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New York (New York)

The City that never sleeps

New York (New York)

Rooms From €129 (Per Room)

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New York

Photograph of New York (New York)

The City that never sleeps

The problem with visiting New York is knowing where to begin, but even if you don't immediately rush off to view the world-famous sights and icons of this most dynamic of cities, just being there is enough: the wonder of New York is in the energy and the diversity that emanates from its densely packed, multi-cultural population. The city vibrates with colliding cultures, languages and nuances; here high-life and low-life rub shoulders, and whoever you are and whatever your taste, there will be something to amuse and stimulate you 24-hours a day.
Whether lolling on a bench in leafy Central Park, watching the world go by from a French bistro in Soho, or gazing up at 'Lady Liberty' from the deck of the Staten Island Ferry, most visitors will feel they've done it all before, simply because New York is so familiar to anyone who has ever seen a movie or watched television. There is something special however in actually seeing the familiar landmarks and experiencing the pulse of the clichéd, but true, 'city that never sleeps'.
New York City is made up of five boroughs: Staten Island, The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan, but many visitors never leave Manhattan. There is a lot packed into this tiny area: the 24-hour pasta restaurants of Little Italy and the bustling sidewalks of Chinatown, the jazz clubs of Greenwich Village and the theatres of Broadway; and of course the iconic sights of the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and Times Square.
New York has been described as the best three-day city in the world, and that's about right. After a frenzy of museums, galleries, bars and clubs, many visitors are ready for a break. Fortunately there's a lot of choice in excursions, from the National Parks of Upstate New York, to the beaches of Long Island or simply the leafy oasis of Central Park. Whatever you're after, New York is ready and waiting to bewitch, bother and bewilder. 

  • Visit the Top of the Rock Observation Deck at the Rockefeller Center or top of the Empire State Building for great views.
  • Walk the famous Brooklyn Bridge for fantastic views of the city.
  • Take a stroll through Times Square at night.
  • Dine on pasta in Little Italy, dumplings in Chinatown or the Meat Packing District for fine dinning and posh night clubs.
  • Take a Horse and Buggy Ride through Central Park stopping for Brunch at The Boat House.
  • Go shopping on Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue or the world's largest department store Macy's, or FAO Schwarz for toys.
  • Take a day trip to Woodbury Common Premium Outlets shopping
  • Stroll through Battery Park for views of the Financial District skyscrapers and the Statue of Liberty. Visit Ground Zero
  • Take a boat to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

We have featured the largest selection of USA city break destinations available on any Irish website and there is somewhere there for everyone.

We work with all the major Airlines and can book these for you with full flexibility through our in-house systems.

There are currently direct flights from Ireland to the USA with Aer Lingus, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, American Airlines and US Airways. There are also many connections via the UK with British Airways, Virgin and other airlines.

We have just given a brief glimpse of what we can offer you, please feel free to browse more or if there is a destination you would like to know more about call now on 01 853 5000, email [email protected], send us a quick message or complete the enquiry form - we will be delighted to help you, its all part of the Platinum Service!

There are regular direct flights to New York from Ireland with United Airlines, Delta Airlines, American Airlines and Aer Lingus and numerous connections via the UK or USA with other airlines.

Average flight time from Ireland to New York is 5-6 hours.

When it comes to planning out how to reach your destination, Platinum Travel have all the air travel expertise to help you get the best route to your final location.

As a licensed and bonded Travel Agent we have access to negotiated contract and wholesale fares with airlines worldwide. Our Travel Concierge team members will help you with the best connections and airlines to suit your own personal requirements.

For many destinations a number of flights may be required and sometimes it will include arriving into one airport and leaving from another. We will ensure you have the best combination of flights to do this and make sure you cover the necessary MCT (minimum connecting time) so that you have the best opportunity of a smooth and easy journey.

Several airlines have introduced many ancillary charges such as seat assignments, checked bags, priority boarding etc. Platinum Travel will look after these for you and book you at the best available bundle package at the best price. Upgraded airline fares, lounge access & Fasttrack are also available and again Platinum Travel know how to avail of the best value for these extras.

Platinum Travel are a fully licensed and bonded travel agent so you have a lot more protection with us than with the internet (airlines are not bonded).

