Times Square budget hotel

Independent chain Apple Core Hotels has opened a 79-guestroom property on 46th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue, New York. This follows an extensive refurbishment.

Being New York, it calls itself Broadway @ Times Square but in truth it is a short stroll[…]

Source:
http://news.silobreaker.com/times-square-budget-hotel-5_2266817123886039086

Times Square budget hotel

Independent chain Apple Core Hotels has opened a 79-guestroom property on 46th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue, New York. This follows an extensive refurbishment.

Being New York, it calls itself Broadway @ Times Square but in truth it is a short stroll from where Broadway cuts across 45th Street and is close by the Rockefeller Plaza and Grand Central Station. Central Park is not far away.

Room rates start from US$224.99 (which equates to under £73 per person per night) plus taxes in May, based on two sharing a queen room. The price includes complimentary breakfast, wi-fi, daily newspapers and national phone calls. Children aged 12 and under stay for free.

Apple Core Hotels is a small private company with five boutique properties in Manhattan. On offer is the La Quinta (182 rooms), Ramada (111 rooms), The Hotel @ Times Square (213 rooms) and nyma, the new york manhattan hotel (171 rooms) plus Broadway @ Times Square. http://applecorehotels.com

Source:
http://www.btnews.co.uk/article/6277

The Hotel @ Times Square, New York

Best for:
In the city

With a rooftop bar offering views over to Central Park, free wi-fi and a fitness centre, this central pad has rather surprising, but reassuringly old-fashioned interior design.

Rates:
From about £78, applecorehotels.com

Source:
http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/summer-guide-2013-cities-8612131.html?origin=internalSearch

Head to Amsterdam's canals as the city marks the 400th anniversary of these waterways, and take a look, too, at the Rijksmuseum (rijksmuseum.nl), which has just reopened following a 10-year restoration. Doubletree by Hilton (00 31 20 5300 800; doubletree.com) is offering a Canal Tour Package throughout summer, including two nights with breakfast and a one-hour canal tour. Price €338 (£286) for two people sharing. International travel extra.

Munich's art gallery, the Lenbachhaus (lenbachhaus.de), has just reopened after an extensive renovation and the addition of a modern wing by Norman Foster. The museum is named after the artist Franz von Lenbach – whose former home is now Rocco Forte's The Charles Hotel (00 800 7666 6667; roccofortehotels.com). To mark the occasion, the hotel is offering a special package, the Lenbach Experience, starting 13 May. A three-night stay starts from €1,370 (£1,158)pp, based on two sharing, including breakfast, a guided tour of the museum and a themed cocktail. International travel costs extra.

Get a different perspective on New York with a foraging tour of its green spaces, courtesy of nyma hotel (0808 178 6363; nyma.com). Your guide will be "Wildman" Steve Brill, who has spent more than 20 years exploring the city's edible landscape. A night's B&B and the tour costs $275 (£183) for two people, with additional nights at $205 (£137) per room. Flights extra.

INSIDER TIP

Matthew Pack, CEO at Holiday Extras (holidayextras.com)

“Airport hotel deals, combined with parking, offer excellent value for holiday travellers. And a night’s stay at an airport hotel is much more affordable than you might think.”

Source:
http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/summer-guide-2013-cities-8612131.html?origin=internalSearch

New York is to launch a Boris Bike-style scheme later this month.

Citi Bike launches on May 27 and will offer 24 hour ($9.95 + tax), seven days ($25 + tax) and annual ($95 + tax) passes with each pass requiring a $101 security deposit. As in London, you can get free trips for 30 minutes with each extra half hour costing approximately $4.

There are thousands of bicycles available, and tourists can pick up a bike close to their hotel, ride it around New York’s sights, landmarks and parks, then return it to any of the hundreds of stations.

The Hotel @ Times Square is located close to Central Park and Citi Bike stations and offers free continental breakfast, wi-fi and national phone calls. Prices in May start from $234.99 per room (approx. £78 per person, per night).

