The City may never sleep, but the skyline is more impressive when you’re awake! Photo by: Evan Berman
Travelling to South America, or anywhere outside of the US, often requires flying from a large International airport. To begin the trip, I flew from my home airport, Charleston, SC, to New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport to prepare for the international flight leaving from there the next day. The way this worked out, I was able to spend the night and the morning in NYC, even catching up with Dimitri, a good friend of mine who lives there.
This recap and the subsequent reports are all a part of the larger South American Adventure. For more information on this trip, follow these links:
Flight: CHS-JFK in Delta Economy
24 Hours in New York, NY (This Article)
Flight: JFK-SCL in LATAM Economy+
Osaka Santiago, Chile Restaurant Review
Flight: SCL-AEP in Aerolíneas Argentinas Economy
Flight: AEP-FTE in Aerolíneas Argentinas Economy
36 Hours in El Calafate, Argentina
Trekking on Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentine Patagonia
Flight: FTE-USH in Aerolíneas Argentinas Economy
Flight: USH-AEP in Aerolíneas Argentinas Economy
2 Days in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Flight: AEP-SCL in Aerolíneas Argentinas Economy
Flight: SCL-MIA in LATAM Business Class
Hyatt Place Ft. Lauderdale/Plantation
Flight: FLL-CHS in Silver Airways Economy Class
Trip Summary:
As the title indicates, this was a quick stop on our trip. We arrived at JFK around 8:30pm on Friday night and were scheduled to leave at 6:25pm the next day! While some people might have been content to stay at an airport hotel, we decided to make the most of the short time we had.
Our highlights included:
- A hearty breakfast at a Chinese restaurant near where we stayed in Manhattan’s Chinatown
- Briefly touring the American Museum of Natural History
- Brunch near Central Park (and a chance to catch up with a close friend)
- Drinks at several fun bars in Nolita
- Nearly 2 hours spent in a Lyft going between JFK and the City 🙂
We decided to stay in Manhattan’s Chinatown neighborhood which meant access to some of the best Chinese food in the US. After a hearty breakfast (see Food & Drink for more info), we headed to the American Museum of Natural History. If you visit this museum, I highly recommend that you allocate at least 3-5 hours of time, it is humongous!
Flight Info:
We flew Delta from Charleston to New York-JFK on Delta Flight 4754.
The flight itself was uneventful. However, while going through security in Charleston, I had forgotten that I had put my passport and global entry card in the pouch that I wear around my waist for protection while travelling internationally. As such, I set off the machine twice and despite telling TSA that was the reason I was setting off the machine, I was graciously invited to have a pat-down. I am so grateful for these agents that are here to protect us– I don’t know how we’d manage without them!
In the linked post, I review the flight from Charleston to New York.
Price: $113.60
Points Earned: 568 MR Points
Lodging Info:
We stayed at Canal Loft Hotel, a boutique hotel in Manhattan’s Chinatown district. The total price was $202 before discounts.
Price: $202 (with discounts and statement credits, $145.37, $72.69 each)
Points Earned: $8.08 (or 808 ThankYou Points)
Airport Details:
As mentioned above, I flew into JFK. While by no means my favorite airport (hello, ATL!), JFK is definitely the best of the 3 NYC-area airports– at least Terminal 4 is great.
The Delta SkyClub in Terminal 4 is one of Delta’s flagship lounges and we enjoyed a nice dinner upon arrival. Read this article for a review of JFK’s lounges.
Transportation Details:
Since we were only going to a couple of places, we opted to take Lyfts everywhere. I paid for these Lyfts with my Chase Sapphire Reserve Card to earn 10x Ultimate Rewards Points. While these rides were not cheap, at least they go a long way towards earning transferable points for a Hyatt stay or airline ticket!
Airport:
We took a Lyft to our hotel in Manhattan from the airport. The 44 minute ride cost $84.20 including tip and was 29 miles in distance. At least there was minimal traffic at almost 10pm on a Friday!
From a coffee shop close to the brunch spot to JFK Airport, it took 1 hour and 2 minutes to go 16.96 miles and cost $101.98 including tip. This was the only ride with the typically poor traffic we experienced, likely due to leaving at 2:35pm on a Saturday.
Activites:
From our hotel to the Natural History Museum, it was a 7.3 mile and 24 minute ride for $40.52 including tip.
The ride from the museum to the brunch spot was only 11 minutes and 1.75 miles and $19.62 including tip– what a bargain!
Total Price: $246.32 ($123.16 per person)
Points Earned: 2,463 UR Points
Food & Drink:
While we did not get a chance to visit Oda House again, we didn’t suffer too much with the food and drink scene!
I had previously enjoyed several bars in Nolita (see this article for my recent trip to New York) and sought to visit them once again. With temperatures in the 30s and New York’s typically harsh winds, I was counselled that standing outside was not to be. 🙂 As such, we did not visit Mother’s Ruin again. Instead, we headed to Botanica Bar and its neighbor, Milano’s Bar.
Botanica:
Botanica is a fun Latin bar with loud music. If you’re looking for intimate conversations, this is not the place for you. That being said, the crowd is lively and the drinks are solid. I’d recommend stopping in here for a drink or two.