John F Kennedy International Airport

One of the busiest airports in the US (and the world), John F Kennedy International Airport in New York City is a major travel hub for national and international flights in North America. Located 12 miles (20km) from downtown Manhattan in the borough of Queens, the mammoth facility is used by more than 90 airlines, with flights to John F Kennedy International Airport available from cities all around the world, including Paris, Mumbai, Tokyo, Montreal, Beijing, Panama City, Moscow, Los Angeles, Cairo, Sydney, Johannesburg, Seoul, and many other destinations.
A huge facility with eight terminals, JFK (as it's popularly known) has every kind of shop, restaurant, or entertainment option a passenger could wish for. Terminal 4 houses a great art museum and large shopping complex.
Unfortunately, the large size of the airport makes it confusing to navigate, and passengers making connections will need to allow a lot of time between flights to get from one gate to another. Security is also very strict, though the facility handles its large volume of traffic (46 million passengers each year) efficiently.
Location The airport is located 15 miles (24km) southeast of central Manhattan.
Getting to the city Ground Transportation Information is available in the baggage claim/arrival areas of all terminals and provides information on buses, shared-ride vans and limousines. The AirTrain links the airport to the subway, train and bus system, which go to the city centre. 'SuperShuttle Manhattan' is a 24-hour, shared, door-to-door service to anywhere between Battery Park and 227th including all hotels, and the service also operates to Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx and Staten Island. The New York Airport Service provides a regular bus transportation service to and from Manhattan (New York City), LGA Airport, and Midtown Hotels.
Time GMT -5 (GMT -4 from March to November).
Contacts Tel: +1 718 244 4444.
Car rental Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, Enterprise and National are represented at all terminals by either a courtesy phone or rental car counter. The AirTrain shuttles passengers between the terminals and the car rental offices.
Airport Taxis Taxis are available in front of all nine terminals, and the journey time to Manhattan is between 40 and 60 minutes. There is a generally a $45 fare to Manhattan (excluding tolls), other approximate fares include Brooklyn $52, Bronx $43, Queens $27, Staten Island $64, LaGuardia Airport $32, and Newark Airport $97. Tipping 15 percent is customary for good service. Only use taxis from the taxi dispatch booth and refuse offers from others.
Transfer between terminals Passengers can travel between JFK's nine terminals on the free AirTrain. Terminals 2 and 3 are connected by a walkway, and terminals 8 and 9 are connected by an interior concourse. The entire loop takes eight minutes.
Facilities All terminals have ATMs, bureaux de change, bars, restaurants and a wide selection of shops. There is a cellular phone rental facility in the arrivals area of Terminal 3. Travellers will be able to find most services in the terminals, including wireless Internet access, medical facilities, information counters, shoe-shiners and conference facilities. Disabled facilities are good; those with special needs should contact their airline or travel agent in advance.
Parking There are two kinds of public parking at JFK. The long-term parking is four miles (6km) from the terminals and is served by a free shuttle bus. Passengers are advised to allow 30 minutes to reach their terminal. The Central Terminal Area (CTA) parking is adjacent to the terminals and provides for daily parking needs. Signs to the parking facilities are colour-coded to indicate their proximity to the terminals. A Cell Phone Lot waiting area is located near the airport's entrance for drivers to wait for disembarking passengers. There is parking available adjacent to each terminal, ranging from $6 per hour to $33 per day in the short-term lots to $18 per day in the long-term lots, connected to the terminals by the AirTrain service.
Departure Tax Passenger Facility Charge US$4.50
Website www.kennedyairport.com
Airlines Flights to John F Kennedy International Airport are available via dozens of airlines, including Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Air Berling, Air China, Air France, Alitalia, American Airlines, American Eagle, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Delta, EgyptAir, Emirates, Etihad, Jet Airways, Japan Airlines, JetBlue, KLM, LAN Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas, Saudi Arabian Airlines, South African Airways, Sun Country, Swiss International, Turkish Airlines, United, US Airways, Virgin America, and Virgin Atlantic.
Internet Wifi is available through Boingo for $4.95 per hour or $7.95 per day. JetBlue Terminal 6 offers free wifi to passengers of that airline.
Business Lounges There are photocopying, fax and FedEx facilities at the airport, and attached airport hotels like the Sheraton JFK Airport Hotel or the Marriott offer conference facilities with audi-visual equipment and catering.

