48 hours in New York: Travel review

I’ve always been a forward planner. That’s why it was so uncharacteristic of me to agree to a last minute girlie weekend trip to New York. Caught up in the moment, and in the mindset of you only live once, I decided to do it in style and booked return flights from Edinburgh to New York JFK with Delta Air Lines in the Delta One cabin. With fully flat-bed seats, five-course meal with wines, outstanding service and on-demand entertainment from Delta Studio, it was the perfect way to start our mini adventure; the flowing fizz only enhancing the sense of occasion.

With just 48 hours on our side we stayed central and checked in to the Lotte New York Palace on Madison Avenue and then, armed with recommendations from New Yorkers, we walked The High Line. Peppered with sculptures and artists selling their wares, it’s Manhattan’s urban park created above the city on an elevated section of the former New York Central Railroad and inspired by la Coulée Verte in Paris. A short walk from here took us to the Whitney Museum of American Art on Gansevoort Street where we booked a tour (well worth it) to discover famous works from the likes of Andy Warhol. We refuelled at Urban Space Vanderbilt near Grand Central, a funky indoor food hall crammed with deliciousness, all before cocktails at the top of One World Observatory… and boy, what a view. With only hours until our flight home we managed A Slice of Brooklyn Tour (go with an appetite as pizza is included). You’ll also learn about Brooklyn-born celebrities, see movie locations from Hollywood blockbusters and discover Coney Island.

A whirlwind of a trip of which only dreams are made. One word of advice though: once you turn left on the plane you'll never want to go right again.

Words: Nicky Howden