The good the bad and the ugly about New York City 

I am writing to you this week after a recent trip to the Big Apple as I attended a travel conference looking into the future of travel. Like all conferences this year the big buzz word is Generative AI (ChatGPT). Change is happening fast and it appears it will only happen faster in The future. 

Here are some observations about traveling to NYC:

Fly into LaGuardia Airport –  Flying into Newark or JFK and you will pay $120 (including tip) for a taxi ride into the city. LaGuardia is half the cost and time. 

LaGuardia airport has gone from worst to best airport in NYC – My goodness how things have changed at LGA. The brand new multi-billion dollar terminal B is arguably one of the best airports in the U.S.  Five year ago when you flew into LGA you felt like you were in a third world country. I remember one time arriving at the old terminal when it was raining and seeing hundreds of buckets on the floor catching rain from the holes in the ceiling  

Where has all the graffiti gone? – I am so impressed as I did not see even one wall in NYC filled with graffiti. I also only saw one homeless person as well. 

You have to see a Broadway show if you go to the Big Apple – There are so many great musicals and dramas that will make your heart soar. Prices have climbed very high for many shows.  I saw ticket prices as high as $500 for orchestra level tickets. Also be extra careful which websites you use to buy your tickets as some of the big ticket websites can charge you 20% more than going directly to the theaters website. 

Look at using the half price ticket store at  the TKTS Time Square ticket store for same day ticket deals. Just like the name implies your best deals come if you can find a show that has unsold tickets that they sell at half price

Food prices have skyrocketed in NYC – Every restaurant I went to saw prices at least 50% higher than those found pre-pandemic. Hotel prices are also up about 25% to 40% as well.

American Airlines was a disappointment – It has been years since I have flown AA but they have a direct flight from LGA to Omaha that I thought would save me a bunch of time. So I got up at 4 am and headed to the airport for my flight only to receive the dreaded email while I was in the taxi telling me my flight was canceled. Long story short – AA ended up putting me on a flight to Charlotte and connecting to Omaha. My time saving flight actually took me an additional 3 hours to get home.

All we have left is a vegetarian meal – Those were the dreaded words I heard on my AA flight that made my blood curdle as I was the last one to be offered a lunch on the flight. I took a picture of the food they served me as I don’t think the animal humane society would have allowed it to be fed to any animals. Come on AA. You are better off not serving any food than what was put on my tray table. 

Charlotte is an outstanding airport to connect through. – Friendly people with that good ole southern charm. I love the hundreds of white rocking chairs they have scattered throughout the terminal. It seems to make everyone feel a little less stressed. Charlotte Airport also has gobs of food service and shopping outlets. It’s just a fun and easy airport to get around.

Here are my top 10 things to see and do in New York City –

1.  Statue of Liberty – The Statue of Liberty is the world-famous sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor and was a gift from France as an icon of freedom welcoming immigrants to our great country. 

2.  Empire State Building – This 102-story skyscraper stood as the tallest building in the world for almost 4 decades when it was built in 1931. Visiting the observatory will take your breath away as you can see the city in all its splendor. I remember my mom bringing me here over 50 years ago. 

3.  Broadway and Times Square – When people say New York City they almost always think of Broadway and the dozens of theaters dotting along the street known as the heart of the American theatre industry. I love to see Broadway shows and musicals. Times Square is the epicenter of Broadway as giant neon and digital signs climb hundreds of feet up into the sky. There is no place on earth like standing in Times Square at night time. 

4.  Central Park – An estimated 40 million visitors each year visit this 700-acre park that has been designated a National Historic Landmark. This park is in the center of the island and alive with people walking, running, playing baseball, bicycling, walking their dogs, and enjoying the park’s beauty. One of my favorite places to eat is the restored historic icon Tavern On the Green.

5.  Hop-On Hop-Off city bus tours – One of the best ways to see the city is to jump on one of the many double-decker bus tours. A one-day pass costs $54 and lets you jump on and off the bus as many times as you like. The best value is a 3-day pass ($65) that lets you visit almost every major site and neighborhood in the Big Apple. 

6. 9/11 Memorial and Museum – Nothing on your visit to NYC will be more emotional than a visit to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. These commemorate the attacks on the World Trade Center that killed 2977 victims in 2001. The new One World Observatory at the top of One World Trade Center is a dynamic can’t miss attraction. CLICK HERE to see an amazing video about the new observatory. https://www.youtube.com/embed/aDIN26yxbnw

7. High Line – One of the hottest attractions in the City is the High Line which is a 1.45-mile-long section of the old elevated New York Central Railroad that was renovated into a walking park and just recently completed. This is the perfect way to stroll and see amazing views of the city and the river. 

8.  Brooklyn Bridge – This landmark is one of the oldest bridges in the U.S. and is now over 130 plus years old. The bridge is a great walking experience and is only about a mile and a half long so it is an easy walk for old duffers like me. The best time to walk the bridge is to start early in the morning from the Brooklyn side to watch the city come alive with the sunrise. 

9.  Restaurants and Food markets – New York City is the food capital of the world. You can find almost any food from around the world. Even an old farm boy like me can find an amazing steak in this city as some of my favorite steakhouses are all around the city. New Yorkers love their food markets. Don’t miss Urban Space Vanderbilt next to the Grand Central Station, Gansevoort Market at the Meat Packing District, and Gotham West Market in Hell’s Kitchen.  

10.  Battery Park – This waterfront park is the perfect place for a casual picnic on the southern edge of Manhattan Island. Visit one of the hundreds of delis in the city and grab a sandwich and a bottle of your favorite drink for the perfect picnic

P.S. Please take a peak at this week’s Podcast that highlights my recent trip to Las Vegas. CLICK HERE to watch.