Newark Liberty International Airport

Location The airport is located two miles (3km) south of Newark, 16 miles (26km) southwest of New York.
Getting to the city Newark Liberty International Airport offers travellers a wide range of Ground Transportation services. There are taxis, buses, shuttles, and limousines available in front of and beside all three terminals. Ground Transportation Information counters, located on the lower baggage claim level of all terminals provide information and reservations for buses, shared-ride vans and limousines. The AirTrain connects to regional and commuter trains. New Jersey Transit buses have various routes to destinations in New Jersey and Penn Station in Newark; bus 107 has a direct service to New York City. The Newark Liberty Airport Express provides a bus service approximately every 30 minutes to Manhattan and SuperShuttle Manhattan is a shared minibus service, which goes to all areas of Manhattan, including hotels.
Time GMT -5 (GMT -4 from March to November).
Contacts Tel: +1 973 961 6000.
Car rental Car rental companies include Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National and Enterprise. The AirTrain links the terminals to the airport car rental offices; Enterprise is linked by a further courtesy vehicle to its office adjacent to the airport.
Airport Taxis Ground Transportation Information is available in the baggage claim/arrival areas of each terminal. A taxi can be requested from a uniformed taxi dispatcher and should cost between US$50 and US$75 to destinations in Manhattan. Transfer between terminals
The AirTrain is a free service that ferries passengers between the three terminals.
Facilities All terminals have ATMs and bureaux de change, a wide selection of bars, shops and restaurants and business facilities including fax, photocopying and courier services. Data ports can be found next to most public telephones in all terminals. Wireless Internet is also available at all terminals. Disabled facilities are good; those with special needs should ideally contact their airline or travel agent in advance.
Parking There is short-term parking next to the terminals. Daily parking is a few minutes away on the free AirTrain and Economy parking is 20 minutes from the terminals via a free shuttle bus. In addition to the on-airport parking lots listed above, there are a number of privately operated parking lots located near the airport; see the airport website for details. Valet Parking is also available. Signs to the parking facilities are colour coded to indicate their proximity to the terminals.
Departure Tax Passenger Facility Charge US$4.50
Website www.newarkairport.com

Getting Around New York

Transport

New York's public transport system is relatively good and cheap, including buses and the subway. There are also the ever-present, although more expensive, yellow cabs. Unlicensed gypsy cabs should be avoided. It is possible to get around the city using a combination of these, or simply on foot.
Walking is often the best way to experience the city, and during rush hours, when buses and taxis are caught up in the gridlock and the subway is overcrowded or delayed, it can also be the fastest way to get around. Generally though, the most efficient way to get around is the 24-hour underground system with most of Manhattan's sights near subway stations, although it can be confusing at first.
Much simpler but slower, is the bus system, which is a good option for shorter distances or for travelling across town. The subway and bus fare are standard ($2); note that buses require the exact change in coins, not dollar bills. MetroCards allow free transfer between buses and the subway within two hours.
Driving in New York is not recommended as traffic is heavy, drivers aggressive and parking exorbitant.

What to See and Do in New York

New York City Attractions

With New York's countless attractions, it would take days to see and do everything this vibrant city has to offer. From iconic structures such as the Statue of Liberty and Rockefeller Center, New York is brimming with sights to see. The question is: where to start?
Anyone who has ever watched a movie set in New York will feel at home with the recognisable sights, whether looking out over the New York skyline from the Empire State Building, reading billboards in Times Square, or strolling through Central Park. Visit the boroughs, watch a show on Broadway, admire the animals in the Central Park Zoo, look out for celebrities waving from the windows of TRL in Times Square, or simply watch the city go by on the Staten Island Ferry. There is no end of things to see and do in New York City.
For culture-vultures there are wonderful museums to explore, such as the American Museum of Natural History or the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Visitors to Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum can make a video of themselves as Superman flying through New York City and keep the CD as a souvenir. An easy way to see the sights is to take a ride on one of New York's topless tour buses. It may not be as exciting as exploring the city on foot, but it's a great way to learn and see a lot quickly.

New York City Kids Attractions

The bustling city of New York is a great place for children on vacation. Boasting some of the world's most well-known and recognisable attractions, the kids will be well entertained. Take the kids out to Ellis Island to see the Statue of Liberty, or take them up to the Empire State Building's observation deck where they can marvel at the panoramic views of this metropolis.
For active children, a stroll through Central Park will give them plenty of space to stretch their legs and in winter months don't miss ice skating at the Trump Wollman Rink or Rockefeller Plaza.
On rainy days why not take the kids to some of the amazing shops around New York City, such as Toys 'R Us in Times Square, NIKETOWN, or the wonderfully decadent Dylan's Candy Bar where kids will go wild at the amount of sugary candies and chocolates available. The Brooklyn Children's Museum is also worth a visit, as are the New York Aquarium and Central Park Zoo, both of which are perfect to visit on rainy days. For warm summer nights, nothing beats a baseball game at Yankee Stadium, complete with hot dogs and popcorn.
With so much to see and more, children visiting New York City will be sure to have a memorable and unforgettable experience and hopefully, for parents, get tired out from all the sightseeing in this 'city that never sleeps'.

