Tag: Travel

How to Plan the Best Girls Trip to New York City

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There are few things more fun and exciting than exploring everything the city has to offer with your girlfriends, and with so much to do and see across the five boroughs, planning your trip ahead of time is essential to getting the most out of it. 

Setting Your Budget

The first step to organizing any itinerary is determining your budget. New York City is a massive place, with way too many sights, shops and adventures to possibly fit into one trip, so focus first on identifying absolutely must-do activities.

Base your group’s budget on the answers to these important considerations:

  • How many people are you traveling with? 
  • What’s the length of your stay?
  • What activities would you like to do? 
  • How do you plan on traveling there, and how will you get around? 
  • Where do you plan on staying? 
  • Are you looking for low-cost, or high-end luxury hotels and restaurants? 

From taking a helicopter tour of the city skyline to hitting up the spa to enjoying a nice brunch or catching a show or concert in the park—the possibilities are endless! 

Best Time to Go

When scheduling your epic girls outing, there’s plenty to consider regarding exactly when to visit.

If you’re looking for warm, pleasant weather and manageable tourist crowd sizes, book from April to June, and September to early November. You’ll find some of the best deals on shopping, hotel rates, and airfare from mid-January to the end of February, due to post-holiday sales and less tourists.

New York City is also famous for its host of seasonal events: 

You can enjoy the winter holiday festivities by visiting the holiday markets, Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting, and New Year’s Eve Times Square Ball Drop. 

If the spring is more up your alley, you can check out the New York Botanical Garden’s annual Orchid Show, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Cherry Blossom Festival, and take part in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. 

Summers in the city are full of exciting activities and musical events, including the Governors Ball, Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, and of course, Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks. 

In the fall, look forward to events such as the New York Food & Wine Festival, NYC Marathon, and annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. 

How to Get Around 

As vast and active as NYC is on any given day, traversing the city by car can often prove to be a difficult (and costly) task. If you aren’t familiar with navigating the intricate streets or  deciphering the confusing mess of parking signs, then it’s best to utilize public transportation instead of a rental. 

While taxis and ride-share options are plentiful throughout the city, this can also be expensive. It’s better to pick up a MetroCard and purchase a seven-day unlimited subway pass, and reserve the taxi or ride-shares for select outings.

In addition to often being the fastest and most cost-effective method of getting around, it will also give your party the chance to experience the city like real New Yorkers—which is a huge part of the fun!

Take a Tour & Explore 

There are plenty of great ways you and your girlfriends can explore, with guided and themed tours operating throughout the city to satisfy any interest. 

Take the Circle Line Cruise and enjoy a phenomenal view of the city skyline while sailing by the Statue of Liberty. Book a ride on the Sex & the City Hotspots Tour, and relive your favorite character’s exploits. Or if you prefer to venture out on your own, check out the Highline at Hudson Yards, the newly developed walking path and shopping complex, and visit Chelsea Market to grab a bite before strolling through scenic Hudson River Park. 

Whether taking a guided tour or hitting the streets with no clear destination, there’s nothing quite like taking in the city sights with your friends. 

Best Places for Shopping 

New York City is one of the major shopping epicenters in the world, and scheduling time to indulge in some serious perusing with your crew is an absolute must. And if you’re going to be shopping in New York, Manhattan is the place to be.

Enjoy a host of great shops and stores in SoHo, including Anthropologie, Club Monaco, JCrew, Madewell, and Bloomingdale’s. Then there’s the iconic luxury stores and boutiques on 5th Avenue, including: Bergdorf Goodman, Saks 5th Avenue, Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Harry Winston, Prada, Hugo Boss, and Mikimoto.

If you’d prefer more budget-conscious options, Century 21 on Broadway offers a great selection of discounted luxury goods, and the flagship Macy’s at Herald Square is a massive complex where you can always discover some great grabs. Also don’t be afraid to check out the small independent shops and street markets, where you can usually find fantastic bargains at incredible prices.

Catch a Show

All worn out from exploring? Take to the theatre district and catch a show!

There are plenty both on and off Broadway to delight everyone in your party. Depending on your show, venue and seating choices, tickets can run from $50 to more than $300, and if you have your heart set on a certain performance, you can book online in advance.

