US Travel Alerts : New York City

New York City Accident

Mike Leco — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:51:00 GMT

This week there was a tragic accident in New York City involving a private airplane and a tour helicopter. The small private airplane had departed from the small Tettersboro Airport in New Jersey and was using the Hudson River corridor on a journey to the New Jersey Shore. The helicopter had just taken off from its tour departure pier on the West Bank of Manhattan Island. The two aircraft collided in midair killing all nine passengers including five Italian tourists.

Such accidents are extremely rare even in the crowded airspace above New York City. This one will surely cause our government safety officials to reconsider the use of this Hudson River corridor for unrestricted air traffic.

Statue of Liberty Crown reopens

Mike Leco — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 03:05:00 GMT

On July 4 2009, the observation platform in the crown of the Statue of Liberty will once again reopen for visitors. It has been closed to the public since November 11 2001 when the entire statue was closed for security reasons. In 2004, Liberty Island and the base of the statue was reopened for visitation with enhanced security screening, but the observation platform in the crown remained closed.

After July 4, small groups of tourists will be escorted up the 168 steps within the Statue of Liberty to the tiny observation platform in the crown. Considering the large numbers of people that visit the statue every day, I don't believe it will be easy to attain this priveleged viewpoint. If you would like to see New York city from the crown, I suggest you go the statue very early in the morning and immediately get in the queue for the climb.

Travel Bargains in USA

Mike Leco — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:38:00 GMT

With the exchange rate of the US dollar near historic lows compared to the Euro and other world currencies, travel to the USA is a great bargain. The price of hotel rooms, airfares and entertainment is now much less expensive for foreign visitors. In addition, most US merchandise is bargain priced; thus making shopping in the USA very attractive. Remember, the USA does not utilize a value added tax system, so most goods are typically lower in price than their European equivalent. Now, the favorable currency exchange rates, make them even more attractive.

Why not plan a combination vacation/shopping trip to the USA this summer? You can easily fly to one of the major cities in the USA, partake of some of the entertainment options, travel to a few attractions, lie on a sun-drenched beach, then conclude your trip with a shopping binge at a major discount outlet before returning home.

Here are a few suggested itineraries to consider:

You can fly into New York City, see all of the sights in the Big Apple, catch a Broadway show and take a tour about town. For the last few days of your trip, rent a car and drive to the Woodbury Commons 90 minutes north of the city; and fill an empty suitcase with bargain merchandise before you catch your return flight.

Fly to Orlando Florida and spend a four or five days at Disney World and the surrounding attractions. Drive down to Fort Lauderdale and rent a hotel room on the beach for a few days. You can lie in the sun during the daytime and spend your evenings at the gigantic Sawgrass Mills Outlet Mall with its 500 shops during the evenings. If you are not an amusement park fan, just go straight to Fort Lauderdale and spend all of your free time on the beach or at the nearby Miami entertainment scene while you get in your shopping during your spare time.

On the West Coast, you can fly to Las Vegas, catch the desert sun around the hotel pool, gamble in the casinos, have dinner in the great restaurants, see some of the great shows, and shop at the nearby outlet malls during your spare time.

Wherever you choose to go, your hotel and entertainment will cost you less because of the cheap dollar. The shopping bargains will be outstanding.

Broadway Theaters

Mike Leco — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 12:15:00 GMT

The Broadway Theaters of New York are closed! A labor dispute with the stage hands has closed many of the Broadway Theaters. If you are going to New York City, you may not be able to see a Broadway play or musical production. A few of the non-union run theaters are still open, and all of the off-Broadway productions are still open, but the big, lavish Broadway productions are dark.

Let's hope that this labor dispute is resolved quickly, so we can once again be entertained by Broadway. Meanwhile, if you are visiting New York City in the coming days, plan on visiting the museums, seeing the attractions and perhaps going to one of the off Broadway productions for entertainment.