New York City Travel Expert

Travel Insurance for NYC trips

travelstar1 — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:33:05 +0000

It is very easy to get carried away with the excitement when planning a holiday to New York City and certainly you should be excited. NYC without question is one of the most exciting and dynamic cities in the world and why would one spend too much time worrying about things like travel insurance, i.e. things which are not exactly fun to think about. You also of course have to think about the ESTA Card (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation). Make sure to use the official government website to get this done for free, because many companies online are charging for this service even though you do NOT need to pay anything at all. The ESTA for those of you visiting USA for your first time, is pre-clearance entrance and it is now necessary to have this if you wish to visit NYC or any part of the U.S.

NYC travel

Travel Insurance is the other key you need along with the ESTA and return (roundtrip) flights (make sure to have a return flight ticket because travelling into the U.S on a one way ticket will very often mean that you will be severely questioned on why you have entered the country on a one way ticket. Always try to have an onward or return ticket when entering USA. Travel Insurance is essential when visiting the U.S because there is no free health care service and the costs are very high. Break a leg in NYC and you could find yourself owing thousands and one or 2 nights in a hotel and you will potentially find yourself having to remortgage your house when you return home!

USA travel insurance is not even that expensive these days so there is not really any excuse for not taking out a policy before taking your holiday. If you are a family of 4 then the price does impact on the cost of your holiday If you cannot afford the travel insurance cover though, then seriously consider about going because the impact of any health care costs in USA can be life changing. Shop around on the various price comparison websites and there are many reasonable deals.

New York’s Best Sports Teams

travelstar1 — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:24:26 +0000

A visit to New York is an absolute dream for sports lovers as there is a collection of some of the most famous teams in the world.

New York Yankees

This is perhaps the most famous baseball team in the world, with the club badge being a fashion statement around the globe. The Yankees compete in the major baseball league and are one of the most successful teams in the history of the sport. The club is based in the Bronx and play their home games at the Yankee Stadium, which is a brand new development.

New York Knicks

Playing in the National Basketball League, the New York Knicks are known around the world for their exciting style of basketball and for the fantastic atmosphere in the Madison Square garden which is the venue for their home games.

New York Rangers

The National Hockey league is arguably the best hockey league in the world and the New York Rangers are amongst the sport’s high fliers. Home games are played in Madison Square Garden and are well worth a visit for the adrenaline filled all action pace of the game.

New York Giants

American football is the most popular sport in the USA and the New York Giants are the most successful team in New York and attract tens of thousands of people to each game. A visit to a Giants game can be more like going to a festival as there is always such a fantastic atmosphere and a whole host of entertainment to go with the sport.

New York Red Bulls

Soccer is the fastest growing sport in the US and the New York Red Bulls are city’s flagship team. Big names from around the world come to play for this team and the standard of the game makes it well worth a watch.

Bars to try in Downtown Brooklyn

travelstar1 — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:15:42 +0000

There are many top quality bars in Brooklyn but below are some you can try if you want to avoid cliché visits.

Rebar

Located in on the second floor of an art gallery, one would perhaps not expect this establishment to provide the best bar experience in New York, and in reality, it doesn’t. It does, however, provide a much better experience than you would expect, with nice wooden tables, a cosy atmosphere and some of the best draught beers from Europe, all nicely complimented by a good selection of wines.

Brooklyn bars

Brooklyn Social

This used to be a social club for the area’s Italian male residents, but has now evolved to be an open bar which serves fantastic cocktails and a high level of service. The decor remains highly influenced by Italy and is a really comfortable environment to enjoy a few drinks after a day in the city.

Eamonn’s

No modern city can truly consider their bar scene complete until it has an Irish bar, and this establishment in Brooklyn has all of the warmth and atmosphere that you would expect from a bar in this category. The bar also has a nice clientele with many of the local businessmen and women visiting here, whilst the menu has a good mixture of Irish and American dishes.

Post Office

Whiskey enthusiasts will be in their element here, as there are over 30 different varieties to try, including many brands from around the US which are otherwise localised to where they are brewe

Professional Soccer in NYC

travelstar1 — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 22:11:16 +0000

Sport plays an enormous part in the lives of all people in New York city, with all of the teams playing in various sports attracting thousands of people. Soccer despite not being the main sport in the United States, does have a solid following and NYC is a city where you can enjoy professional soccer.

