Five Days in New York City for Free – Arrival & Bryant Park

July 24, 2012 - Howie

We’ve arrived! La Guardia is the closest to Manhattan and for 2 people a taxi is the best option at around $28 plus tolls. For both Newark and JFK though a cab runs $50 -75 so I always consider the Air Train direct to Penn station for $11 a piece. Much cheaper and you avoid heavy traffic at rush hour.

As luck would have it, a 3 block walk easy even with bags from Penn Station brings us to the Fairfield Inn 5th Ave which has a reasonable redemption of 120,000 Marriott reward points for 5 nights; easily attainable in a couple of months with a double Marriott Rewards Visa for the couple. Paid stay on sample dates in July came up with $1350 including tax. Ask for a room with an Empire State building view.

Dinner tonight

Head to 508NYC in Greenwich Village. The wall of windows creates the illusion of eating outside, while the eclectic menu serves everything from kibbeh tapas to Hanger Steak with a soy jus. On Sundays and Mondays they have a special 3-course deal such as Housemade Wild Boar Smoked Sausage, Spicy Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Parsley, Scallions, and as many beers as you can drink from 530 -730! ONLY $39

DAY TWO

Free breakfast every day at the Fairfield Inn consists of fruit, bagels breakfast sandwiches and more.

Head to Bryant Park to enjoy an incredible array of free activities while enjoying the view of some great architectural landmarks. This really does warrant a full day of relaxation and enjoyment here; I suggest grabbing a deli sandwich and eat it on the lawn with the local Manhattanites on their lunch break. The FREE activities here are staggering too many to list here but include ping pong, juggling lessons, interact with exotic birds, language lesson events, and a fabulous film festival with movies such as Roman Holiday starting at dusk.

Dinner tonight is at at Flex Mussels where through summer, the West Village location of this seafood joint is offering an excellent happy-hour deal: Monday through Friday from 5:30 to 7pm, hand over $20 and be rewarded with one of four select draft beers, an order of fries and unlimited mussels in your choice of three broths (Dijon mustard and white wine; tomato, olive oil and garlic; and classic white wine and herbs). 154 W 13th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves (212-229-0222)