Click here to book with www.thehotelattimessquare.co.uk

Source:
http://www.your-hols.com/new-york-to-launch-boris-bike-scheme/

With one of the most famous skylines in the world, New York is best seen from a height – and as soon as summer hits there are so many ways to capture the electric horizon. Whether it’s seeing the first glimpses of New York on the flight before touchdown, as the plane casts over the long strips of long island beaches which surround the city, or from a sunny spot of grass on the High Line, elevated three stories above the sidewalk, there is the opportunity to be awe-struck at literally every level!

Located in the heart of the city and surrounded by towering skyscrapers, The Hotel @ Times Square provides the perfect base from which to enjoy New York. Situated close to a plethora of venues with rooftop bars (and scheduled to open its own in the autumn), there are plenty of ways to see the city clearly from this central hub – and so many landmarks to spot!

For those wanting to step away from the bar scene this summer, why not get a view of the Empire State Building from the air, with a trapeze session from the Trapeze School New York? Recently reopened for the summer, this dynamic company is dedicated to making flying trapeze available to anyone who seeks inspiration, challenge, fitness or just a couple hours of unique fun!

And if that’s not enough height, nothing provides the same adrenaline rush in New York as a helicopter tour around Manhattan. While the city can be very crowded, busy and loud from street level – it’s completely different from above, and a helicopter tour offers a quick and comfortable way to see famous landmarks, parks and buildings from a new perspective.

However, when is the best time to see Manhattan at its most beautiful? Few people know that while the UK celebrates the summer Solstice - when the sun rises in perfect alignment with the pre-historic stones of Stonehenge, signalling the change of season, for Manhattan that special day comes twice a year. For 2013 ‘Manhattanhenge’ falls on 28 May and 13 July, when the setting sun aligns precisely with the Manhattan street grid, creating a radiant glow of light across its streets, simultaneously illuminating both the north and south sides of every cross street of the borough's grid.

Centrally located in Midtown Manhattan The Hotel @ Times Square offers free child stays, complimentary continental breakfast, wi-fi and phone calls nationwide. Based on two sharing, prices start from $254.99 per room (approx. £83 per person, per night) in May and $204.99 per room (approx. £64 per person, per night) in July. For more information or to book visit thehotelattimessquare.co.uk. Flights and accommodation taxes excluded.

Source:
http://www.easier.com/114646-summer-solstice-and-views-from-the-sky-manhattan-style.html

New York is a fantastic place to be on Independence Day. At 9pm on 4 July, Macy’s annual firework extravaganza will explode from a gathering of barges on the Hudson river watched by throngs of revellers from its banks and bridges.

Alongside the spectacular display (last year over 40,000 fireworks were sent up to 1,000 feet in the air!) there are always high-calibre celebrity performances while the entire event is screened live on NBC to millions across the country.

What’s more, 2013 is an extra special year for the city which took such a battering by Hurricane Sandy last October. The storm caused extensive damage to Ellis island forcing the iconic Statue Of Liberty to close to the public, just one day after its year-long refurbishment. Independence Day will mark the re-opening of the attraction, a moment guaranteed to bring an extra level of excitement to the city’s celebrations.

And where better to stay than just a short sub way ride away from Ellis Island at affordable yet chic nyma, the new york manhattan hotel, offering free stays for children aged 12 and under plus free continental breakfast and wi-fi. Prices in July start from just $184.99 per double room (£61 per person). To book, call freephone 0808 178 6363 or visit www.thenewyorkmanhattanhotel.co.uk.

Source:
http://www.eglobaltravelmedia.com.au/z-more/hotel-deals/jubilant-july-in-new-york-city.html

New York’s nyma (New York Manhattan Hotel) has partnered with wild-food expert Steve Brill to launch a foraging package for guests staying at the property in June 2013. The one-night package includes a four-hour foraging tour, uncovering the wild foods available in New York’s green spaces.

Foraging has enjoyed renewed relevance thanks to the rise of Nordic cuisine in restaurants (see Edible Authenticity and Roland Rittman – The Collector). As consumers become increasingly disenchanted with the industrialised food chain, they are looking to go beyond the local-food market (see New Locavores) and participate with the provenance of their food. Read more about this in The New Hunter-Gatherer.

