Getting There

If you’re coming from Washington, DC or Philly, a weekend in Downtown NYC is the perfect road trip if you’re not a fan of the bus or train. I am a bit hesitant to share this little secret with you: parking is easy to find in Downtown NYC on weekends. Our last three trips have been by car, and we’ve quickly gotten FREE street parking on all trips! If arriving at Penn Station, I recommend getting a MetroCard and jumping on the Subway as there can be a lot of traffic on the way downtown.

What do Do

Where do we start? You can seriously spend a weekend in Downtown NYC without having to go Midtown or Uptown. Here are my favorites:

One World Trade Center:

I’ll be honest, I waited a few years to go to One World Observatory because I was hesitant about the lines and the wait. I always said, “I’ll wait until I’m in the city on a weekday to go.” However, I made my visit on the weekend and at the recommendation of a friend, I arrived at 9am when it opens on Sunday. I won’t give many details about the experience as I don’t want to spoil some of the surprises. One thing I will share is that the views are stunning from the top.

Scenic Run

There are so many fun places to eat in Downtown NYC that you may need to work off the calories. Make time for a run along the East Side Highway with the views of the Staten Island Ferry. Work your way around Battery Park and up the West Side Highway for a fantastic view of One World Trade Center and the Downtown NYC skyline. Another fun route: Run up to the Brooklyn Bridge and take in the New York City Skyline from Brooklyn!

9/11 Memorial:

A weekend in Downtown NYC is not complete without a visit to the 9/11 Memorial. This date is etched in the heart of all New Yorkers and millions of Americans. To see the names of those who perished on this fateful day gives you a sobering perspective on life.

Staten Island Ferry

This must be the cheapest way to get some great views of New York City from the water. Also, many locals take the Staten Island Ferry as part of their daily commute. It gives you an exciting glimpse of local New York City Life.Battery Park

If your kids are coming along in your weekend in Downtown NYC adventure, Battery park is the perfect spot to let them unwind with unique play spaces. Our toddler enjoyed running around the park and playing with the musical floor installation.

Exploring the Financial District

Although the Financial District can be quiet on weekends, it’s fun to walk around and take in the modern architecture (my favorite is the Oculus). Some may want to go and take pictures of the Charging Bull, I am there specifically for the Fearless Girl. This symbolic sculpture perfectly represents our current state affairs when it comes to the fight for gender equality.

Chinatown

As a lover of Asian cuisine, I pretty much make a stop at Chinatown every time I come to New York City. My best friend Jaime who is Chinese always takes me to eat noodles or for dim sum. She always orders in Cantonese, so I don’t know what I am getting most of the time, but it is still delicious! Check out our Chinatown food post!

Shopping

My weekend in Downtown NYC itinerary always has a few hours designated for shopping. There’s something for everyone. I can probably spend a few hours shopping at the Westfield World Trade Center. However, my favorite spot in Century 21. This place is massive, but it has a great selection of designer goods at a deep discount. Think DVF dresses for $100. I’m obsessed with their children section. I always find the cutest finds for my baby girl such as Kate Spade dresses and Adidas tracksuits. Dining Traveler Tip: Many hotels have Century 21 discount cards. Ask your front desk attendants.

Where to stay

Downtown NYC has many great hotels, from quirky to high-end properties. For a boutique hotel feel with all the conveniences of the Starwood (now Marriott) brand, stay at the Aloft Financial District. Its cozy rooms, cute lobby, and friendly staff make Aloft a solid choice.

For modern luxury, stay at Conrad NYC. This luxury property under the Hilton brand spoils you from the minute of your arrival. Make sure to ask for a room with a river view and have a cocktail at their rooftop bar.

The Frederick NYC is a cozy boutique hotel located a few blocks from the World Trade Center. The friendly staff makes you feel at home, and the location makes it the perfect spot to stay for a weekend in Downtown NYC.

A Weekend in Downtown NYC: The Verdict

This post gives you a quick window of everything you can see and do during a weekend in Downtown NYC because there is so much more to see and do. Trust me; you’ll find it difficult to go back uptown! Get more insider tips to NYC via the Downtown NYC Alliance website.

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The Scene

Although the Conrad New York is in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Downtown NYC, it feels like a calm oasis as you walk up the escalators to their futuristic lobby. With high glass ceilings, neutral colors, and warm welcome, you are taken to a place of zen. The hotel is walking distance to many of the hot spots in Downtown NYC such as the World Trade Center and Battery Park.

The Rooms

Two options: do I hang out in my room all day or do I go out and explore? The rooms at the Conrad New York are spacious and comfortable. Ask for a room with a river view to take in the skyline. I wanted to open the blinds and take in the sights, but I couldn’t pull the blinds up. When I was checking out, I brought it up to the front desk, and they told me that it was intentional. However, a staff member can come up and pull the blinds up… Now you know!

The Food

Make sure to add brunch at Atrio to your list when staying at Conrad New York and order the lobster eggs benedict. It’s the ultimate luxury of succulent lobster, topped with a poached egg and decadent caviar. Looking for something a bit lighter? Order the avocado toast topped with fresh microgreens and fragrant radishes.

