New York & Chicago 2022

 New York & Chicago 2021 (pre-Omicron)

·       2nd trip to United States - New York and Chicago via Dubai
·       Date: 20 Nov to 3 Dec 2021
·       Season: Fall/Winter
·       Flight: Emirates/Qatar & United Airlines
·       Hotel: The New Yorkers, Wyndham, Manhattan; Airbnb, Grove St. New Jersey (many halal food here) and Travelodge by Wyndham Downtown, Chicago
·       No. of Travelers: 2 persons
·       https://www.instagram.com/bookworm.travel/ (can refer to IG Story)
 


Unplanned trip to US in 2021. We were informed by our fellow traveller that the border will open soon both Malaysia and US for tourism. No need travel pass anymore and no quarantine for US. Short story, I and Azlah already has US Visa and still valid for many more years. The 1^st time I went to US was in 2018. From Niagara Fall, NY, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, Florida. This round, Azlah and I decided to visit Chicago for 2 nights since we will spend 7 nights in NYC.

3 weeks plan. Renew passport at end of Oct 2021 and immediately buy the flight tix. Before they announce the opening of the border, return tix flight KL-NY is less than RM3k. After 2 days, it becomes RM3.5k. emmm… and for me, I upgrade Business Class for 1 Sector on my way back from Dubai to KL. Cause me additional cost.

 

So why we choose USA?

1) we had visa ready

2) no quarantine in US

3) free covid-19 test, rtk-antigen, antibody and PCR at any time, anywhere in NYC

4) NYC still have mask on mandatory indoor

5) we love the vibe of NYC

 

Itinerary

20 Nov 2021 (Saturday): Depart from KLIA around 7.30pm.

21 Nov 2021 (Sunday): Arrived at JFK Terminal 4 (Dubai) & Terminal 8 (Qatar) around 8am. We didn’t check that we will arrive at different terminal. Just go for it.

-          Early check in at The New Yorker, Manhattan, next to Penn Station, St. 34. Cost us additional USD75. 75% of the hotel price. Shower, pray and take a rest

-          Walk to Bryant Park, One Vanderbilt, NYC Library, Grand Central to buy Magnolia Bakery, Times Square, Line Store (carik BTS merchandise) and back to hotel, Fifth Avenue area.

22  22 Nov 2021: Breakfast at Best Bagel Coffee. Walking from hotel 34^th St. to Central Park 59^th St. Rent bike and cycling around Central Park. Can see many museum located near the upper Manhattan. Didn’t have a chance to visit this museum. Back to hotel. Check out. Store our luggage at rental storage nearby.

      Take double decker train from Penn Main Station to Newark Airport Station to catch domestic flight from Newark to O’hare International Airport, Chicago. Massive airport. Arrived during sunset. Take blue train to Chicago downtown. Check in hotel.

      23 Nov 2021: Chicago, the Windy City. It was -3c here. Very cold and windy. Breakfast at Dunkin Donut. Walk to Millennium Park. The Bean. Cloud Gate. The Great Lawn, Jay Pritzker Pavillion, Cross the BP bridge to Maggie Daily Park. So many parks here next to Lake Michigan. Walk along Chicago river walk, (Trump Tower) to Navy Pier. Stop at Target. Naik Ferris Wheel and went to Hard Rock Chicago and Starbucks. Tapau lunch/dinner at The Halal Guys and heading back to our hotel. Waking all day long. Tido awal. Malam bangun balik. Jalan2 around the city. Sini byk university, library, public office. Suke pegi CVS Pharmacy and Walgreen. Ade 7E. Panda Express etc.

24 Nov 2021: Breakfast at Dunkin. Walk to Target to buy new luggage for me and painkiller. Sakit gigi. Lunch at Thai food before check out from hotel and walk to Blue Train to catch our flight back to Newark, New Jersey. Flight delay. So arrived quite late in NJ. Catch bus from Newark to Path Station. Take subway to Grove St. NJ. Check in Airbnb.

25 Nov 2021: Thanksgiving Day. Breakfast at Dunkin. Take subway to WTC. Walk to the downtown for Macy’s Parade. Ramai giler org. waktu ni dah risau kalo kena covid. Abisla. Mcm mane nak balik. Then pegi Central Park. Still got foliage. Walk to Rockefeller Center, St Patrick Cathedral, Apple Store at 5^th Avenue and take Roosevelt Island Aerial Tram to Roosevelt Island.  Dinner nasi briyani tapau from Pakistan restaurant.  

26 Nov 2021: Black Friday. Shopping Day. Macy’s, Ulta, Amazon Bookstore, Zara, H&M,  Uniqlo back to Apple Store at 5^th Avenue. Tapau chicken wing on the way back.

27 Nov 2021: Walk from WTC to find Harry Potter Store. Take photo at the red stairs at Time Square. Lunch at Birreria (Italian Fine Dining), Summit One Vanderbilt, Hudson Yards next to Hudson River. High Line Park. Flatiron under renovation.

28 Nov 2021: NY announce State Emergency. Walk to Brooklyn bridge and Dumbo. Back to Time Square to take Covid Test. Get RTK-Antigen result in 15 minutes. Negative. Have to wait 24 hours for PCR and it’s negative or not detected. Drop by at Yankees store. Walk along Broadway theater district. Take subway to Union, NJ. Got festival here. Lunch at Luke Lobster. Walk to Washington Sq Park.

29 Nov 2021: Target Store NJ. Final shopping (trust me). Owen Grundy Park, Exchange Place (best view of NYC). Went to 911 Memorial Museum and then Oculus. Tapau Nasi Briyani again.

30 Nov 2021: Morning walk to Liberty State Park, NJ. Went to Walgreen. Colgate Clock. 9/11 Memorial NJ, Morris Canal Basin. Print PCR report and Home Quarantine Letter. Check out from Airbnb at 4pm. Courtesy from our host. Dinner Shake Shack at JFK

1 Dec 2021: Transit in Milan 2-3 hours. Sempat shopping lagi.

2 Dec 2021: Transit in Dubai 4 hours. Have milkshake. Shower. Solat.

3 Dec 2021: Arrived in KLIA at last. Register mysejahtera. Take pink wristlet. PCR test. Immigration. Pick up luggage. Balik naik taxi airport.

 

Rough spending/budget:

• Emirates Return flight RM3,500
• United return flight: RM1,100
• Airbnb: RM4,000 6 nights for 2 pax
• Hotel NY (1N), Chicago (2N): RM1,700 for 2 pax
• Metro Pass 7 days: USD33
• Bike Rental + Subway + Bus + Makan + Shopping: At your own cost.