Come Fly With Me

Saturday 02/12/17

Home Alone: Lost in New York. Arguably one of the greatest sequels ever made and, dare I say it, quite possibly better than the first movie. Not only is this family friendly movie an excellent watch, it is responsible for a life long desire to visit New York during Christmas. Yes I've been to New York briefly but apparently there's much more to the city than Times Square and the Toys'r'Us shop. So when Rory and I stumbled across return flights from Belfast at the bargain price of £175, we couldn't say no! 

Oddly enough, this was one of those rare occasions where we actually booked something in advance and so after waiting for quite a few months, when the big day rolled around we were more than ready for our mini-American adventure. 

Flying from Belfast International, the Norwegian flight takes just over six hours and is completely no frills. There are no personal entertainment screens, no meals included and if you want to sit together or bring a bag then you have to pay extra. Naturally Rory and I wanted to save every last penny for niceys so we travelled with hand luggage, bought sandwiches and snacks in the airport and took our chances with seats. Luckily the plan was only half full and we ended up with a row to ourselves. For the price I have absolutely no complaints about the flight and I really wonder how airlines who charge three times what we paid can justify the pricing! 

We landed in Newburg Stewart International Airport which was miniscule and an absolute delight. We were off the plane quickly and through customs in minutes rather than hours! The airport provides a bus service that takes you directly to Port Authority Bus Terminal. It took around ninety minutes and all I had to do was sit back, relax and occasionally whack Rory so he didn't fall asleep. 

Our hotel, the Wolcott, was located between Broadway and 5th Avenue, in the shadow of the Empire State Building and about twenty minutes from the bus station. It was easy to find, as was the CVS on the corner that we promptly visited in order to stock up on Rootbeer! 

By the time we got back to the hotel it was half eleven so we decided to get some sleep. While we haven't seen much of New York, if the arrival is anything to go by then the rest of the trip will be a breeze!

P.S I realise this post is light on pictures (which is the best part) so here's a preview of what's to come...