If you’d rather not spend any money at all, rest assured you can enjoy a great show or concert in one of the city’s many parks, completely free of charge. 

Grab a Drink & Bite

NYC is home to some world-class bars and restaurants, so you’ll never need to look too far for a great bite to eat with the gang. Some places may require a reservation, so try to map out where you’d like to go ahead of time to ensure you get seated.
Enjoy some brunch and drinks on the café on the terrace at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), or the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Met Rooftop Bar.

Have a fantastic meal in one of SoHo’s local eateries, including Ruby’s, Prince Street Pizza, The Butcher’s Daughter, Felix, and Lure.

Head into the East Village for a drink at Bar Primi, enjoy a free personal pizza with every drink at the Crocodile Lounge in Gramercy Park, or reserve a seat in the lady’s lounge of Beauty & Essex and enjoy some complimentary champagne. 

With so many options, the sky’s the limit.

Facts about Travel Insurance: What It Is and Who Should Get It?

When you plan a trip, you might be wondering, “Should I buy travel insurance? Is it worth the cost?”

Here’s your answer: Everyone should buy travel insurance. Every day people go on trips that are affected by unfortunate events, so it’s best to always be prepared. However, some travelers—as a result of their lack of interest in or knowledge of travel insurance—don’t even realize what it is and what kind of protection it provides.

We put together this guide to get you all the facts you need.

What Is Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance is a type of insurance in which people are offered protection while traveling. Such plans include trip cancellations or interruptions due to illness, weather, or any other conflicts, such as jury duty—as well as lost luggage and medical coverage. Travelers with insurance will be reimbursed if any issues arise before or during their trip.

You’ll be thankful you have it if a family member gets sick right before a trip, and you need to cancel, or if you get injured during a physical activity at a resort. 

Types of Travel Insurance

There are several types of travel insurance plans available:

  • Trip Cancellation and Interruption
  • Travel Medical
  • Baggage Delay
  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment
  • Medical Evacuation
  • Flight Delay or Cancellation
  • The Cancel for Any Reason

Policies tend to vary in regards to domestic and international coverage, as well as coverage for single or multiple trips. Further, every plan doesn’t offer the same exact benefits, so it’s best to do your research to see which plan offers you the best combination of benefits for each trip you go on.

What Can Happen If You Don’t Have Travel Insurance?

I am sure there are clients who may wonder why their travel advisor ask them are they sure they do not want travel insurance. Travel Advisors know the benefits of having travel insurance and the downfalls of not having travel insurance. Therefore, they want to educate their clients on the benefits of getting insurance that some clients deem as “an unnecessary extra charge”. I tell my clients that although Travel Insurance is not required, it is highly recommended.

Recently, I had a client who booked a cruise with travel insurance an a client who booked a hotel room without travel insurance. The client who booked with travel insurance was able to cancel their 2020 cruise with no charge. That client booked a new cruise for 2021. The client who booked with no insurance was given a supplier credit for the amount of the hotel stay. That client actually wanted a refund. I explained to them that because they did not get the travel insurance (they signed the insurance waiver), they would only be able to get the supplier credit. Their money will not be refunded.

Who Should Buy Travel Insurance?

It doesn’t matter if you’re going on a business trip, a family vacation with the kids, grandkids, or just by yourself. Everyone should buy travel insurance because unforeseen events could take place.

According to the U.S. Travel Association release in 2014, “One in six Americans (17%) say their travel plans have been impacted by medical conditions, natural disasters including severe weather; or mechanical or carrier-caused problems.” 

However, 22% of people from this survey had travel insurance while the rest did not. The U.S. Travel Association also points out that most people are happy that they invested in travel insurance, with a satisfaction rate of 85%. Although more people are purchasing travel insurance when they go on a trip, as also reported by the U.S. Travel Association, there is still a large number of people who choose not to.

These facts about travel insurance prove that many travelers have to deal with unexpected events both before and during a trip. Why take the chance of not being prepared, especially when other people who have done the same are happy they did?

For more information or to book your next trip, go to journey2elation.com.