NYLO, Upper West Side, NYC

December 2013/January 2014

We booked the NYLO due to its location to Central Park and our plans for NYE. However once we booked and the more we researched the area the happier we were with our decision.

Located in New York's Upper West Side, NYLO is within walking distance to three subway stations (we found the red #1 on 78th street the most convenient and the closest walk), within close distance to a huge selection of places to eat and stores to window shop in (unfortunately I didn't build more shopping into our schedule).

While we never spent any time in the bar or lobby, it was always busy with people catching up for drinks or relaxing after a day of sightseeing.

We stayed in the the NYLO Superior for 8 nights all up (two lots of 4). Most people seem to complain about the size of the rooms but we found it more than adequate, my only complaint would be the bed was raised off the floor and might be difficult to get into if your short (I'm 5'7 or 170 cm).

Overall we enjoyed our stay here and it was perfect for our needs.

New York City

December 2013/January 2014

We tend to be big planners, most trips I plan a year in advance (with the starts of that planning sometimes years out), but this was a very last minute trip for us. Six weeks of planning is all we had, and we managed to pack in most of what this city has to offer, with side trips to DC and Philadelphia as well.

Stay
NYLO, NYC on the Upper West Side, great location within a 2 minute walk to the subway

Eat
Barney Greengrass
For all your salmon cravings

Zabar's
Great place to grab and coffee and a bagel

Lexington Candy Shop
The choc chip pancakes were fabulous and we were able to try a Doughnut Plant doughnut without finding a store

Cookshop
Some of the freshest food we had, so colourful

Sarabeth's
Fabulous lobster rolls at Sarabeth's on the Upper West Side

Good Enough to Eat
This was a great local place with an extensive "American" menu

Shake Shack
They just didn't live up to the hype

Luke's Lobster
The crab roll was my favourite of the three

Cozys Soup N Burger
We were hungry after walking the two bridges and stumbled into this place as it was busy, good burgers, pushy service

Momofuku Milkbar
Porkbuns

Amy Ruth's
Worth the trip into Harlem for some southern comfort food

2nd Avenue Deli
Great Pastrami on Rye

The Meatball Shop
Our backup to Katz's Deli, so glad Katz's was too busy

Bagel Talk
Quick, tasty and cheap

Do
VIP Iceskating Rockefella Plaza

Walk the streets of Greenwich Village and SoHo

Walk the Highline

Walk Central Park

Midnight Run through Central Park on NYE

The Two Bridges

Top of the Rock

Observation deck at Empire State Building

Window shop 5th Ave, checking out the Christmas decorations

People watch Times Square

Statue of Liberty

Ellis Island

9/11 Memorial

Byrant Park and the Christmas Markets

Apollo Theater in Harlem
It wasn't open but there were plenty of people taking pictures of this historic theater

Macy's
The largest store in the world - and from the amount of people in there I wasn't surprised

New York Public Library

Grand Central Station

Chelsea Markets

 Flatroin District

National Museum of the American Indian

Radio City Music Hall

Woy Woy Fisherman's Wharf, Australia

January 2014

I didn't have high expectations of Woy Woy Fisherman's Wharf, so in some ways my expectations were exceeded (the food was fabulous and reasonably priced) in others they have some significant improvements to make (the service was poor, even for Australian standards and they didn't have a large number of items on their menu). So its up in the air whether I would recommend it or not. The food was great so if the other parts don't mater to you so much give it a go!

The Central Coast is set on the beaches north of Sydney, but not many spots actually have a water view.

Its got a relaxed beach house atmosphere and the guitar actually added to the atmosphere (wasn't too loud, just nice background music).

We ordered the seafood plate for two (below) times two and also added the ceviche.

 

WWFW Platter      $70 
A share platter of a mixed selection of hot and cold seafood from the menu

Snapper & scallop ceviche     $19.90 

Ngorongoro Camp

October 2013

We stayed at Kirurumu Ngorongoro Camp the night before our crater safari drive. After the noise we experienced at the sister camp at Lake Manyara we didn't have high expectations but found this site to be peaceful, have really good food and better tents (non permanent).

Its set in the Masi community and you can hear the clinging of cow bells.

The tents are comfortable, with plenty of blankets (because it does get cool) and the 20L hot water showers we experienced in the Serengeti.

The grounds the camp is set on is peaceful and relaxing. It was a good spot just to sit and relax.

The food here was also quite good. Its served at a large table so all guests can share their stories of where they have been and where they are going.