Shopping in New York

Visitors to the Big Apple will be blown away by the amount and calibre of stores in this city. Offering some of the best and most expensive shopping in the world, 5th Avenue is synonymous with classy high-end department stores such as Bergdorf's and Saks. Madison Avenue is known as 'the trendy road' and this haute strip boasts 15 blocks of celebrity designer shops such as Chanel, Jimmy Choo and Prada, to name a few. Soho is one of New York's poshest outdoor malls where cobblestone streets and loft-like spaces make the Soho a prettier location for a spot of shopping than the average mall.
As cosmopolitan as New York may be, visitors on a tighter budget can still find plenty of bargains at the city's flea markets, which offer some top quality goods with stores touting designer knockoffs, antiques, jewellery, curios, thrift wear, home furnishings and cosmetics. Farmer's Markets are a must for foodies where they can sample vegetables, meat, dairy, poultry and fish as well as baked goods, honey, maple syrup, jam and wine.
Chinatown is a shopper's paradise with cheap knockoffs on offer, and where haggling is common practice. Century 21 is considered 'New York's best kept secret' with over 15 departments of quality and designer merchandise at 25 to 75 percent off retail prices. Whether shopping in upscale Madison Avenue or the bargain-friendly Lower East Side, New York has something to offer everyone.
Popular New York City souvenirs run to tacky tourist merchendise, you'll be inundated with miniature Statues of Liberty and the ubiquitous 'I (Heart) NY' gear. Other popular buys include New York Yankees merchendise and theatrical posters from Broadway.

Dining in New York City

New York City is famous for its roadside vendors selling all American wholesome goodness such as hotdogs, corndogs, bagels and donuts, but it is an international affair when dining out. Every kind of cuisine is on offer and it would take a lifetime to sample them all. With more than eight thousand restaurants to choose from, it is difficult to know where to begin.
Head on down to Chinatown for a myriad of options including restaurants serving Cantonese, Sichuan, and Shanghai cuisine. There are also a few Chinese restaurants where dim sum is available throughout the day. Times Square is a popular destination, but the area is plagued with mediocre chain restaurants. There are however wonderful eateries to be found beyond the tourist traps. New York's steakhouses offer a variety of delicious steak options from porterhouse steak to New York strip steak.
Everything is big in the United States and the pizzas and pizza pies are no different. With plenty of fantastic pizza and Italian restaurants around the city, it's a pizza lover's paradise. Many small pizzerias sell the iconic New York-style pizza at only $1 for a gigantic slice. Ukrainian, Indian and Japanese cuisine can be found in the East Village, while Harlem is synonymous with African and Soul food. Queens offers the most variety with Greek, Irish, Latin American, Russian, Indian and Kosher fare to tantalise the taste buds.

New York City Nightlife

The nightlife in New York City is second to none. Encompassing jazz bars, nightclubs, lounges, comedy clubs and live shows, there's literally something happening around every corner. The Village, Broadway, Bowery and Madison Square Garden are just a few of the best destinations for evening entertainment in New York.
As the hub of the jazz world, New York is home to venues such as 55 Bar and Arthur's Tavern. Jazz tours from the Village to Harlem are also an option, with a stop at the legendary Apollo Theatre. As the launching pad of comedians such as Jerry Seinfeld, New York has many comedy shows; catch these at the New York Comedy Club or the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. There are always Broadway shows to be seen, try the Palace or O'Neill theatres for the latest.
Broadways shows are expensive - up to $150 per ticket for blockbusters. Hence the popularity of the TKTS discount ticket booth at Times Square. It opens every day at 11am, but the queue forms well before this. You can pick up last-minute tickets for less than half of the regular price, depending on what's available. For the super-flexible theatre goer, visit the booth around 5pm when there is seldom a queue and last minute prices have dropped even further.
Nightclubs come and go quickly in New York City, as the fickle population becomes enamoured with the newest venue, but you can always be assured that whatever you want, New York will have plenty of it. 13 Bar/Lounge is a lounge and nightclub offering live music and poetry readings, Aria dance club features Latin, rock and hip hop, and the Bowery Ballroom is an Art Deco-style venue with alternative and indie rock. The Oak Room offers superb cabaret and the People's Voice Café features live folk music. World-class performance venues are a dime a dozen in a city that boasts Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Centre and Carnegie Hall, and you can take your pick of ballet, opera, symphony orchestras, or chamber music.
For up-to-date events information for New York City, pick up a copy of the Village Voice or Time Out New York.



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