Another hotel embracing local food is hotel giant InterContinental’s London Park Lane property, which has introduced a series of cookery classes for kids at its Cookbook Cafe dining space. The Seedling Series Kids Cook programme, a partnership with London-based charity Edible Playgrounds, aims to teach kids where food comes from while celebrating sustainable and locally sourced ingredients.

The twice-monthly seasonal classes, which begin in March 2013, will include instruction on how to make an edible garden, a lesson about the property’s rooftop beehives and a session on how potatoes grow. Read more about the rise of ‘koodies’ (kid foodies) in Gastrokids.

Source: http://www.stylus.com/Travel-Leisure/2013/March1/Threads/Threads/?blogId=276944

VU Rooftop Bar

After its recent remodeling, the VU Rooftop Bar atop the La Quinta Inn in Koreatown now finds itself making lists like this one. Up until last year it was called Me Bar, and although the name has changed, the long-lasting happy hour with its exceptionally cheap drinks ($2 beers, $3 margaritas) remains intact. It's been described as having a sort of "fratty" atmosphere, what with the plastic cups, $4 Bud heavies and strict "you gotta know one of the bros [guests] in the house [hotel] before getting in" rule (note: we have yet to see that rule very strictly enforced, so far). But that shouldn't keep you from experiencing yet another unbelievable view to thousand-yard-stare at while your wallet stays thick and plastic margarita cups pile up around your lime-stained shoes.

Source: foxnews.com

With plenty of teen-orientated activities on offer the Big Apple is a great option for any family looking for action, adventure and discovery. First stop the instant gratification of the wham-bam mega screens of Times Square. Check-in at The Hotel @ Times Square. Its top floors provide added space with deluxe family suites including two connecting rooms with one king and one queen bed and a shared bathroom plus complimentary continental breakfast and wi-fi.

Source: helentruszkowski.blogspot.co.uk

Of course in the US they don’t have hen nights so much as bachelorette parties. Nyma, the New York Manhattan Hotel , has packages that include free nail manicures for every hen. They’ll also help you come up with a range of activities including a two-hour male nude life drawing master class at The Artful Bachelorette in Central Manhattan.

By night head to the trendy, glow in the dark, late night disco bowling at Bowlmor in Times Square. Nyma’s bride-to-be package starts from $285 (€217) excluding flights between April and June.

thenewyorkmanhattanhotel.co.uk

Source: irishtimes.com

Here at 101 Holidays, we like to get to know the people behind the world’s finest travel companies. This week we talk to Vijay Dandapani, President of Apple Core Hotels, a hotel ownership and operating company started in 1993, and now with five hotels in the mid-Manhattan area of New York. Vijay is a graduate of Cornell University’s masters hotel programme and was associated with the opening of a luxury resort in California besides working for four years at a luxury hotel chain in India. Living and working in Manhattan, Vijay is a Director at New York City’s Hotel Association as well as the American Hotel and Lodging Association. Other interests include flying (Vijay is a licensed private pilot), tennis and languages (fluent Italian besides two Indian languages).

* Where did you go on holiday in 2012, and why? Any plans for 2013?

“Rio de Janeiro. It has outstanding food, spectacular landscapes, polar contrasts in wealth, a storied past and, most importantly, very friendly people who are welcoming of both foreigners and other Brazilians. I’m heading to Machu Picchu this year and am particularly looking forward to staying at the eco-friendly Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel.

* What is your favourite bolthole in the UK and why?

“ Oxford – where I am lucky enough to be able to stay with family. I relish the superb food in really quaint settings such as the Cherwell Boat House, picturesque countryside a stone’s throw from London and a boatload of history to lap up.”

* If you could spend a long weekend in any city abroad, which would you pick, and why?

” London – it has everything from nightlife and museums to terrific food from almost everywhere on earth.”

* Please tell us three items that are always found in your luggage.

“My Mini iPad (essential for work emails and for downtime – books, Scrabble etc); amenity kit; running shoes.”

* What one thing would most improve people’s overall holiday experience?

