NEW YORK Brash, colourful and unlike any other city - it's just great! Tour Code: 44680 Grade 2 Holiday Duration: 8 nights HOLIDAY DATES 6th Apr 2019-14th Apr 2019, 11th May 2019-19th May 2019 21st Sept 2019-29th Sept 2019, 5th Oct 2019-13th Oct 2019 Join us for an exhilarating week in New York, the most energy-charged city in the world and create memories of a lifetime in the city that never sleeps. HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. Gaze across the city from the Empire State Building. Take the train into the Hudson Valley for a different perspective. Recognise locations from every New York movie. Immerse yourself in New York the city that never sleeps.
Five Faces of New York Come fly with us to New York, the most energycharged city in the world and create memories of a lifetime in the city that never sleeps. From glittering Times Square and 42nd Street to glamorous Fifth Avenue you'll experience the glitzy side of New York. Add in Downtown, Central Park, The Statue of Liberty, the art deco Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, spectacular bridges, museums, theatres and concert halls, ethnic neighbourhoods, fabulous shopping and some great deli' lunches and you'll certainly have an action-packed and exciting week! Sightseeing The sightseeing element of the holiday will be significant allowing you to get a good feel for the sites and sights as well as the trails of the destination. This is a city to explore on foot; we cover all the must-see' attractions, including the quirky and the unusual such as a visit to the often overlooked Smithsonian Museum of The Native American. We'll ride the subway, take a bus and sail on the Staten Island Ferry. We also include a rail trip up the Hudson River Valley to explore the beautiful countryside north of New York City with its historic sites and pretty colonial villages such as Cold Spring and Irvington-on-Hudson. From our comfortable and conveniently situated hotel on the Upper West Side of Manhattan Island, just two minutes from the subway, we can easily access the Downtown area where layers of history converge at Battery Park. You may wish to take an early dinner before sampling the numerous theatre and concert venues for which New York and Broadway are famous. WHAT'S INCLUDED Return flights from Heathrow to New York JFK (British Airways or Virgin Atlantic) Airport transfers En suite accommodation with breakfasts taken at a classic diner Five dinners taken in local restaurants Rail trip up the Hudson Valley A short guided tour of Harlem All local transport costs. HOLIDAY GRADE This is a Grade 2 leisurely holiday which involves active sightseeing on foot around the city and one day out in the countryside in the Hudson valley. In a city like New York there are always plenty of get out clauses with the subway system, buses and taxis. This if on any day the city walking is proving demanding (very unlikely) then just hop on some transport or drop into a cafe for a coffee and met the group again later in the day. On the day out of the city in the Hudson valley expect to walk on good trails covering about 5 miles at a gentle pace.
Proposed Itinerary Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the outlined itinerary and advertised programme, local conditions can change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. This may mean that routes and timings need to be amended or the order of days may change, sometimes at short notice. Key to Meals: B - Breakfast, L - Lunch, D - Dinner. In flight meals, if appropriate, will be advised in your final travel documents Day: 1 - New York City (No Meals) Depart London Heathrow with British Airways to JFK, New York. On arrival, transfer to our hotel in New York City. Our plan is to take everybody in iconic yellow cabs. A suitable introduction to the city. Day: 2 - New York (B,D) After a substantial breakfast (for those who enjoy such things) and a detailed briefing on getting around New York and in particular using the metro system we will commence our explorations. We might walk past Madison Square Gardens, Macy's Department Store and the Empire State Building. The view from the top allows us to get a feel of the areas we will be exploring during the week. We can picnic in Bryant Park before exploring Times Square and the Theatre District and finish the day with a walk across Brooklyn Bridge. A full day to start the holiday. Finally we will take a well reserved dinner in a local restaurant. Day: 3 - New York (B,D) Today we head down to the south end of Manhattan Island to take the ferry across to Staten Island. We pass by the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island on the way across New York harbour, so the trip is much more that just an urban ferry ride. Later we have time to explore Wall Street and particularly the rebuilt site of the former Twin Towers destroyed the 9/11 attacks. Again dinner will be in a local restaurant, we have plenty of choice. Day: 4 - New York (B,D) We travel back down to the south end of the island to catch the ferry to Ellis Island. The security is tight here so there may be a wait to get on the ferry. On the island there will be plenty of time to take in its emotive history of the island and its significance to the American psyche. We travel back to Manhattan for lunch and spend some of the afternoon walking the 'Highline', a former railway line now converted to an urban greenway. Dinner is out again tonight. Day: 5 - New York (B) An easier day today with a morning tour of the Upper East Side and then an early afternoon tour of Harlem. We will have the rest of the afternoon for personal exploration and no organised group dinner tonight so everybody can sample the huge array of ethnic cuisine available. Day: 6 - New York (B,D) For a complete change of scenery, we leave the city behind and travel by train from Grand Central Station upstate along the Hudson River Valley. We walk part of the Croton Aqueduct Trail from Dobbs Ferry to Irvington and may visit Lyndhurst, or Washington Irving's home at Sunnyside. If time allows we can then take the train north to Cold Spring. Day: 7 - New York (B,D) Today has strong ethnic flavour as we explore first Chinatown and then Little Italy. Highlights might be watching (or indeed joining) a Tai Chi session or a coffee at Ferrarra's, the oldest coffee shop in New York. Later we will visit Essex Market for lunch and a guided tour. We will gather for our final meal of the holiday back at the hotel and go out somewhere special. Day: 8 - In flight (B) Nothing is planned for today but as the hotel is close by Central Park perhaps a stroll before getting on the plane might work well. New York has world renowned art museums, the Met and MoMA are the best known and well worth anybody's time. If art is not your thing the leader can suggest many alternatives. Finally we transfer back to the airport for our flight home. Day: 9 - - (-) We arrive back in the UK. Walks & Excursions The walking programme will mostly be in conjunction with sightseeing in the city or
