So basically, I’m off to the USA in the Summer, more specifically New York and Texas to visit family and attend a wedding. Will have a few days free in each state so I wanna ask of what to do/visit when I’m there. Any good recommendations regarding tourist sites/attractions, food, shopping etc etc?
Have you been to NY before?? I can help with NY. Are you traveling with family? Kids? What are your interests?
Name the city in Texas and maybe someone else would be able to help.
Re: Travelling to USA from the UK
Have you been to NY before?? I can help with NY. Are you traveling with family? Kids? What are your interests? Name the city in Texas and maybe someone else would be able to help.
City in Texas is Houston
Nope, never been NY before, first time in summer. Travelling with my family i.e. 3 siblings, parents and grandparents plus some extended (aunties, uncles, cousins etc). Also, a few kids.
I love going to tourist spots and architectural places of historical importance (mainly been to such places in Europe though, heard USA doesn't have many places as such?)
I love to shop and hear they have good stores such as Sephora.
Re: Travelling to USA from the UK
First thing you’ll notice is the heat.. Houston is REALLY hot in the Summer but luckily you don’t feel it indoors in most places.. There’s a Sephora at the Galleria (their main mall, it’s lovely, really big and cool indoors.. Sephora, Victoria’s Secret and a couple of big department stores as well as loads of regular shops and the more high-end boutiques like Versace.. there’s an ice rink as well).. You’ll probably end up going to Galveston if you’re going to be in Houston for a bit, there’s also the Space Center, Six Flags (think that’s what it’s called? A big theme park, kids will love it)..
New York is hot but in a diff way and there are more cool periods in between the hot ones (bit like London lol but more extreme :D).. there’s much more to see and do in New York.. Houston is more laid-back..
Check out Tripadvisor for a list of all the attractions etc and tips:
Top things to do in New York, United States: New York Attractions
Re: Travelling to USA from the UK
New York:
Times Squre
Madam Tussaud Mueseum
Central Park
Empire State Building
Cruise Ride around Manhattan
A day pass is really worth and dollar saving.
** Queens: **
Jackson heights: Your probably see desi restaurants.
*Texas: *
San Antonio: River walk, Alamo, Sea world
Austin: Mount Bonnell
Houston: Keema Board Walk, NASA, Galleria, Water wall, Rice University Campus
Re: Travelling to USA from the UK
how much time you have? how much money you can spend? where will you be living in NY?
Re: Travelling to USA from the UK
I was going to ask this too... Where will you be staying in NY?? When do you plan to visit? Asking because of weather. Assuming you will be visiting NYC to be more specific and in warmer weather, there is a lot to do
Times Square (you'll find several sephora stores as well as MAC's flagship store is there too)
Staten Island ferry
Wall Street/Battery Park area
Chinatown
MET
Central Park
34 Street/Macy's/Penn Station (Lotsa shopping here)
Washington Sq Park/NYU/Village area
Brooklyn Bridge Park (yes yes I love Parks)
Coney Island Boardwalk
There are several museums you can visit
Green Markets for jams/fruit preserves (Union Square one is awesome)
Astoria/Steinway for everything Arabic
Jackson hts for desi
Rockerfellar Center
For food if you like desi/halal food..
53rd and 6th Halal food cart
Kabab king at Jackon Hts for kababs
Steinway for good halal Arabic food
Re: Travelling to USA from the UK
^ 5th Avenue of NYC have all major retailers of fashion and apparel :cobra: Biggest Macys is also in NYC.
Re: Travelling to USA from the UK
how much time you have? how much money you can spend? where will you be living in NY?
roughly a week in New York, give or take a few days more.
Money/budget is not on me but should be comfortable enough to do tours/shopping etc
Staten Island at a relatives house so no need for a hotel. I know that NYC plus all the main attractions is a bit far off on the main/adjoining 'island' NYC?
Re: Travelling to USA from the UK
Don't forget the Statue of Liberty. I also love to go see see Park Avenue and Wall Street.
Yes that’s what I said.. 34th street, where Macy’s flagship store is
Re: Travelling to USA from the UK
That’s a lot of time. You can see around NYC more than a native newyorker. All you need to do is to get a map of subways, and go thru this attractions website and start checking one by one. We all are guiding you here as well so you can get help as you proceed.