“Always wear slip-on rather than laced shoes when flying – it cuts down on the time taken at security, particularly in the US. Always carry hand baggage that includes a spare set of clothes and chargers for smart phones and tablets to minimise the frustration caused by lost or delayed baggage. Lastly, do not take an airline’s word for it when it comes to connecting times at foreign airports and always check weather conditions and political news (strikes, etc) so you can allow more time if necessary.”

* What has been your worst holiday experience?

” Being stuck on a plane in a snow-bound airport (Brussels) for nearly seven hours while the airline dithered about whether or not to return to the gate.”

* Tell us your favourite hotel

In the UK: “The Balmoral in Edinburgh.”

In Europe: “The Hotel Adlon Kempinski, Berlin.”

Rest of the world: “The Taj Rambagh Palace, Jaipur.”

* What is the most exciting project your company is working on right now?

“A multi-million dollar project completely redesigning the lobbies of three of our hotels to give them a real avant-garde feel with features that are both appealing and functional while also using environmentally friendly material eg mini-tablet stations, free-to-use 24-hour cappuccino stations, lounge/relaxing areas that give guests a sense of belonging without intruding on those checking-in/out.”

* Thanks, Vijay.

Source: http://www.101holidays.co.uk

This concrete jungle where dreams are made is the ultimate destination once you’re practised at partying. Plus, you can make the most of Manhattan on a post-student/first-proper-job budget.

There’s no way your birthday candles can compete Party games Check in to the New York Manhattan Hotel, then go window shopping on Fifth Avenue, cycle around Central Park or embrace your inner Gleek with a lesson from an off-Broadway star (from £20 with Sidetour.com). Flights with Air Canada cost from £409 return (Aircanada.com). The New York Manhattan Hotel (Thenewyorkmanhattanhotel.co.uk) costs from £39 per person per night, including breakfast.

Source: http://fabulousmag.co.uk

FOR those who've started 2013 with a renewed energy for life and learning, there are a few special places in New York where their curiosity can unfold, with activities from craft to capoeira available absolutely free of charge.

What's more, The Hotel @ Times Square in Midtown Manhattan provides the perfect base for thrifty travellers with a thirst for knowledge, as rates start from just £39 per person and include FREE amenities such as wi-fi, breakfast and national phone calls.

New York's busiest borough, Manhattan is a hive of activity throughout the year, with many weird and wonderful learning experiences to be had for absolutely nothing in return. The New York Public Library offers free homemade craft afternoons, while literary types will love Gotham Writers' Workshop - as the leading private creative writing school in New York, it frequently offers free one-hour workshops in partnership with local booksellers.

Those wanting to learn outside during the summer months (from May to September) should visit the Socrates Sculpture Park for free yoga, Pilates, martial arts and even scarecrow sculpting classes. This inspiring park, which was built by artists on a disused dumpsite back in the eighties, also offers a free outdoor cinema, specialising in art-house and independent films. Another hotspot offering free, innovative activities is Central Park, where it is possible to learn skills including pétanque, self defence and bee-keeping.

For visitors of all ages, wanting to learn more than they ever would in a classroom and make the most of Manhattan's natural spaces, Urban Park Rangers can be found at ranger stations in all parks. These friendly folk facilitate free hikes, canoe outings, fishing trips, bird tours, and workshops to enhance outdoor skills and uncover the natural marvels of New York's urban ecosystem.

Located on West 46th Street, within strolling distance of The New York Public Library and Central Park, The Hotel @ Times Square also provides guests with a host of FREE amenities, including free continental breakfast, free wi-fi and national phone calls, a free fitness suite open 24 hours a day and free stays for children aged 12 and under.

Rates in 2013 start from US$124.99 per room, per night (£39 per person per night). To book, call freephone 0808 178 6363 or visit www.thehotelattimessquare.co.uk.

Source: http://blogs.loughboroughecho.net

the new york manhattan hotel (thenewyorkmanhattanhotel.com) costs from £39 per person per night, including breakfast.

