What to Do in New York – According to Qantas Frequent Flyers
Cocktails with a side of binoculars, hotels staffed by robots and heated pools overlooking the city. There’s only one Big Apple but there are many ways to explore it, as these Qantas travellers tell.
“Travel five minutes on a ferry and you’ll feel miles away from the city”
- Natalie Babic, Bronze Frequent Flyer
“I went for a nine-day trip to visit my friends Bec and Paul and as soon as I landed, we headed out for Aperol Spritzes in the afternoon sun at Dante in the West Village. The street out the front was shut down for a photo shoot – it was a very NYC welcome!
“Everywhere we ate was incredible: order the tonnarelli cacio e pepe at the quaint Sant Ambroeus; the saganaki fondue at Lola Taverna, where the walls are covered in purple flowers; and the shrimp and pea shoot wonton at Chinese Tuxedo.
“If you have time, you must visit the QC NY Spa on Governors Island. It’s a five-minute ferry ride from Manhattan and feels miles away from the bustle of the city. The spa has many outdoor pools which are all different temperatures. It’s so relaxing; you can hang in the water or on sun lounges just watching the city skyline in front of you.
“I love the theatre and I saw three shows on Broadway but the highlight was Sleep No More at The McKittrick Hotel. I’ve never experienced anything like it. It's an immersive theatre where you wear a mask and the actors move around you. You have to pick which actor to follow, like a Choose Your Own Adventure novel. It was bizarre and amazing at the same time.”
Take off to New York with Qantas. Enjoy all-inclusive flights from Sydney to New York (via Auckland).
“New York has an energy you can’t find anywhere else”
- Scott Jermy, Silver Frequent Flyer
“I lived in Manhattan for many years so I often go back, always flying Qantas and making sure to visit the International Lounges. The crew are so lovely and now that there’s a flight from Sydney, it’s going to make trips even easier.
“I always squeeze in a run at Central Park – it’s an oasis in the middle of such a busy city – and then grab a coffee at Bluestone Lane, close to the Guggenheim. After that, it’s an extravaganza of eating and drinking. L’Artusi is a great hole-in-the-wall restaurant in the West Village; order the pici nero, a pasta with crab with chilli, tomato and garlic. I Sodi is another great spot to visit; you have to get there at 5pm to put your name down in the queue but it’s so worth it for the negroni. Manhatta has one of the best city views: it’s on the 60th floor of a Downtown building and you can get binoculars at the bar. Go at sunset – you’ll see Manhattan bathed in light from all angles. New York really has a buzz, an energy, that you can’t find anywhere else. It’s electric.”
“We stayed at a hotel where robots deliver to your room”
- Derrin Stent, Silver Frequent Flyer
“My wife, Tracy, and I wanted to give our two teenage boys the New York City experience that they’ve seen in the movies. We stayed at Luma Hotel – booked with Qantas Points – which is right near buzzing Times Square. The hotel is very cool – a robot comes to your door with deliveries such as extra towels.
“We’d start each day by visiting Whole Foods Market to pick up a coffee and croissant before walking through Bryant Park. We’d eat our breakfast on the benches there and feel like total New Yorkers. It was great.
“We also went to a Yankees match and ate large buckets of fried chicken. The kids loved the Museum of Natural History, partly because of the film Night at the Museum. Visiting Top of the Rock was an absolute highlight of our trip. The view is incredible – it’s quintessential New York. We’ll never forget this trip.”
“New York is such a wonderful city to explore on foot”
- André Jacques, Platinum Frequent Flyer
“I travel to New York twice a year for business and on my last trip it included a weekend to myself. I work for Langham Hotels & Resorts so I stayed at The Langham, Fifth Avenue, near the Empire State Building. New York is such a great city to explore by foot. I loved starting my morning by going for a walk up to Central Park and I also spent a lot of time wandering through Greenwich Village and admiring the architecture; the brownstones are lovely.
“I had a wonderful brunch at the Parisian-inspired La Grande Boucherie in Midtown where the Mimosas are fantastic and I also visited the Ralph Lauren Polo Bar in the Upper East Side. It’s normally booked out weeks in advance but we managed to get in on a Friday night so try your luck – and order the Martinis! My favourite restaurant on this trip was The Standard Grill in the Meatpacking district. Order the seafood ceviche. It’s super-fresh and delicious.”
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