1313
button. Luxurious shampoo, conditioner,
shower gel and hand and body lotion are
provided by YOTEL’s amenity partner Urban
Jungle and the rainshower was one of the best I
have experienced.
Just two blocks away is the nearest subway
station which was handy for visiting the 9/
Memorial at the World Trade Centre - a
humbling experience on reading the inscribed
names of the deceased and the many heroes
who died trying to save fellow New Yorkers.
But from YOTEL Times Square you can
easily walk to many of the main Manhattan
attractions, including Hudson Yards. New
York’s newest neighbourhood is spread over 14
acres of former industrial land and rail yards
and is a stylish mix of restaurants, public
plazas, office and retail space, gardens, hotels
and a 1 million sq ft shopping mall with
designer outlets.
Don’t miss The Edge, the highest outdoor sky
deck in the western hemisphere with
360-degree views of the city and Hudson River
at 1,131 ft on the 100th floor, and enjoy a beer,
albeit at skyscraper style prices of around $17.
Hudson Yards is also a starting point for
walking the line - the High Line - dating from
the 1930s when an elevated rail line was
introduced to improve safety and prevent
pedestrian deaths, as freight trains delivered
millions of tons of meat, dairy and produce. By
the 1980s, freight had halted and the line fell
into disrepair, badly neglected, until
campaigners engaged in a lengthy battle to save
the High Line for future generations.
It is now a 1.5 mile long urban park with
500-plus species of plants and trees, a city-
centre oasis of calm which on both sides offers
views of traditional and modern architecture
and is a place for locals and visitors to relax,NY state of mind
Peeling back the Big Apple
with community programmes, world class art
work and performances free for all.
A 15-minute stroll down to the waterfront
and Pier 83 is where the Landmark Cruise casts
off down the Hudson and while the $88 ticket
might seem hefty it is well worth it - in fact
worth it alone for the non-stop entertaining
and informative 1 hour 20 mins commentary
from veteran tour guide Andy Sydor.
Top tip - check out the official New York
CityPASS which allows 40% discounts on many
top attractions and free admission to five
must-see locations, including the Empire State
Building Observatory, Guggenheim Museum,
and this Circle Line sightseeing boat cruise
which travelled down to Ellis Island and the
Statue of Liberty then up and under the
Brooklyn Bridge, offering outstanding cityscape
views on both sides of the mighty river.
After a few whirlwind days in a city that
indeed never sleeps, I was glad of the extra leg
room and comfort offered in JetBlue’s standard
Core seats on the return flight, and the quick
disembarkation meant, unusually for
Edinburgh, that I was through passport control
in single minutes.*Stephen Rafferty travelled courtesy of JetBlue
and YOTEL. Limited round trip fares from
Edinburgh to New York start at £399 and $499 in
Core and £1999 and $2999 in Mint.Top left: Empire State
BuildingFar right: Times SquareSecond right: YOTEL Times
SquareThird right: YOTEL Times
Square bedroomBottom right: JetBlue’s
comfortable MINT suiteStephen RaffertyStephen Rafferty