Many people believe that New York is all about fast food, cupcakes, drinking cocktails, staying up all night and basically letting your hair down and your waistband widen. However, it’s also a city for health-junkies, offering plenty of opportunities for health and wellness – from cycling in the parks to healthy fast food restaurants.

For those wanting to experience New York’s world-famous bar scene, how about swapping quaffing cocktails (so nineties) for sipping from fine china in an on-trend tea speakeasy? This provides all the glamour and dark corners of a traditional prohibition drinking haunt – without the calories! Experience company Sidetour offers visitors a tea speakeasy tour promising to ‘expand people’s cosmic consciousness’, heighten the senses and awaken the palate!

After all that non-alcoholic drinking, a typical night in a club might not appeal. However, those wanting to dance the night away New York style should head to a no-alcohol dance party with No Lights, No Lycra; a weekly dance party that joins other freestyle sober dances in and around the city including 5Rhythms, Open Floor, Barefoot Boogie, Biodanza and the women-only Dance Dance Party Party, whose motto is: “No boys. No booze. No judgment. (Legwarmers optional).”

And what about the daytime? Well, aside from the health-conscious park activities such as inline skating, cycling, and jogging, New York holds the record for the largest yoga gathering in the world, and each year holds a yogathon in Times Square to mark the summer solstice. However, no trip to New York is complete without a day or two of serious shopping, and with an average of 150 calories a session burned from a shopping session, pounding the sidewalks of New York laden with bags is a sure fire way to earn your dinner!

Room rates at The Hotel @ Times Square (www.thehotelattimessquare.co.uk / freephone 0808 178 6363) in April start from $234.99 per double room (which equates to £78 per person). Centrally located in Midtown Manhattan, this cheap and chic hotel offers a host of FREE amenities including continental breakfast, wi-fi and national phone calls. Flights and taxes are excluded.

Source: http://www.richardgreenwoodmedia.com

While American's hippy and drifter movements have long made use of its cities' abundance of free unwanted food, spawning unusual tribes such as 'dumpster divers' and 'freegans', real foraging in New York City takes a special kind of skill - and one that one Manhattan hotel is planning to help you to learn.

While you may associate foraging with the foodie scenes of Copenhagen or rural Britain, it will take more than a pair of hiking boots and a wicker basket to find your fayre in these city streets, where hedgerows are rare. Well, actually, hedgerows are non-existent.

Not that the city is without the odd farmers' market, and an obsession for 'wild food' has led to new ingredients appearing in menus at restaurants such as Acme (serving wild mushrooms), and Daniel (serving vitamin-packed wild pine needles). With these trends in mind, nyma, a midtown Manhattan hotel, has teamed up with one of the city's best known foragers to give guests a taste of the wild side of New York City cuisine.

'Wild man' Steve Brill has been collecting food from the city's parks since 1982, and on one of his weekly excursions he promises he can make a meal from some of the berries, bark, mushrooms and herbs that he discovers. Though we suspect you possibly may want to just nibble along the way, rather than rely on it for dinner. Hotel nyma is ideally placed between the modest Gramercy Park and the huge Central Park, so there is plenty of opportunity to try out your newly-learnt foraging skills after you've taken one of his tours.

Steve's bounty is not the only local food harvested in the metropolis, with rooftop hives providing local honey, courtesy of the New York City Beekeepers Association. There are also now a handful of rooftop farms growing fruit and vegetables, which end up in cakes, conserves and pickles that can be bought at farmers' markets, while some of the city's restaurants tend to their own private hothouses and vegetable patches.

If you stay at nyma in a twin or double room in June for the special rate of $274.99 (approx £184, based on two people sharing), the hotel with include a free foraging tour with Steve Brill. The rate includes continental breakfast, free wi-fi and national (US) phone calls, free use of a 24-hour fitness suite and free stays for children aged 12 and under.

nyma hotel, 6W 32nd St, New York. For reservations call freephone 0808 178 6363, or visit visit www.thenewyorkmanhattanhotel.co.uk and quote the code FORAGE when making your booking.

Source: http://www.eglobaltravelmedia.com.au/

While American's hippy and drifter movements have long made use of its cities' abundance of free unwanted food, spawning unusual tribes such as 'dumpster divers' and 'freegans', real foraging in New York City takes a special kind of skill - and one that one Manhattan hotel is planning to help you to learn.