From Staten island there are subways/buses, you can ride ferry as well to NJ as well. Atleast a free ferry to see statue of liberty is a bonus. Lots of Pakistani food in SI but spend more and check out distinctive places. If you search in travel forum there was a thread of great Pakistani restaurants in NYC check it out. Hope you hv a good time! :k:
Re: Travelling to USA from the UK
Thanks for the help guys! Can't wait to go sounds like fun
Staten Island itself doesn't have much to do to be honest. Staten Island is part of New York City. Manhattan is where is all the touristy stuff is which is also part of NYC. If you will be staying in Staten Island you'll also be very close to NJ. It has some good desi food. To go to Manhattan you can take Staten Island ferry. Don't forget to go to Brooklyn bridge too.
Re: Travelling to USA from the UK
Staten Island itself doesn't have much to do to be honest. Staten Island is part of New York City. Manhattan is where is all the touristy stuff is which is also part of NYC. If you will be staying in Staten Island you'll also be very close to NJ. It has some good desi food. To go to Manhattan you can take Staten Island ferry. Don't forget to go to Brooklyn bridge too.
I heard the desi food is really good in New York too, is there any specific area where this is
Re: Travelling to USA from the UK
There is a lot of desi halal places in NY. I personally don't think Manhattan has any good desi food but try 53rd and 6th chicken over rice and another place I like is Marrakesh (they also have halal Mexican food) in Manhattan. There are bunch of halal places on Lexington Ave. between 30th and 6th I believe in Manhattan, however I don't think any is very good. They are good for quick grab.. samosa or chai. There a lot of halal places you'll see as you walk through Manhattan, some good Turkish and Afghani places.
For good Pakistani food you'll have to go to Queens or Brooklyn. Jackson Heights in Queens has kabab king (bihari kabab, seekh kabab and chicken tikka, chai, samosas everything is good). There is Al Naimat for chaat and mithai. Dera has good paya, nihari etc. Bakhtar kabab house in Fresh Meadows is good for Afghan food and burgers and stuff. Fatima's halal for Chinese in Astoria. Steinway in Astoria is a street full of halal places (also called Little Egypt). Very happening place. KFC is Halal. Lazzat pastries for Arabic desserts. I love this little tiny place called Halal Sandwich shop on Steinway for burgers and sandwiches. Brooklyn has some great places too. Google Coney Island halal places. There is one that I like a lot in Brooklyn is Yemni food called Yemen Café. Another one is Istanbul Park in Brooklyn.
Go to zabihah and check out reviews and stuff.
Some things you don't want to miss out on..
-Cart food (All the cart food thing is very exclusive to NY, halal mostly)
-Bakeries.. tons of them all over NY. Magnolia, Crumbs, Martha's Country Bakery (my fav) etc.
-Burgers, philly cheese steaks
-Waffle and Dinges is a cart that sells hot Belgian Waffles with Ice cream and toppings.. yum
I can go on and on about food in NY ... lol
Re: Travelling to USA from the UK
I would have said do loadss of shopping but the pound is so weak against the dollar right now.. A few years back we were getting 2 dollars for every pound and middle of last year it was floating around 1.65.. Today it’s 1.47 
Re: Travelling to USA from the UK
If not too late, make sure you fly a European airline rather than an American one.......
Be prepared to also take off your shoes for security screening @ airport and security paranoia for US flights.
Check to see if you need an ESTA for the USA(google it).
good luck
Re: Travelling to USA from the UK
^We need an ESTA as British passport holders but the airline/booking agent tends to remind us of that anyway..
Shoes don't always need to be taken off.. I fly from Heathrow regularly and sometimes don't need to so I'm guessing they have some discretion when it comes to that.. When I last flew to America in Dec I was wearing short sheepskin boots (like Uggs) and wasn't asked to remove them or anything..
They also don't seem to treat people differently for US flights at the airports here (not in an obvious way at least).. There were no extra questions and no-one really seemed to care..
Re: Travelling to USA from the UK
which airline did u fly? BA?