!

The very charming barmaid at the Mansfield recommended a couple of bars we were guaranteed to get a drink. Just two blocks west and we were looking at the hustle and bustle of Times Square a wonderful site of neon lights yellow taxis the sound of sirens and thousands of people going about their evenings entertainment. Though this was a very exciting moment we weren’t ready for the full on Neon bit, so we traced our steps back towards our hotel and went into a wonderful bar called Jimmy’s corner, Jimmy being the sidekick of Mohammed Ali.

The bar long and narrow full of very friendly New Yorkers, one of which was eager to recommend all manner of eateries and bars off the tourist trap. We found ourselves a table towards the back and settled for a few wines and people watching. The place was covered floor to ceiling and on every inch of bar space and tabletops in photos and programmes of boxing memorabilia. This was a great start to our weekend, we finally left there at 03.00 and went back to our hotel for a much earned rest slept well until about 08.00.

Went for our complimentary breakfast in the very restful lounge a simple selection of pastries, fresh fruit, freshly squeezed orange juice and the best coffee.

On to day 1, we decided not to do empire state or helicopter as weather was a bit overcast but due to improve. We changed our itinerary and headed off for Staten Island ferry.

We got the subway (route 1) to south ferry terminal, unfortunately they were doing track repairs and we had to disembark at 'Chambers' and catch a bus. We chose not to get the bus but walked taking in the site of Ground Zero a poignant moment for me as the last time I was here I had lunch at the top of the twin towers. We walked on to battery park and my companion decided that we would not take the tour boat to Ellis Island but take the FREE ferry to Staten Island on which you take in marvellous views of the statue of liberty. This was great however you do not the get emotional side of the immigrants and what they may have been feeling as they approached the statue and had to queue in the immigration halls to see whether they would be aloud to enter their country of dreams.

From there we decided to take the city hop on hop off bus. We went to south street sea port had a wander around the shops and stopped for a rest, a beer and more people watching, also great views of and photo opportunities of Brooklyn and Brooklyn Bridge.

Hop back on the bus and head for Grand Central Station. What a station!! Don’t forget to look up the ceiling is fantastic. Also have a whisper in the gallery you will spot this by the people with their backs to you apparently talking to the wall. Then it is time for lunch. My recommendation is the oyster bar and fish restaurant within Grand Central Station. I had an assortment of oysters and the most fantastic boullibaise and a lovely bottle of wine.

Having sated our appetites for good food and wine we wandered to the Chrysler building and then a couple of blocks back to our hotel for a well-earned rest.

After a couple of hours with a good book and a doze we were then ready to go out to play. One in the bar, then we took a cab to West Village and went to a cocktail bar called Tailor. It was excellent albeit we couldn't read the menu as it was so dimly lit. We ate in their restaurant upstairs absolutely fantastic!

Taxi back to Mansfield, we were weary, so in bed by 11. However we could have played on and perhaps gone to a bar on Times Square or back to Jimmy’s.

Sunday a very sunny day we caught our hop on hop off bus to Empire State building inevitably you have to queue, it was approximately an hour but worth it for the views when you get to the top.

Walk to Macy’s department store (just like any other department store). A cab to 30th street heliport to get a helicopter tour of NY, wonderful. We then walked back towards Times Square (having mastered the map and the street grid system, walking is a good way to get the feel of the different districts, it really is not hard work. Lunch in a chain restaurant overlooking the hustle and bustle of Times Square a couple of wines then back to our hotel for another well earned rest.

Play time we caught a cab to the Flatiron district and went to an art deco cocktail bar called the Flatiron Lounge, wonderful cocktails and very entertaining mixologist knowledgeable friendly and great to watch a master in action. Then a short stroll to our chosen restaurant The Gramercy Tavern, not having booked we had to wait for a table to become available which was great as I had spotted a champagne bar next door!