While you may associate foraging with the foodie scenes of Copenhagen or rural Britain, it will take more than a pair of hiking boots and a wicker basket to find your fayre in these city streets, where hedgerows are rare. Well, actually, hedgerows are non-existent.

Not that the city is without the odd farmers' market, and an obsession for 'wild food' has led to new ingredients appearing in menus at restaurants such as Acme (serving wild mushrooms), and Daniel (serving vitamin-packed wild pine needles). With these trends in mind, nyma, a midtown Manhattan hotel, has teamed up with one of the city's best known foragers to give guests a taste of the wild side of New York City cuisine.

'Wild man' Steve Brill has been collecting food from the city's parks since 1982, and on one of his weekly excursions he promises he can make a meal from some of the berries, bark, mushrooms and herbs that he discovers. Though we suspect you possibly may want to just nibble along the way, rather than rely on it for dinner. Hotel nyma is ideally placed between the modest Gramercy Park and the huge Central Park, so there is plenty of opportunity to try out your newly-learnt foraging skills after you've taken one of his tours.

Steve's bounty is not the only local food harvested in the metropolis, with rooftop hives providing local honey, courtesy of the New York City Beekeepers Association. There are also now a handful of rooftop farms growing fruit and vegetables, which end up in cakes, conserves and pickles that can be bought at farmers' markets, while some of the city's restaurants tend to their own private hothouses and vegetable patches.

If you stay at nyma in a twin or double room in June for the special rate of $274.99 (approx £184, based on two people sharing), the hotel with include a free foraging tour with Steve Brill. The rate includes continental breakfast, free wi-fi and national (US) phone calls, free use of a 24-hour fitness suite and free stays for children aged 12 and under.

nyma hotel, 6W 32nd St, New York. For reservations call freephone 0808 178 6363, or visit www.thenewyorkmanhattanhotel.co.uk and quote the code FORAGE when making your booking.

Source: http://www.cntraveller.com

Join the Irish celebrations on the Emerald Isle or in America

Irish folk around the world are all set for the greenest celebration of them all, St Patrick’s Day, on March 17.

New York lays claim to hosting the world’s oldest and largest St Patrick’s Day Parade. Be prepared for thousands lining 5th Avenue on March 16.

You’ll be in the heart of the action when you stay at The Hotel @ Times Square, in Midtown Manhattan, just a few blocks from the Irish Art Centre.

In March rooms start at around £66pp per night with free continental breakfast and wifi. Children under 13 stay free.

www.thehotelattimessquare.co.uk, 0808 178 6363...

Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk

While Manhattan may be famed for its skyline, super attractions and great shopping, one hotel is making a break from the norm by offering foraging breaks for urban explorers.

Nyma, the New York Manhattan Hotel, is offering the exclusive foraging tour promotion on stays this June and there will be the chance to visit parks, gardens and farms that are feeding the city’s new urban obsession for wild foods, and supplying a handful of pop-ups and restaurants with locally sourced and foraged blossoms, berries, bulbs and greens.

The hotel has paired up with the city’s best known forager ‘Wild Man’ Steve Brill (above), who has been collecting food from parks since 1982, to provide the foraging package which includes a tour that culminates in a meal made out of the berries, bark, mushrooms and herbs collected.

The foraging tour package starts from $275 for two and includes a stay in a double room and the foraging tour.

Source: http://www.your-hols.com

A NEW KIND OF BACHERLORETTE IN NEW YORK CITY – With nyma, the new york manhattan hotel Known stateside as a Bachelorette, throw in the towel on a traditional hen do at home and get the girls across the pond for some serious fun in New York City. It doesn’t have to include bright pink feather boas and giant inflatable...balloons, as nyma, the new york manhattan hotel has a few classy, and slightly naughty, suggestions for the ultimate girls’ weekend.

