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The Latest Travel News from the WorldEscape Community

The holidays minus the crowds in New York

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New York is an extremely popular destination during the festive period, with around 5.2 million people expected to descend on the city from Thanksgiving through to New Year’s Eve. If you’d prefer to check out some of the holiday activities and attractions without the crowds, there’s plenty on offer throughout the different boroughs.

Manhattan

Ice skating is a popular holiday pastime in New York, but if you want a quieter experience, head to the Bank of America Winter Village in Bryant Park. Here you’ll be able to skate for free (although there is a charge for equipment rental) and browse a range of bespoke shops. If you want to fit in some last-minute Christmas shopping, Manhattan has three Christmas markets: Union Square, Columbus Circle and Grand Central, which are all open through December 24.

The Bronx

A must if you’re in The Bronx for the holidays is the Holiday Train Show at the Botanical Gardens. This is a miniature landscape that has model trains chugging past to create a truly magical sight.

Brooklyn

If you’ve booked one of the apartments in Brooklyn, you can check out the Coney Island Holiday Market every weekend from Thanksgiving through Christmas. There is also the opportunity to take a tour of the famous Christmas lights in Dyker Heights.

Queens

A holiday tradition in this borough is Gingerbread Lane at the New York Hall of Science. This is the largest gingerbread village in the world, with more than 1,050 houses all created out of gingerbread.

Check out Google Street View before you fly

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If you’re traveling somewhere new, you’ll probably check out where you’re going on Google Street View first. This amazing piece of technology brings together millions of images so that you can see what’s in the local area and get a feel for where you’re going before you even set off. Now you can do the same before you fly with the first Street View experience of an airport and plane.

Passengers flying into London City Airport on the British Airways twice-daily service from New York can check out the features of the business-class-only flight before they set foot inside. The airline uses two A318 aircraft that have been specifically designed with 32 Club World seats on the route between London and New York JFK.

In addition to seeing how they’ll be traveling, passengers flying to apartment rentals in the city can also see inside the terminal. This provides them with information on how to get from specific points within the airport and prepares them for the return flight. They will be able to experience the check-in facilities; see the cafes, bars, and duty-free stores; and go inside the private lounge that is exclusively available to BA’s Club World passengers. This will allow them to relax more, knowing exactly what is waiting for them at the airport.

The London City to New York service has been operating since September 2009. Over this period, the two aircraft have traveled more than 18 million miles between the two cities.

Take a celebrity vacation

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Many of us have dreamed of living the celebrity lifestyle, even if it’s only for a few days. Now you actually have the opportunity to vacation in style by staying in a holiday home owned by someone rich and famous. There are many villas and holiday apartments that were once owned by well-known faces that you can actually rent out for your own vacation. Here is a look at some of the available options.

One of the more affordable places to stay is the Palm Springs property that was once the home of Elizabeth Taylor. This stunning house can accommodate a maximum of eight people and includes a spa, pool, and spectacular views.

If you’d like to spend a few days chilling in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles, a property that was originally owned by Orson Wells is available to rent. It is situated just above Sunset Boulevard and has four luxury bedrooms, a Jacuzzi, and a generous lagoon pool.

For those who are looking for an unusual property, Willem Dafoe’s old home in Accord, New York, can be rented out. The unique house even has a writer’s tower, and the floor-to-ceiling windows provide excellent views.

If money really is no object, why not relax in the lap of luxury at Richard Branson’s very own island? Necker Island might be out of most people’s price range, but once you’re there, it provides accommodation for up to 30 people and you won’t have to worry about being disturbed.

Your guide to a luxury bachelor weekend

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Having a bachelor weekend doesn’t have to mean cheap hotels and copious quantities of alcohol. There are many places where you can enjoy a fun last single weekend with your mates in more luxurious surroundings.

Berlin

This modern city has plenty to offer and isn’t too expensive. You can stay in one of the city’s luxury rentals and then book a private beer tasting for a more relaxed drinking experience. This really is a city that never sleeps, with clubs remaining open as long as people want to drink in them.

Dubai

Dubai is one of the most glamorous and upmarket locations for a bachelor party. It is a place that knows how to treat its VIPs. You can create your own luxury itinerary doing things like spending the day at Ferrari World followed by an evening drinking and dancing at one of the area’s trendy bars.

Istanbul

The city that provides the gateway to the East makes a very different setting for a bachelor party. It combines pure luxury and modern facilities amongst the stunning architecture and ancient ruins. If you need to recover from a heavy night, the Turkish baths provide an inexpensive treat.

New York

This might seem an obvious choice for a bachelor party, but there are plenty of ways to make your trip to NYC different. You can pretend you’re a famous celebrity by hiring out a stretched limo and touring the city’s exclusive nightspots.

