By Lesi Lee

Can you believe it? Dreams really do come true and I just came back from New York, guys:)!

There is no better place to get into Christmas spirit than NYC. If you’re a fan of Home alone 2, you definitely know what I mean. Nobody does Christmas like Americans…

We booked tickets just a few weeks ago which was not the most affordable solution but whatever… The best trip of my life for sure!!! 6 days, 15 places, swollen feet but the best memories:).

1. Flight: Let me start with the basic info about the flight. We flew from Vienna to Newark with Austrian and it was absolutely perfect. (They fly almost every day.) 9 hours, delicious food and endless drinks, comfy seats and great movies on screen. You can get tickets from 400-1000eur depending on the season. The airport is only 45 mins from the New York City and much smaller than JFK which makes it more convenient.
2. Accomodation: If you want to save some money, Pod 51 is the option, but of course there is a variety of hotels from 150-4000eur per night (I mean Plaza yes).
3. New York City pass: The best way how to get to all the attractions is to buy a pass. We got a 3 day pass for 300eur and managed to visit all the places on the itinerary (Top of the rock, Hudson yards: Edge, Madame Tussaud museum, Broadway museum, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty ferry tour and others). You can also use it for hop on/off buses around the city, but the traffic sucks:(. The best type of transport is definitely subway (2,40 per ride).
4. Food: The best pizza is at Little Italy, the best breakfast are simply anywhere and everywhere (little bistro is on each street), the best dinner spot is at Pandas with its orange beyond meat noodles and you can enjoy the most festive drinks at the Frosty’s bar:). You will find many hot dog stations everywhere too.
5. Broadway: You must book these tickets at least 2 weeks in advance, because the majority of shows are sold out. We chose the Great Gatsby and it was absolutely perfect. Actors, songs, costumes, choreography, everything was perfect. Memory for life!!!
6. Best times: It is recommended to visit attractions early in the morning (9-10am), but it was not that busy during the day at all. I actually expected worse crowds. Empire State Building can get a little bit annoying due to the long queues and all the checkups, but you won’t stay there for longer than 20-25 mins. Brooklyn bridge is also a great half day trip and it’s ideal to start the walk in the morning.
7. Jet lag: If you fly from Europe, get ready for some sleepless nights. The first 2 nights, I could not fall asleep at all and then my bio somehow got used to that. I would recommend flying at night to avoid extreme tiredness.
8. Central Park: It is much bigger than it looks. Adjust your schedule and spend at least 4 hours walking and exploring this place. You can have a hot chocolate, look for the Home alone locations, ice skate at the rink, look for the squirrels or visit a lovely zoo. We walked all the way through and ended at the famous MET gallery.
9. Prices: When it comes to the souvenirs, expect to pay up to 10 dollars for magnet, 15 dollars for Christmas ornament and 20 dollars for a T-shirt. The original Yankee hat costs around 50 dollars. The food has different prices depending on the location and type of facility. You can get hot chocolate for 5 dollars in the Central Park but also 20 dollars at the Frosty’s bar. Slice of pizza can get expensive too. I remember seeing pizza for 5 or 15. We did not dine at the fancy restaurants because we were just too busy during the day, but they can get high indeed. 3- course menu is 60 dollars.
10. Make a plan in advance: Every morning, I woke up early and checked all the places, opening times, distance from the hotel and eating options so we wouldn’t get lost or had any other issues. I highly recommend doing this. It can really save you lots of time and energy:).

Six days trip is enough to see everything and get into that American, Home alone, festive spirit. We did Thanksgiving day , Black Friday shopping at the 5th Avenue, lightning of the Rockefeller centre all in one visit and it was the most magical time of the year. I only regret one thing. Not going into the Plaza hotel, but maybe next time:).

Some tips from me:

• The area around the Rockefeller centre is beautifully decorated and is worth a long walk and taking some pics.

• Eating at Pietro Nolita in Little Italy is a lovely insta experience.
• Guggenheim museum is worth visiting too! You will find Edgar Degas and also Picasso in one place.
• Visiting Winter wonderland at night is magical and the views of Brooklyn bridge will not disappoint you.
• The most beautiful tree is at Lotte New York palace and it is free to visit.
• Swarovski at 5th Avenue will change your life. The cutest shop ever!
• Walk as much as you can:)!

You definitely need to see this once in a lifetime and I have been saying it to everyone ever since I came back. That feeling of being small and having neck pain from looking up at the skyscrapers, that magnificent moment of looking down at the city that never sleeps is basically indescribable. You must see it for yourself!

Merry Christmas lovelies!

Lots of health, love and travels in 2025!

xx by Lesi Lee xx