Off the Beaten Track in New York
Fancy heading off to New York City with a group of fellow travellers to discover the unseen side of the city? If yes, then we have the perfect trip for you. Designed and hosted by travel blogger and Independent.ie journalist, Rachael Taylor Fawsitt, this five-day trip gives you the chance to experience the real New York.
After traveling there several times on solo adventures, befriending some locals and falling head over heels for the Big Apple, Rachael is excited to share her experience with other wanderlusters.
She says the Off the Beaten Track in NYC experience is perfect for anyone who wants to delve into the world of New York’s urban culture, street art and food. From the coffee shops in Dumbo and the speakeasys in Williamsburg, you’re going to have a real New Yorker’s experience. But don’t worry – you’ll still get to see plenty of the iconic sites along the way.
Over the five days, you’ll get to meet some locals, experience Central Park in a unique way, explore some of the trendiest neighbourhoods and even take in a few movie and TV locations. There will be a mixture of organised tours with local guides as well as some free time to explore.
The trip is open to anyone over the age of 21 and runs from February 1st to 5th 2020.
Perfect for solo travellers who want to meet new people, while having the security and comfort of a group and guide for the entire trip.
Groups of friends are also welcome, so get in touch with your travel buddies and see if they fancy coming along.
For those who have visited New York before, this will be a great way to see the city from a different perspective and get to know it like a local.
Days 1 & 2
Day 1 is the travel day. Flying with Aer Lingus, we’ll depart Dublin at 10:55, arriving into JFK Airport at 13:45 (a flight time of 7hrs 50mins). From there, we’ll be taking a private transfer from JFK to our centrally located hotel. After check in, you’ll have a few hours to rest and get settled in before meeting as a group for an early dinner.
Day 2: We’ll start our first day by heading to an amazing little foodie place called OatMeals. As their name would suggest, they do a wide selection of delicious oatmeal dishes. We’re going to grab it to go and enjoy it in the iconic Washington Square park.
After breakfast we will take the subway towards the Brooklyn Bridge and walk across it – a rite of passage for any visitor to NYC. Once we reach the other side, we’re going to explore Brooklyn Pier, stopping at the smallest beaches while we’re there.
For lunch we’re going to head to the other side of the borough, to an area called Greenpoint and do a pizza hop. Some of the most amazing pizzerias can be found here, and for anyone who is vegan, there will be lots of options to try.
This area has been called a vintage lovers paradise, so we are going to spend a little bit of time shopping before heading back to Manhattan.
Tonight, we be taking a sunset cruise around Manhattan, which will include sailing past the Statue of Liberty. The city at night looks magical, twinkling as if it is made up of millions of diamonds.
Day 3
Today we will enjoy a full day tour of Manhattan with a talented local tour guide and great friend of Rachael, the host of this trip. Greg lives in Brooklyn and has been a tour guide in NYC for 20 years – he’s a fountain of NYC insider knowledge.
During the day we’ll Learn all about NYCs history, urban culture, art and also get to see lots of famous TV and movie spots.
Today is going to be full of photo ops and we will also have a local New York photographer with us (don’t panic though, if you don’t want to be photographed that’s fine, just let Rachael know in advance).
For those who would like some candid shots of themselves in some of the iconic spots around the city, the photos will be available for free afterwards.
We’ll finish the tour off in China Town. We’ll enjoy some authentic Asian food for dinner – you can't go wrong dumplings!
Day 4
Up nice and early today, for sunrise yoga in Central Park. You’ll get to learn about the history of the park and enjoy some light yoga along the way. This tour is suitable for all fitness levels and no yoga experience is necessary. Even if you’d like to come along and sit the yoga part out, that’s okay. You’ll still get to see loads of the park and enjoy it at a lovely time of the day.
After the tour we’ll head towards the Upper East Side, stopping at the famous MET steps along the way. We’ll enjoy an Upper East Side brunch and then stop at Sprinkles, home to some of NYC's most famous cupcakes.
Today you’ll have an afternoon to yourself to explore at your own pace. There will be lots of suggestions in your guide (maybe you would like to take this time to visit the Empire State Building? Or see the dinosaurs in the Natural History Museum?).
We’ll meet back up again as a group in the evening and head to Brooklyn. We’re going to visit Champs Diner, for some traditional American diner food – with a twist!
After dinner, Greg will be joining us for a street art tour of Williamsburg followed by a pub crawl around some of the funkiest bars in the neighbourhood.
Day 5
Our last day in New York! Today some of you may wish to take the morning off, but for those who are happy to get up and explore, we are going to go ice skating at the Rockefeller centre!
We’ll continue to work up an appetite and walk the amazing highline Park together. This park is so unique – it’s an old railway line that was restored and transformed into a beautiful park that sits high above the streets. We can walk it all the way to the Chelsea food market where you will have a huge selection of places to get some lunch.
After lunch, you can enjoy a few hours of down time, squeeze in that last bit of shopping or take one more stroll around Central Park, before we get picked up for the airport for our overnight flight.
We arrive back in Dublin at 8AM Thursday morning and will say our goodbyes after a one-of-a-kind adventure!
Get to Know Your Host
As well as being a writer and blogger, Rachael is also a singer. She has even graced the stage at Electric Picnic and gigs regularly around Ireland.
She lives in Laois with her partner and cat Polly and is a huge foodie. She loves street art, taking photographs and vlogging her travels for IGTV.
She is currently a finalist in this year’s Beauty Blog Awards, under the category ‘best travel influencer’.
You can learn more about Rachel by finding her on Instagram @lovelytomeetme or checking out her website www.lovelytomeetme.com.
Feel free to drop her a DM and say hello or ask any questions about the trip.
Things to Know
- Max 10 spaces available on the tour
- There is an option to share a twin room with a fellow solo traveller (or friend), just like a normal hostel experience, or you can opt for a private room. If you choose the solo traveller sharing option, we will do our very best to find you the perfect roommate.
- All activities are subject to change, depending on weather and other factors. Rachael will keep you in the loop along the way, so you’ll always know what to expect.
The New York Trip Includes
- 5 nights accommodation
- Return direct flights
- Transfers – airport/hotel
- Subway fees
- Tour inclusions
The selling price based on 2 sharing a bunk pod will be €1,249pp
The selling price based on sole occupancy of a single pod would be €1,449pp
For more information or to secure your slot, please call 01 699 5298 or email lovelytomeetme@gmail.com