Big Holiday – New York, USA (part 1)

Nowhere says Christmas more than New York. So when debating where to go on holiday this December for a wintery city break, New York was the first destination to come to mind. And eight hours after jetting off from Heathrow, we were touching down at JFK for five days of sights, culture, food, drink and tinsel at surely one of the best holiday destinations in the World.

We stayed at Hotel 17 – a cheap hotel in Manhattan’s East Village with shared bathrooms, small but comfortable rooms, and above all an excellent location just minutes from East Village’s bars, cafes and restaurants and also really close to New York’s subway system. Our first stop was Wendy’s burger joint for a taste of NY’s fast food scene. Pulp Fiction’s Big Kahuna Burger scene sprang to mind. We then proceeded to hit the East Village bar scene – in our first bar a round of Jaegarbombs was greeted with an “Oh my God you’re from England” from the barwoman, and a generous 30% off the tab to ensure we had “the best introduction to NY possible”. This kind of friendliness was encountered throughout the trip, dispelling the myth of mardy, arrogant and impatient New Yorkers (towards British tourists at least). The highlight from the 1st night was Old McSorley’s Ale House, one of the oldest pubs in New York boasting some tasty ales. The constant buy one get one free policy and sawdust on the floors help create a great atmosphere in a historic pub.

New York Cab

Day two saw us travel south on the subways to Wall Street, with a wander round the financial district in the Southern tip of Manhattan. The Statue of Liberty is visible from the riverside if you don’t fancy a ferry over – it’s current renovation works make it visible from the outside only so no climbing to the top of the head for the time being. A trip to the sombre Ground Zero site is a must – you need a free ticket in advance to gain access to the site itself, which is now home to two huge waterfalls where the Twin Towers once stood. Otherwise the visitors centre is just off-site which again is an emotional experience. One World Trade Centre, the new flagship tower in the rebuilding project, is growing quickly (see below) and is beginning to command the Downtown skyline.

One World Trade Centre

Our evening took us north to Broadway, for a stand-up comedy show. We were sold the tickets at Wall Street, with Chris Rock on the lineup and plenty of free drinks included in the measly $15 price tag. Unfortunately, upon arrival we discovered Chris rock was NOT on the lineup and only one free drink per person was provided. We had fallen for a classic tourist sales scam. After complaining to the manager we were given plenty of free drink and had a really good night but it is something to watch out for, street vendors are everywhere touristy in NY and many are out to make a quick sale.

Part 2 coming soon – Times Sq, Central Park & street dancers on the way - subscribe to keep updated!

Happy Christmas everyone!

Best Clubbing Holiday Destinations in Europe – Ibiza

Ibiza is truly one of those rare destinations where you experience a very special feeling as your plane touches down on the runway. It’s a country that keeps hundreds of thousands of visitors coming back year after year, a place where (almost) anything goes and different nationalities come together and celebrate the summer season.

Ibiza is one of the Balearic Islands off the coast of Spain – it can be reached in 2-3  hours from the UK or by boat if you happen to be driving through Spain. It came to prominence in the late 80s when Danny Rampling and Paul Oakenfold brought what they saw whilst on holiday in Ibiza back to the UK, helping kick off the acid house scene and spreading the word of what they experienced in Ibiza. From then on, Ibiza grew and grew and it is now a mecca for clubbers across the globe, it’s a place like minded people can come and unite around the central theme of dance music. It’s a true summer holiday destination.

The famous Space Ibiza terrace

There are several different areas to Ibiza – San Antonio in the West is largely populated with young people out to enjoy themselves on holiday – the demographic is largely English here, with plenty of late night bars, clubs and beaches. The famous Cafe Del Mar as well as Mambo and Ibiza Rocks hotel are also found here. Ibiza town and nearby Playa d’en Bossa in the south east are slightly more upmarket destinations attracting more Germans, Italians and Spanish. Space Ibiza and Pacha, two of the most famous and well-regarded clubs in the world, are located in this region.  In between the two are another two famous clubs – Privilege and Amnesia. The clubs in Ibiza are sights to behold, mostly holding around 5,000 people with many different areas. Needless to say come summer they attract the biggest DJs such as David Guetta, Paul Van Dyk, Tiesto, Swedish House Mafia, Carl Cox and Pete Tong. As far as clubbing holidays go – Ibiza is certainly the number one destination in the world.

The Sunset Strip, West End

It’s not just the clubbing either that makes Ibiza so attractive – there are dozens of beautiful secluded beaches easily accessible with a car, as most people stay in the main towns you can find some gems to relax at. In addition, the seemingly endless sunshine, the temperate Mediterranean sea and a host of chilled beach bars offering delicious cocktails and Spanish food, Ibiza is truly one of the best holiday destinations around.