Flutes was a really good find, they had live music very gentle jazz and the décor and ambience was a real treat. In to the Gramercy for dinner yet another gastronomique experience. Back to the hotel and the hotel bar for a nightcap. Bed at 11.30 rest for the night.

Monday – pack pay and store luggage whilst we complete the rest of our sight seeing etc. A wander up 5th Avenue plenty of opportunities for retail therapy, I had only one shop in mind Abercrombie and Fitch by request from my children. A very long queue had formed and I was reluctant to join but had promised the kids. The queue went down very quickly and I was in the store within 5 minutes, armfuls of clothes and out into the sunshine.

We chose to take a horse and carriage around Central Park very relaxing and restful. We caught a cab to a restaurant I had read about with a view and was very disappointed, had a quick glass of wine and then cabbed it to another recommended restaurant which unfortunately was closed.

We headed back on foot in the direction of our hotel and found a lovely bistro called the Bistro Moderne just opposite The Mansfield. Settled down for a rest and another gastronomique experience. Back to our hotel collect luggage hail a cab and set off for JFK airport. Settle down with book and wait to board. No upgrade this time but managed to doze plenty on the 6-hour flight home. Met by our lift and indoors by 07.15. I could have gone to work if necessary.

A truly great long weekend.

To summarise

Mansfield Hotel – excellent boutique hotel ideally situated in Midtown Manhattan, two blocks west Times Square, two block east Grand Central Station, one block east 5th Avenue.
http://www.mansfieldhotel.com/

Bus tour – be aware of how much time you have and whether you would get full use of all the different routes that will be sold to you. We only did the downtown loop but paid for all four.

Horse and Carriage – pleasant but you would see more on foot I would not recommend this.

Helicopter – pricey but highly recommend if budget allows.

Empire State Building – A must for the views.
http://www.esbnyc.com/index2.cfm

Grand Central Station – Another must do.
http://grandcentralterminal.com/

Staten Island Ferry – Free and great views of Statue of Liberty. I would do the tour boat to include Ellis Island.
http://www.siferry.com/

South Street Sea Port – A lovely area to sit and have lunch or just a drink. Some lovely looking seafood restaurants. No particular recommendation as we didn’t eat here.
http://www.southstreetseaport.com/html/

Ground Zero – Personal choice, not for me.

Macy’s – Great if you are a shopaholic, I didn’t go to New York to go to ‘Debenhams’.
http://www.macys.com/

Tailor – Fantastic cocktails and fantastic and very interesting food, I would have hated to have missed this. First Class!
http://www.tailornyc.com/

Flatiron Lounge – Again fantastic cocktails, wonderful art deco interior and great to watch your cocktails being made by a master of mixology.
http://www.flatironlounge.com/

Gramercy Tavern – Great menu, great atmosphere, you need to book if you want a table in the restaurant area, we had a table in the bar.
http://www.gramercytavern.com/

Bistro Moderne – Great food, lunch was full so again you may need to book. Local to hotel.
http://www.gramercytavern.com/

RARE – located within the Shelborne Murray hotel, you may read good reviews of this restaurant, I would not recommend it. Loud music and a burger type menu.

Flutes – A lovely champagne bar. Visit this one if eating at the Gramercy Tavern.

Oyster bar and Restaurant – I came here on my first visit to New York and couldn’t wait to return, I was not disappointed. The food service and ambience were all excellent.
http://www.oysterbarny.com/oysterbar/html/index2.htm

Ruby Tuesdays chain restaurant – Location good, food very processed and mediocre. Service Excellent.

Jimmys Corner – A wonderful place to meet Locals. Nothing pretentious about this place just great service, friendly staff and great people watching.

Safety –
• At no time did we feel at all vulnerable threatened or ill at ease, we walked went on buses, taxis and used the subway.
• Obviously usual precautions would apply.
• Keep to the main roads, keep your bag done up and if possible over your shoulder etc etc.

Have fun!

(Price correct as at 01 June 09)

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