The newest New York City attractions

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If you’re planning a visit to New York City this summer, you might want to check out some of the exciting and interesting new attractions that have opened this year. This is the perfect time to book one of the city’s vacation rentals and spend time experiencing something different.

A stunning view of the city

If you want to see everything that the city has to offer, you can now get a bird’s-eye view from the One World Observatory. This is situated on floors 100 to 102 of One World Trade Center, and it gives you a spectacular 360-degree glimpse across the city. The journey up takes only 42 seconds. Brave visitors can check out the Sky Portal, where you can stand on live video footage of what is below you.

Pay homage to the TV greats

As one of the longest-running variety shows in the US, Saturday Night Live has become an American institution. You can now see what happens behind the scenes at Saturday Night Live: The Exhibition. The tour features a recreation of the producer’s office, as well as sets, props, and costumes from 40 years of the show.

New art space

New York has always been renowned for the works of art that are on display within the city. Lovers of art now have a new location to explore, with the opening of the Whitney Museum of American Arts? new location. This new venue offers outstanding facilities, including a space for outdoor installations and sculptures, a multi-use theater, and unobstructed views thanks to the column-free interior space.

See the other side of NYC

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Thousands of tourists hit the streets of New York every day, but the majority of them visit the same attractions time and time again. Now an alternative tour company is offering tourists a different experience of the city.

After searching the web for the best vacation rentals in New York, you’ll probably be looking for the best spots to visit while you’re there. BQE Tours is targeting those tourists who want to see what the city offers beyond the traditional attractions. Their tour guides head further afield than Manhattan, including the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens.

Unique tours

This gives tourists a more personalized experience. Tours are limited to just 12 people, but they often set off with just a handful of tourists. This enables you to engage with the guides and the locals to make it a more worthwhile experience for everyone. While en route, you’ll get to learn about the heritage of the area, sample some of the local treats, and meet the people who actually live there.

There are four different tours for visitors to choose from. Two of these take place in the DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge) neighborhood. Here you can join the art and culture tour, coffee and wine tour, or the discovery tour. Other tours include the Long Island City tour and the Williamsburg Tour.

With these new BQE Tours, you can step off the traditional New York tourist trail and experience exactly what the locals see.

 

Catch some of the hottest summer festivals

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Summer brings with it a plethora of music festivals throughout the country. This is an opportunity for you to see some of the globe’s biggest stars all in one location while experiencing the sights and attractions of the country’s biggest cities.

Governors Ball

One of the first festivals of the summer, the Governors Ball, takes place in Randall’s Island Park in New York from June 5 through 7. The city is the perfect spot for a summer weekend vacation, and there are a number of great places to stay in New York, from luxury options to budget locations. The festival itself features headliner Drake as well as performances from The Black Keys, Deadmau5, Florence + the Machine, and Lana Del Rey.

Lollapalooza

The 2015 Lollapalooza festival is heading to Grant Park in Chicago, where there are plenty of places for you to stay and check out all the action over the weekend. There are a range of top acts taking to the stage on the weekend of July 31 through August 2, including Paul McCartney, Sam Smith, Florence + the Machine, and Metallica.

Outside Lands

When the summer is in full swing, you can chill out to the sounds of Elton John, The Black Keys, Mumford and Sons, and Kendrick Lamar. Outside Lands will take place at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on August 7 through 9, and it promises to be an excellent festival set in superb surroundings.

The hottest New York attractions

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If you are planning a trip to New York this year, you might want to consider visiting some of the newest sights in the city. With a wide choice of apartment rentals, New York City is a perfect city break destination.

Culture vulture

For those who like to experience the arts and cultural side of a city, the relocated Whitney Museum of American Art is well worth a visit. The museum is now housed in a stunning nine-story building on Gansevoort Street that reflects the exhibits it holds. The new location boasts twice as much exhibition space as the previous one, and the museum also has a beautiful outdoor area full of exhibits and terraces.

Get a view of the city

The newly-built One World Trade Center has become the Western Hemisphere’s tallest building, and the One World Observatory at the top opens this spring. The observatory has a three-story deck that will provide an impressive view across the skyline. Visitors will also have the chance to take in a movie, eat at one of the many restaurants, or view some of the interactive exhibits.

Touch the Yankees

Even if you’re not a dedicated baseball fan, you?ll want to experience the new Hands on History Tour at the New York Yankees Stadium. This tour will give you the opportunity to touch a bat used by Babe Ruth, Derek Jeter’s jersey from the game in which he registered his 3,000th hit, and a selection of World Series rings. Tours take place on game days and start 90 minutes prior to the gates opening.