New kid on the block (From Hampshire Society)

New kid on the block

4:28pm Thursday 1st October 2009

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The challenge was quite simple: fulfil my promise to take my teenage daughter to New York on a shopping spree to mark her 18th birthday without managing to break what was left of the bank.

The fact she would have her 15-year-old sister and shop-savvy mother in tow as ‘wingmen’, made the prospect daunting.

After all, the pound has slumped against the dollar, and, we had been warned, The Big Apple was no longer the cheap destination it had once been.

But a promise is a promise. And so, with determination to bring this trip in within budget, the challenge was accepted.

And I can tell you it can be done – but only if you are New York Savvy.

First of all we laid down a few guidelines.

We might skimp on meals, be sensible with travel, walk that little farther to find the best bargains, but we would not be compromising on accommodation. At the end of a hard day’s bargain-hunting, dad wanted somewhere soothing to lay his weary head.

Thus, with dad’s Golden Rules in place we set out to take New York.

For our flights we struck lucky with direct tickets from Heathrow to JFK with Delta Airlines, paying just a little under £250 each. Delta turned out to be a revelation.

Superb in-flight meals, plenty of entertainment options, and three films later we were landing in New York.

To reach Manhattan we could have taken the subway at around $10 each. Instead, however, we chose to pick up a yellow cab that for $50 will drop you at any destination in Manhattan. (Tip: do not accept the offer of a cab from any of the touts hanging around arrivals but head for the official rank where the $50 fare is guaranteed.) The drive into the city is far and away superior to the subway and there is no need to struggle with heavy luggage.

Our hotel was The Barclay Intercontinental. OK, it’s not what you might call budget. But this was, after all, where Mrs M and I had agreed we would not compromise.

Situated just off Park Avenue, The Barclay oozes New York history. It was the most luxurious hotel built by the New York Central Railroad and one of the most glamorous and elegant hotels in central Manhattan.

The lobby alone is worth visiting as a city landmark: plush sofas, cool shades, opulent floral displays and one of the best lobby bars in downtown, it is one of THE places to simply sit, enjoy a beer (or Martini) and watch the world check in. And with The Barclay being the haunt of film stars, celebrities and international diplomats and world leaders you’re never quite certain who will saunter by. (One world leader was staying at the same time as us but sadly all we met in the lift were his US secret service minders, exciting as that was).

Nearly every major head of state has visited the hotel, including President Ronald Reagan, Francois Mitterrand and Nelson Mandela. The Barclay Hotel has also been the home away from home for such celebrities as Bette Davis, Marlon Brando and Ernest Hemingway.

The hotel has 686 luxurious guest rooms and suites, all beautifully appointed with a wealth of modern amenities for a comfortable and relaxing stay.

Our room was a quad – two queen beds – which meant that even a family of four adults could stay at The Barclay and keep within budget. Each room is furnished with digital cable/satellite TV, high-speed Internet, radio alarms compatible with i-Pod devices, in-room safes, in-room checkout, centralised heating and air conditioning throughout. Free morning newspapers, tea/coffee makers, mini-bars and 24 hour service are also available.

The hotel’s leisure facilities include the 1,500sq/ft health club, featuring state-of-the-art equipment, and an array of massages.

For meals, The Barclay offers a superb breakfast buffet and a range of well-priced fine dining throughout the day – just the thing after a hard-day’s shopping when aching legs scream ‘room service’.

The Barclay, we discovered, was perfectly situated for many of Manhattan’s sights.

Times Square was just a 20-minute stroll away taking in some of the most famous buildings in the world: Radio City, The Museum of Modern Art, Macy’s, Fifth Avenue, The Empire State Building and the glorious Grand Central Station (do visit: it’s free and breathtaking).

And while we intended to do as much walking as possible, Manhattan is a big place. Taking the subway is still a daunting experience, and not really the simplest way of getting around. Although the few lines make it a doddle compared with the London Underground, stations are still complicated affairs, signage is poor and buying a ticket is for the brave. Do ask what to do. We found plenty of subway staff who were willing to assist. We bought individual all-day passes for the subway that cost $7 each. After two journeys you will make your money back.

Taxis are also a cheap option in New York. Far cheaper than British cabs – despite the falling pound.

To streamline our sightseeing – and save heaps of cash – we had invested in a New York Pass each. Each pass costs £49 (child £36) and can be used over a nine-day period with a saving of more than 40 per cent over buying single tickets. Included in the pass are entrance to The Empire State Building, The American Museum of Natural History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Guggenheim Museum, The Museum of Modern Art, as well as either a harbour cruise or a return crossing to Ellis Island and Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty (although you will have to pay extra for entrance to the statue itself).

The pass proved a superb purchase, enabling us not only to save quite a lot of dollars but took away the need to stand in line at many of the attractions.

And so to shopping, which was, after all, what we were there for, Mrs M and her daughters kept informing me.

Basically, no matter how much of a bargain hunter you are, there’s no escaping Fifth Avenue, New York’s main shopping area. Abercrombie and Fitch, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Apple – the list is almost endless (or so it seemed).

But the price tags go with the address. Yes, the dollar price is still almost the same as the pound ticket in Britain, in numbers at least. But the savings are not great. Far better to make your way to Macy’s.

Century 22, near to Ground Zero, is a true bargain basement designer department store, but its claim to be New York’s best kept secret is hardly fair judging by the crowds who had discovered it.

My tip for thrifty shopping is to wander off the beaten path and visit the small boutiques and stores around Greenwich Village. It’s here also you will find the cheapest beer I discovered in Manhattan – $3 a bottle. Food also was much more sensibly priced, with a lunch alfresco watching the New York world go by in all its variety costing as little as $15 for two courses with wine. In the tourist traps of Times Square a beer cost $10 (£7) and a simple main course around $20 (£15).

So yes, New York can still be achieved on a budget if you work at it.

But take my word, it’s still the most pulsating place on the planet, and that will never come ultra cheap.

FACTFILE

• Check out intercontinental.com for the latest offers for stays at The Barclay Intercontinental New York.

• New York City Pass can be obtained through attractiontix.co.uk, or call 0871 2301060. attractiontix.co.uk is an online attraction ticket provider, offering awealth of attractions and experiences both in the UK and overseas. attractiontix.co.uk offers its customers exceptional value and savings of up to 15-20 per cent compared to their nearest rivals.

• As a great way to start the journey, book into the Holiday Inn London – Brentford Lock for a stay and park deal. The hotel is located beside the Grand Union Canal in the heart of Brentford and is within easy reach of the M25, M4 and A4. The hotel is situated just six miles from Central London and Heathrow Airport alike.

holidayinnbrentford.co.uk

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