One of the best known teams internationally is New York Red Bulls, a football (soccer) team which plays in the top flight of the American leagues. The reason that Red Bull are so well known is that they have developed a habit of signing top quality players from the best leagues around the world, projecting both the team and the league into the spotlight with people around the globe fascinated to see how the team will progress.

This season promises to be one of the most successful yet for Red Bull, due partly to the fact that the players have had a chance to mould as a team with players such as Thierry Henry having had a chance to settle into the style of play in the USA. There is a very good chance that, with the brand of football that they adopt, New York will enter the playoffs this year and progress to the final. A visit to the Red Bull Arena this season will enable you to savour the fluent footballing style that New York adapt whilst enjoying the great atmosphere that the New York fans create.

One of the best games to watch New York play will be the match against LA Galaxy who include David Beckham, Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan in their ranks, three world class players at the peak of their game.

Read our guide to shows on Broadway NYC yet? Read more NYC travel ideas before you visit the Big Apple.

Visiting the Empire State Building

travelstar1 — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 09:22:59 +0000

When one thinks of the most iconic buildings in the modern world the Empire State Building is one of those which immediately springs to mind. Even in the New York skyline where there are masses of tall buildings there is something about the Empire State building which makes it stand out from the others, a charisma, a personality and a history which has fascinated people for decades. The Empire State Building has been the focal point of many films, videos and songs over the years, and the great news for those visiting New York is that the building is open to the public to enjoy.

Visiting the top of the Empire State building is an absolute must for all those who visit New York as the view from the observation deck is simply breathtaking. Whether you take your own viewing implement or make use of those which are provided, the view from this vantage point will leave you mesmerised and even more in love with this fabulous city. For those concerned about having to walk all of the way to the top there is absolutely no need as lifts can be taken up ensuring that you can save all of your energy for the various tourist activities within the building.

As well as the view, the main visitor features are the retail shops, the restaurants which overlook the city and the opportunity to learn all about the building, its history and the groundbreaking energy systems which it employs. You can purchase tickets in advance to or on the day, but timed ticketing is often in place.

Activities for Couples in New York

travelstar1 — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:52:28 +0000



New York City is a great city to visit with your partner as there are so many activities which can be enjoyed together, and below is a brief guide to just some of these.
Take ride through Central Park in a horse drawn carriage
This is an activity which may be all too resembling of a wedding day to the commitophobe, but you cannot argue against the romantic value of riding around the most famous park in the world in a horse drawn carriage. You can cosy up to your loved one whilst taking in the sights and breathing in the fresh air. 

Rockefeller Centre
There are a host of romantic activities in one place here, including holding hands whilst ice skating, engaging in a spot of underwear shopping, browsing the art gallery, or indulging in one of the centre’s many eateries. During the Christmas season there is also huge Christmas tree which provides the perfect setting for a cup of coffee. 

Scale the Empire State Building 
The view from the top of the Empire State building is the perfect way to fall in love with the city of New York and might just inspire you to fall in love with the person with whom you enjoy this experience.

Metropolitan Museum of Art
Art is considered one of the most romantic forms of expression and this is one of the best museums in New York to experience this. Hold hands as you walk around the various exhibits and bond over the shared enjoyment.

Winter Time Events in New York, USA

travelstar1 — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 17:44:23 +0000

Winter time in New York is a wonderful thing, and just like there are some fun activities carried out during winter, so are there winter time events in New York, USA.

Some of the winter time activities in New York, USA include: doing your Christmas shopping at world famous stores like Macy’s, ice staking outside the Rockefeller Centre or enjoy a sleigh ride through Central Park. It is no wonder that during the festive period of Christmas, the city of New York puts on a series of events that are extremely popular with locals and visiting tourists.

Lighting the Rockefeller X-mas Tree – a key winter time event in New York, USA

Rockefeller Christmas Tree

One of the biggest events in New York’s festive calendar is the lighting of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree. It is the largest Christmas tree in the city, and each year attracts hundreds of viewers.

The tree is traditionally lit up just after Thanksgiving, and symbolises that Christmas has officially come to the Big Apple.

Radio City X-mas Spectacular NY winter event

Radio City, NY

Another popular attraction is the Radio City Christmas Spectacular which goes on throughout the whole of December. It often features performances by groups like the Rockettes, and the show is popular with families of all ages whereby tourists from all walks of life, together with the young and old all gather for this key winter event in New York, USA.