Price: $28.74 ($14.37 per person)
Points Earned: 116 MR Points
Milano’s:
This bar is a delightful memory of New York’s past. Immediately upon entry, seats are found to your right as well as one or two of the bartenders. The bartender will often be deep in conversation with a patron she knows well. An amusing aspect of the narrow bar is that when ordering drinks, the space in front of the bar is so minimal that passersby will have to squeeze past you to enter or exit. We had a long day ahead of us, so we stuck with a Brooklyn Lager ($7 each).
Fortuitous timing had us looking for seats just as a couple left. We spent quite some time admiring the décor, which consists of graffiti, newspaper recaps of sporting events, and wildly amusing political slogans or stickers. This particular visit was enhanced by a group of Bolivian men who were clearly enjoying their time in New York. One of the group seemed disappointed to learn my sweater was made in Ecuador rather than Bolivia.
Price: $17 total ($8.50 per drink)
Points Earned: 68 MR Points
Big Wong
For “breakfast”, I took us to Big Wong, located near us in Chinatown in Manhattan. Known for the congee that is some of the best in the City, the food was spectacular. We were treated to a nice herbal tea that was generously re-filled many times.
We ordered the Salted Pork with 100-years egg congee ($6), Stewed Beef Tripe with noodles ($8.50), Roast Pork (a delicacy that almost competes with Peking Duck) ($9.50), and Beef Lo Mein ($13). The prices were more than reasonable for New York. A service charge of roughly 16% ($6) and tax brought the total to $46.82. Well worth it for a delicious start to a long cold day with lots of wind!
Enjoy these pictures and don’t blame me if you need to get a snack! 😉
Price: $46.82 ($23.41 per person)
Points Earned: None, cash only.
Jams Restaurant:
It may seem unlikely, but we were hungry again after the giant meal to start the day. As we had been near Central Park and were meeting a friend who lives nearby, we opted for Jams Restaurant. They describe the restaurant as “California infused with New York vibes.” While it would not have been my first choice, this was a Saturday afternoon in NYC and most restaurants were fully booked. We took a Lyft from the museum (see Transportation for more details) and were able to leave our suitcases with the hostesses, allowing for a more comfortable meal.
I had the huevos rancheros to eat. While the meal was not the best I have had, it was tasty and somewhat reasonably priced (~$45 a person including tip). Most importantly, I spent quality time catching up with a friend I had not seen in a while.
Price: $145.94 (for 3 people, ~$50 per person)
Points Earned: 584 MR Points
Activities:
American Museum of Natural History:
After checking out of our hotel Saturday morning, we visited the American Museum of Natural History, which is located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, a block west of Central Park. I had not been to this museum in many years and forgot how enormous it is. The museum has a bit of everything; from the formation of earth to the various animals and humans who have roamed our planet for millions of years, I challenge anyone to be bored there.
Tickets:
Tickets were $28 a piece. I purchased them using my Discover IT card via Apple Pay to earn 5% back on the purchase (plus the extra 4% on all purchases through the end of the year). The website and signage at the museum indicate that you MUST wait until the time that appears on your ticket. However, we purchased 1:30pm entry and had no issues entering at 12:30pm. No need to wait if you don’t want to!
The most amusing part of this entire experience was how we dealt with our bags. We each had a suitcase and backpack with us. After being dropped off by the Lyft, the police in front of the museum asked if we were attempting to enter. We answered in the affirmative and they told us suitcases were not allowed (no large bags at all). One of them said, “I tell people to go to the deli on 84th. I know it sounds sketchy, but they’ll hold them for you for a few bucks.”
We walked around to Green Park Deli. Upon entering the store, the cashier immediately asked us if we were sent from the museum. We were, so he told us it would be $7.90 per person. Again, I paid with the Discover IT card to get the 5% back. He asked how many hours we would need to leave our bags. I answered 1 hour, maybe 2 and he responded, “1 hour, 2 hours, 1 day, that’s fine. Take as much time as you need!” When we returned after visiting the museum, he recognized us and called another worker to get our bags from the back. Good thing New York’s finest were there to help us!
Price: $71.80 (including bags, $35.90 per person)
Points Earned: $6.46 cashback (9%)
Total:
Price:
Food and Drink: $238.50 ($96.28 for me)
Transportation: $246.32 ($123.16 for me)
Flights: $113.60
Hotel: $202 (with discounts and statement credits, $145.37, $72.69 each)
Activities: $71.80 (including bags, $35.90 per person)
Total Price: $872.22 ($441.63 for me)
Points Earned:
Food and Drink: 767 AmEx Membership Rewards Points
Transportation: 2,463 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Flights: 568 AmEx Membership Rewards Points
Hotel: $8.08 (or 808 ThankYou Points)
Activities: $6.46 cashback
Total Points: 1,335 AmEx Membership Rewards Points, 2,463 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points, $14.54 cashback
We spent the night in Canal Loft Hotel, an inexpensive option on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Check out that review here. Next up: a long flight down to begin our time in Santiago, Chile.
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