Christmas in New York - December, 2005                         HOME

Getting away for the holidays is always fun -
no presents to buy and just time spent enjoying a winter like New York.

New York was cold, but had no snow as we arrived,
even though it had snowed the previous week.

We had booked the Marriott at Newark for the night before,
so we were able to check in and get a few hours of rest and a
shower before we hit the big Apple.

The hotel does offer a shuttle, however you could actually walk
across one parking lot and an access road to the hotel in 15 min.

As long as it is on a weekend, this hotel offers great deals including
day-rooms on request.

By lunchtime, we had taken the train to Penn station from the airport and
settled in to our hotel, the QT at 125 West 45th Street only one block
from Broadway and Time Square.
You would miss it was it not for the orange sign with QT over the door.

Once inside you are confronted with the check in desk that looks more
like a gift shop with a very large offering.
The 'minibar" in the room is empty so you just purchase whatever you
need from the front desk, from Spirits and snacks, to flip-flops for the
sauna and pool

The rooms are not large, as is often the case in this city, but very well thought out.
The bed is located raised on a platform, which also functions as a sitting bench.
Each room has a safe as well as a plasma tv to be watched while in bed.

5th Avenue was filled with last minute Christmas shoppers, and next to the
Rockefeller Christmas tree, people were skating at the ice-rink.

That evening, we had made reservations at the French Balthazar restaurant
in Soho where they served excellent holiday inspired dishes.

On 25 December, we met up with friends for a Christmas brunch at the
Zagat rated Norma's in the Le Meridien hotel at 118 West 57th Street.

We picked some of their signature dishes, Mango-papaya filled Cinnamon Crepes,
Duck hash and Eggs Florentine.

That afternoon, was spent leisurely strolling though a quiet Central Park,
except for a few dog walkers and joggers.

For dinner, we went back to one of our favorite casual restaurants, Virgil,s BBQ.
Just steps from Time Square on 44th Street, but as soon as you enter you are
transported to one of the South's best Barbecue places.

Be careful so you do not order too much food, the eyes are definitively larger
than you stomach.

On our departure day, we enjoyed the hotel's complimentary breakfast served
in their bar. Prior to leaving for  JFK Airport.

The quickest way was riding the subway to Howard Beach Station and the
Airtrain from there to the terminal - all in 65 minutes. Perfect if you have
only carry on bags.

Below follow som great links to help you plan your New York getaway

http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/ewrframe.HTM
http://www.airtrainnewark.com/airtrainnewark/index.html
www.hotelqt.com
www.opentable.com
www.balthazarny.com
http://www.parkermeridien.com
www.panynj.gov
www.panynj.gov/airtrain/
www.nymag.com

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