GLUTEN FREE NEW YORK - December 2016
When my husband said we are off to New York, New York and we are staying on the perimeter of Hell's Kitchen I was a little, no a lot nervous.
Again we researched every inch of our holiday before we left.
Best time to visit is when Aussie kids finish school for the year around November 25th.
Best weather and all the stores and hotels are decorated for Christmas come Dec 1st.
The cab ride from Newark Airport was harrowing - costs around $85 which includes tolls.
The cab drivers are in a hurry, no attention to lanes, ours was texting, swearing, eating, reading and often drifting over lanes - it took about 30 mins to the hotel and we were all shaking like a leaf and just wanted OUT. I would suggest a transfer to your hotel - a private driver. One way private transfer would be $95 for a family.
We spoke with another Aussie at our hotel and she took a bus transfer from the same airport and it took her 2 hours to get to hotel ! After flying from Australia for hours and hours, you just want to go straight there - hang the extra bucks.
Make sure you get a flight that comes in on a weekend or out of peak traffic times for an easy arrival time.
We stayed at the Staybridge Suites on the corner of 8th Ave and 40th. One of the only hotels with a full kitchen in your room.
Two cook plates, full fridge, microwave, coffee machine kettle and all the utensils you need to whip up a feast. Best of all just around the corner is three deli stores that have everything you need from fresh fruit and vegetables, to any type of fresh meat, chicken, fish and extensive range of gluten free pastas, flours, biscuits, cake mixes, cheeses. Heaps and heaps of gluten free all over the store - not all in one place like we get in our supermarkets in Australia. I congratulated the store owners (much to the embarrassment of my family) and said I would share their great businesses with the global coeliac community. The fact they went to the effort to have a wide variety of choice should be celebrated,
Another bonus to the Staybridge Suites, is that you do get a breakfast included in your stay. It is a buffet style breakfast for wheat lovers but you can ask the staff for gluten free bread and it comes out wrapped up. As far as cross contamination goes, I am unsure how well the staff are trained but after speaking with the food and beverage manager he had a very good understanding of what is required.
You can eat the eggs and fruit.
At breakfast time, the three lifts do become very crowded, as there is 31 floors to service and one person on our floor waited 20 mins for a lift ! We were on the 13th floor and took the stairs.
I would suggest requesting the lower floors so you can take the stairs when this occurs.
I would often make some food to take on the daily walks as gluten free food if often hard to find unless you seek them out. I know people post places to eat but they are out of the regular tourist places. We did find Ruby Tuesdays around the corner from the hotel but we paid $80 (includes 15% tip) for 3 grilled chicken burgers and fries with 3 softdrinks !!!
The hotel is on the same block as the subway station. Buy the weekly ticket for $32 from the machines as paying each time is a hassle. Subway is fast and safe. Just make sure you don't have your valuables on display for all to see.
It is around the corner from Times Square without having the high prices of those hotels right on Times Square - we booked ours through Expedia. If you watch the prices day to day you will see fluctuations - when it is at its lowest price then pounce!
I must say I had high expectations of New York - don't get me wrong it was exciting and interesting but in no way relaxing. Your room will be noisy from the outside horns and streets, many places smell of urine - as public toilets are no where to be seen for the homeless and they just go anywhere. Garbage bags on the streets awaiting collection and loads of people - all types of people.
My friend who spent three weeks in New York - herself and her travel partner had nose bleeds from the pollution after three weeks stay. Four days was enough for us.
But don't let this put you off - We saw all the Tourist things and it was very iconic - a holiday is what you make it. It will be busy and not relaxing. You will lose weight which is a good thing.
Here are my top tips:
1. See a Broadway show - book online before you go - we saw Wicked and it was absolutely fantastic. Broadway is only a few blocks from hotel and very safe walking at midnight - more people around than during the day!
2. Buy an Explorer Pass - it saves on money, time as you jump queues - we went to:
a. Museum of Natural History - of night at Museum movie fame - takes around 5 to 6 hours to see
b. Top of the Rock - Rockefeller Centre - see the biggest Christmas tree, ice skating rink and the best observation deck for New York. Forget the Empire State Building as queues go forever and lifts are slow. Lifts at the Top of the Rock go 61 floors in 40 seconds !!! Very well organised and you can get your picture with the empire state building and central park in the background. Of all the people - an aussie took our photo for us!
c. Catch subway B or C to South Ferry station and then walk to the Staten Island ferry for FREE to see the Statue of Liberty for FREE. Takes 20 minutes cruise past her and then get off and come back past her again. Sit on the right hand side of the ferry for the best view going over and then left side back from Staten Island.
d. Go to Museum of Modern Art
e. Grand Central Station
f. Library
g. Stock exchange
h. Central Park
Put these sites into google maps and print out the map for your walking tour. We did it easily.
If you have plenty of time, do the hop on hop off bus but in heavy traffic you can walk faster than the bus!
In my opinion, New York is not a place children under 10 years of age would enjoy, especially small children in prams - so many people, small children in prams just see a sea of legs and bums!
Use the find me gluten free app but often these places are not serious about the restrictions of what it means to feed a coeliac safely - so be careful. Or you have walked miles out of your way just to find the choices are salad, salad or salad with dressing!
To make your holiday enjoyable - simply be prepared and carry some gluten free food at all times to get you by - many of the tourist places did not have much choice - maybe a protein bar or two - but that does not excite me. Food should be a exciting part of your holiday.
With your full kitchen at Staybridge Suites - we enjoyed home made lemon chicken, spag bog, grilled cheese sandwiches, fresh baked cakes and biscuits.
Your holiday is what you make it - for us the stories of what went wrong feature just as highly as what was memorable and went fine.
Happy travels.