immediate surroundings (with a trip to the Hudson River Valley included). Please note that although the walking will be taken at a leisurely pace, there is a lot of walking content on the holiday and you will need to be fit and able to cover lots of ground on foot with ease. There will be some free time during the week. PLEASE NOTE THAT IF VISITING ELLIS ISLAND, A FULL SECURITY CHECK WILL BE TAKEN BY THEIR STAFF. PLEASE DO NOT CARRY SHARP OBJECTS ON YOUR PERSON AS THEY WILL BE CONFISCATED AND MAY NOT BE RETURNED. Entrance fees are not included in the holiday cost. Many museums are free of charge (many advertise a suggested donation) and those aged 65+ can often obtain reduced admission rates at sites that do charge. Much of the intended programme will involve walking in the different areas of the city and visits that involve entrance fees are limited. We hope to be able to visit the following for which entrance fees are applicable (prices subject to change): Ellis Island - $18 per person, Sunnyside - $15 per person,empire State Building - $32 per person. Coming from all walks of life your fellow travelling companions will share your desire to discover great things and have a wonderful holiday. Enjoy their infectious enthusiasm, camaraderie and great dinner conversation. These small-group guided holidays usually have a group size of 10-22 people. Tour Leaders Your tour leader makes the world of difference to your holiday and ours are as passionate about discovering the world on foot as you are. They're resourceful, organised and widely travelled. They will handle all the local administration and other needs that might arise to ensure that you don't have to worry about planning your days and you can enjoy your holiday. Although leading group holidays, they won't forget that every group is made up of individuals. Each tour leader has their own individual style, talents and professional backgrounds and all are trained, qualified, experienced and dedicated to making your holiday as enjoyable, interesting and inspiring as possible. On most holidays of 7 nights and over, the tour leader will have one day's break a week, enabling you to have a 'free' day too! Optional Excursions A range of local excursions and activities may be available to book at your destination through a local operator. We have no involvement in such activities or excursions which are not run, supervised or controlled in any way by us. Your contract will be with the local activity supplier and we accept no responsibility for their actions or omissions. Leaders Evening Briefing Each evening, your tour leader will discuss with you the programme for the following day. If you do not wish to join the organised group programme, please let the leader know. Local Transport Costs All local transport costs in conjunction with the advertised activity programme are included in the holiday cost. Personal Expenditure Budgeting for Extras When budgeting for your holiday, you will need to consider drinks, any meals not included in the holiday price, non-included entrance fees, optional excursions you may choose to participate in locally and any souvenirs or additional services such as laundry. A general guideline for lunches and drinks is 10-20 per person per day. Small Groups
Travel Details Flights London Heathrow to New York JFK and return with British Airways Transfer time from airport to hotel is approximately 45 minutes - 1 hour by road (depending on traffic) Travel within New York City will be on foot and public transport For all those booking a flight or rail inclusive holiday, details of your travel arrangements and baggage allowance will be confirmed in your travel documents, sent to you approximately 10 days prior to departure. Regional Flights (R1). We do not offer regional flights with airport to hotel transfers on this holiday, but there is a wide choice of regional flights operating from the UK which you may choose to book independently. Land Only If you are joining and leaving at your holiday overseas we assume, unless you advise us otherwise, that you will join and leave the holiday from your hotel. Although airport transfers are not included for those making their own independent travel arrangements, if you wish to join the group at the overseas airport, depending on your flight arrival time, you may be able to be included on the group's transfer. Please contact us at least 5 weeks before departure for more details. Please note that your flight must arrive within 30 minutes of the group flight to be able to join the group transfer. We also need your flight number, arrival time and departure point so that the group leader is able to meet up with you. If you wish to organise your own flights from a non- UK or provincial airport or travel by rail or car to your holiday destination, 'no-travel' reductions are often available. Please contact us for details. if doing so 12 weeks or more before your intended date of travel. If you do intend to join your holiday locally please do tell us at least 14 weeks in advance. Passports and Visas Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. You don't need any additional period of validity on your passport beyond this. The VWP (Visa Waiver Programme) allows most British Citizen passport holders to visit the US for up to 90 days. The types of journey allowed under the VWP include tourism, certain types of business visit and transit to another country. All travellers wishing to enter the US under the VWP now need to hold a passport with an integrated chip (an