Situated in central Manhattan, head to The Artful Bachelorette for a two hour master class on life drawing. Sound boring? Make that life drawing a gorgeous nude male model. Throw in a topless waiter serving champagne and finger food, a group photo at the end, oh and a trained art teacher, and enjoy an afternoon of hilarious girly fun. The session costs $85 (approx €63) per person and the bride goes free. They’ll post the finished pics back home free of charge too.

If feeling the need for a sweet treat after all that ogling, take the party to Max Brenner, Chocolate by the Bald Man on 841 Broadway for an extraordinary menu of delicious concoctions, including chocolate pizza, white chocolate soup, crème brulee and warm chocolate cake eaten using spatulas straight from the pan.

Don’t end up in any old bar at the end of the day. Try Bowlmor in Times Square, an ultra-trendy bowling alley offering glow-in-the-dark late night disco bowling from 10pm. Four levels of alleys with contrasting music, illuminated vintage posters and a 65-foot bar make this a pretty awesome alternative to the average cocktail joint.

And where better to stay than at stylish and affordable nyma, the new york manhattan hotel (www.thenewyorkmanhattanhotel.co.uk / +44 808 178 6363) who is offering an exclusive Bride To Be package with any hen do booking. The package includes accommodation in a king size room (based on two sharing) as well as one free signature nail manicure per hen at the Ohm spa* on Fifth Avenue from $284.99 per person for selected dates between 1 April and 30 June, and from $234.99 per person in July, subject to availability. What’s more, the hotel offers a host of FREE amenities including continental breakfast, tea and cappuccino in the lobby throughout the day, wi-fi and national phone calls. Offer only valid when booked as part of a hen do. Quote Bride To Be on booking.

*Please retain receipt to ensure full reimbursement

Source: http://irishweddingdiary.ie

1. Best for foodies:

The Ace Famed for its lobby bar, where New York’s hippest twentysomethings hunker down, the Ace is also a great choice for foodies, with the Breslin and the John Dory Oyster Bar both on site. Each is co-run by the British chef April Bloomfield, former protégée of Gordon Ramsay, who serves fantastic fresh fish and seafood at the John Dory, and more...

Source: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/

New York’s coolest free classes

Check out these cool free classes available in New York in 2013.

NB: We doff our caps to The Hotel @ Times Square for bringing these to our attention.

“Hand-Made Crafternoon” at New York Public Library’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

These tutored classes provide materials and books for inspiration. Each session involves a different craft. Upcoming events focus on stitching, beading and decorative arts.

Gotham Writers’ Workshop at various independent book stores

This leading creative writing school frequently schedules free one-hour workshops in partnership with local booksellers. Topics include memoir writing, humor, screenwriting and character development

Get creative at the Socrates Sculpture Park

From May throughout the summer this neighborhood exhibition space in Long Island City teaches sustainable life skills workshops for adults. Classes include urban farming, composting, soap making, building with reclaimed wood, screen-printing and fishing.

Adventure with Urban Park Rangers

Rangers manage every park in the city. When not on patrol, these friendly folk lead visitors on free hikes, canoe outings, fishing trips, bird tours, and workshops, all with the aim of enhancing outdoor skills and revealing the natural marvels of New York’s urban ecosystem.

New York City Parks

New York City Parks run a packed calendar of activities aimed at children and adults year round. Check listings to see what workshops and events are available (note: some events have an admission fee).

Source: http://news.cheapflights.com/

Short month in the Big Apple

Valentine’s Day is coming, and so is Family Day. The Apple Core Hotels chain in New York City has great rates for both, starting at $135 (all prices U.S.) for dates over Valentine’s weekend, and through the month of February, at La Quinta Manhattan, and from $155 at nyma (New York Manhattan Hotel).

These rates are per night, double occupancy, excluding taxes and come with free continental breakfast and queen bed accommodation.

Two more properties in the Apple Core group, Broadway @ Times Square and The Hotel @ Times Square, are leading in at $140 per night for Family Day, double occupancy and excluding taxes, with two double beds and continental breakfast. Third and fourth guests in the room are charged $15 each plus taxes, while kids 12 and under stay free in their parents’ room.

See applecorehotels.com.

Source: http://www.thestar.com/travel/