Cultured winter events in NY – The New York City Ballet

Nutracker Ballet, NYC

If you are looking for a bit more culture however, then the New York City Ballet will once again be putting on their annual performance of George Balanchine’s, “The Nutcracker”.

Performances go on throughout December with the last show being held on the 2nd January.

Other winter time events in New York City

Lincoln Center, NYC

The Lincoln Centre also puts on a number of festive events including: a large Messiah Sing In, nativity plays and other festive performances.

Other caroling services are held in the West Village, with the West Village Messiah Singing being held at St. Luke’s Church.

Whatever you decide to do, there are plenty of sights and sounds in New York that can cater for everyone’s tastes and festive desires, regardless of the season, as has been illustrated here, there are more than enough winter time events in New York, USA that the whole family can enjoy.

The History of Broadway

travelstar1 — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 01:09:34 +0000

Without a clear insight into the history of Broadway, you’d only know the modern day Broadway as the epicentre of theatrical performances… The street is full of bright lights and has an almost tangible buzz about it which attracts people from around the world to experience the excitement of this world-famous area of New York. However, it hasn’t always been this way though.

History of Broadway, NYC

One of the main reasons that led to the popularity of Broadway among the early settlers was that there was such a diverse range of nature and wildlife there, something that you would probably find hard to believe given the concrete jungle that it has evolved into.

Stepping back from the history of Broadway street in New York and back to the present – the nature has now disappeared but the diversity remains in different forms, something that stems from the various influences on the area.

The Dutch were amongst the first people to settle in the area; and history has it that they used Broadway as the main route across the island.

This Dutch influence hence created the early template for the island-long influence that the famous NYC street now possesses.

Modern Broadway began to really evolve in the early twentieth century, when famous people mingled with the large number of gangsters occupying and frequenting the area. This helped to give the area the glamorous image that it now possesses.

Broadway developed a reputation as being a late night location which partied on into the night, something which resulted in the evolution of the bars, clubs, restaurants and theatres for which the area is famous. And thus goes an overview of the history of Broadway street which has come a long way…

A Visit to the Statue of Liberty

travelstar1 — Tue, 10 May 2011 14:31:50 +0000

Most cities and towns have one or two structures or monuments which people associate with that place, but New York City has a number. One of these landmarks is the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbour. For thousands of people who entered New York via boat into Staten Island the Statue of Liberty was the first thing they saw. For them it was a signal of freedom and hope for the life they were about to start.

Since the Statue of Liberty was erected in 1886, the visitor numbers to the site have grown significantly. There are not many who visit the city who do not want to at least view the statue, whilst for most people viewing it is not quite enough, they like to

Statue of Liberty

actually visit and ascend it. In order to visit the statue one must take a ferry from the mainland out to Liberty Island, but the cost of this journey is cancelled out by the fact that entry to the statue is free of charge all year round.

The most exciting aspect of visiting the Statue of Liberty in New York City is the opportunity to climb to the very top of it and enjoy the views of the city below. Unfortunately, due to logistical restrictions, only a couple of hundred of people a day can make the journey to the top of the statue, an experience which has an associated cost. Journeys to the summit can be booked quite far in advance, a tactic which is recommended as a way of avoiding disappointment.

5 Places of Historical Significance in New York

travelstar1 — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:34:55 +0000

There are many reasons to visit New York, such as the retail opportunities, the awe inspiring architecture, the entertainment and the atmosphere. Increasingly, however, people are visiting New York to visit the areas of historic significance, something which has not always been the case due to the reasonably young nature of the country. Below are some of the places of

Staten Island – In the days before immigration laws were introduced, boat loads of people would arrive on this island to begin their new life in New York. Iconic images show people arriving on boats packed to the rafters, many of them without knowing a word

Apollo Theater in NYC

of English.

Statue of Liberty – This is one of the most iconic structures in New York. It is famed as being the first sight that people would see when arriving on boats to Staten Island and is therefore associated with freedom and hope. The visitor can climb to the top of the statue to enjoy glorious views of the city.

Ground Zero – On one of the most horrific days in modern history, two passenger planes were hijacked and flown into the iconic Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre. The consequent collapse of the towers left a gaping hole in the city which is a place of homage for all those touched by the events of the day.

Apollo Theatre – As buildings in New York go, this is one of the oldest and is admired as an feat of engineering. Learn more about the Apollo Theatre in NYC.