Loopy Doopy Rooftop Bar

If traveling in warmer months, make sure you have a drink at the hotel’s Loopy Doopy Rooftop Bar. Order one of their prosecco popsicle cocktails and take in the view of the Hudson River and the surrounding skyline.

Conrad New York: The Verdict

If you are looking for a luxury hotel in Downtown NYC, the Conrad is a great choice. Excellent service, spacious rooms, and central location make it a great place to stay when you’re visiting the big apple.

Conrad New York, 102 North End Avenue, New York, NY, Website

Disclaimer: I was hosted by the Conrad New York. As always, opinions are my own.

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Review of The London NYC Hotel:

The Location:  The London NYC Hotel is located on W 54^th Street (Between 7^th and 8^th Ave).  Although Times Square is a short walk away, the street is very quiet, which is a perfect escape from the madness of the city.  There are also several metro and bus stops nearby, which is a biggie if you’re out and about in New York City.  Central Park is also walking distance to the hotel, which is perfect if you’re looking to go for a run or a simple stroll around the city.

The Rooms:  The hotel is an all-suite hotel, which means that all of their rooms have a separate living room area, bedroom, and full bath.  It’s literally bigger than most of my friend’s apartments in the city. Some of the suites have a view of Central Park (unfortunately we couldn’t get one of those… boo) but make sure to ask if there’s one available during check-in.  Both Kristen and I were happy with the separate living room which also had a work area. That gave us the opportunity to follow up after we spent the day at the New York Times Travel Show.

The Food:  My first encounter with The London NYC Hotel was a cocktail hour at The London Bar back in the fall of 2014.  I must admit, the experience made me fall in love with hotel bars all over again.  The London Bar is a very intimate space; the cyan leather booths remind me of a haute diner. The cocktails are all hand-crafted by expert bartenders who have been working at the hotel for years.  These guys are pros, this is their profession, unlike other bars in NYC who have aspiring actors who could care less about a craft cocktail.  Jean-Carlos, one of the head bartender says that they work closely with the restaurant chefs in order to come up with original cocktails that can be paired with their dishes.  I tried both their bar and breakfast menu and must say there are some delicious gems to indulge in such as caviar topped deviled eggs and a delicious breakfast buffet which includes fresh smoothies.

The Gym:  After all the indulgence in NYC, the hotel has a great gym to work those calories off.  We liked that it had a lot of natural light, which is rare in an NYC hotel.  It has a combo of cardio, free weights, Pilates, and everyone’s favorite thing: the punching bag. Tough business trip? You can work off your frustrations there!

The Service:  Whether it is at The London Bar or the concierge desk, the staff at The London NYC Hotel is very hospitable.  I also enjoy that even though they host celebrities (I spotted Damian Lewis on the lobby), the staff is classy, poised, yet very down to earth.

The Verdict:  I’m digging for points of improvement for The London NYC Hotel to be objective but must say that both my stays have been superb.  I have also had other friends who have stayed in the property who have had similar feedback.  Bonus:  the hotel is reasonably priced for being an all-suite hotel in NYC: keep your eyes out on social because sometimes they post specials starting at $249 / night.

I recommend The London NYC Hotel for: business travel, girls’ trips, wedding parties, and small families. http://www.thelondonnyc.com/

Disclaimer: I was hosted at The London NYC but as always, opinions are my own. 

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Check-in: Although I had been to the hotel before for drinks and food, I had never seen the rooms. I loved the suite style rooms, a rare luxury in NYC. I definitely had to make this photo my intro photo to introduce myself to their followers. The mix of light blues and neutral tones puts you in a zen feel despite the madness of the city.

What to do: New York City is such a big city that I always manage to see something new during my visits. However, there is a sight that new gets old: Times Square. There, you can see the many street performers, the shinning lights, and the mesmerized tourists. The hotel asked me to capture things to do nearby and felt this was perfect to shoot, especially a night.

Décor: I love staying at design focused hotels because of the unique décor. I always come back home with inspiration for my own place.  I love the little details in a hotel which makes it unique such as fresh flowers, the furniture upholstery, and the silk map of New York in the lobby. I wanted to capture those details in my Instagram Takeover. I am a big fan of lighting and I am still dreaming of having an chandelier like this in my home. Simply stunning.

Food: No trip would be complete with sharing the food! Probably my favorite part of the Instagram Takeover.  The London Bar at the Maze Restaurant by Gordon Ramsay where they make perfectly crafted cocktails. I had a chance to preview the new spring bar menu and the highlight was the lobster filled deviled eggs topped with caviar. The most luxurious bar snack I’ve ever had.  Hotel restaurants get a bad reputation but lately there have been so many properties upgrading their dining choices, even locals want to sample the goods.

An Instagram Takeover for a brand is fun but it is a lot of responsibility as you are representing a brand, no just your own views.  Tip: ask the management specifics of what they want you to cover and how they want you to interact with their followers. It was great to capture the hotel experience through my eyes and also engage with their followers. Would love to do it again!
* Disclaimer: The London NYC comped my stay in return for my photography services. 

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