epassport). Your passport is an epassport if it carries the internationally recognised e-passport symbol on the front cover. You won't qualify for entry to the USA under the VWP, and will need to apply for a visa from the nearest US Embassy or Consulate, if: - you have a British passport that describes your nationality as something other than British Citizen' - you've been arrested for certain crimes, even if it didn't result in a criminal conviction - you're a dual national of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria - you've travelled to Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia or Yemen since March 2011 Certain exemptions apply on a case-by-case basis to those who have travelled to Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia or Yemen since March 2011. For more information about these exemptions, see the website of the US Embassy. Before finalising any independent travel arrangements, please check with us first - especially
If you are in any doubt about whether you qualify for the VWP, or if you're concerned that an existing ESTA may have been cancelled, you should contact the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. General travel and destination advice for UK nationals is available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at www.fco.gov.uk/travel and at www.gov.uk/travelaware. Those travelling under the VWP arriving by air or sea should provide details online at least 72 hours before travel. This is known as an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation or ESTA. For more information, and to apply online, visit the official ESTA website (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta). If you're arriving by land, you don't need to complete an ESTA before you arrive at the border. Getting an ESTA is a separate process to providing your airline with advance passenger information (details of your passport, country of residence, address of your first night's accommodation in the US etc). The VWP is intended to be used for occasional, short visits to the US. If a US immigration officer thinks you're trying to reset' the clock by making a short trip out of the US and re-entering for another 90- day period, you can be denied entry. If you travel from the US to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean you can usually re-enter using the ESTA and admission stamp you were issued when you first arrived in the US, although the time you spend outside of the country is included in the 90 days allotted for your visit. Make sure you're clear about the length of time the immigration officer has authorised you to remain in the US if you re-enter under the same ESTA. When you arrive in the USA you will need to be able to show that you have enough funds available to support yourself during your stay, even if you're staying with family and friends. Further details on the VWP and other aspects of US immigration rules are available from the Customs and Border Protection website. The US Customs and Border Protection programme Global Entry gets pre-approved travellers through border control faster at some US airports. If you're a British citizen you can now register to get a UK background check on GOV.UK. If you pass the background checks, you'll be invited to apply for Global Entry. General Passport & Visa Advice It is a good idea to carry photocopies of the personal details pages of your passport. Should you lose your passport, this may assist with the issue of replacement documents and your return to your home country. Passport and visa requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements.
Accommodation Hotel Newton 2528 Broadway 95th Street New York City United States of America Phone: +1 212-678-6500 Web: www.thehotelnewton.com/ Email: newton@newyorkhotel.com We stay in twin and single bedded en-suite rooms with flat screen TV, fridge, microwave and coffee maker. Wi-Fi is available for a nominal charge. Daily breakfast and five dinners are included in the holiday arrangements. Breakfasts will be taken at a diner close to the hotel. Diners are a NY staple and you'll soon discover dollar pancakes and eggs "over easy" or "sunny side up"! Dinners will be taken at local restaurants allowing us to sample some of the great food found in the city. We may head to Harlem for Soul food, Little Italy for every kind of Italian regional cooking and China Town, not unsurprisingly, for Chinese. Farmer's markets, Central Park food carts and the infamous coffee shops serving New York style cheesecake are all on our itinerary. Two nights are free for you to explore on your own. This will be our arrival day and one other evening, to be determined by the group leader. Lunches are not included in the holiday cost but we will make stops at delis, Katz Deli being perhaps the most famous, cafes and markets as part of programme, giving you the full "foodie" experience. US portions are generally larger than we experience at home. You may prefer to order dishes to share or don't be shy to ask for a "Doggy-Bag". Almost all restaurants offer them.
Footwear Good quality walking shoes or trail shoes with a thick, moulded rubber sole with a good tread and a low heel are likely to be all that is required for these holidays. If you're a frequent walker and comfortable in good quality hiking sandals, these may be be adequate for some walks. Walking sandals should have an instep, a good sole and ideally some toe protection. As a matter of personal choice, you might prefer to wear a pair of lightweight walking boots. For purely sightseeing elements of the holiday, you should wear whatever is comfortable for a day out on your feet. We recommend that you either wear your walking boots or shoes or pack them and some waterproofs in your hand luggage as in the unlikely event that your hold luggage is delayed, you will still be able to participate in the holiday programme. Kit List Outdoor activities are always more enjoyable if you are prepared. The following list is a basic guideline that will enhance your experience. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have. A basic kit list is likely to include: - Waterproof jacket (Goretex or similar) and trousers - Lightweight, quick drying trousers - Several polo shirts, T-shirts or specialist walking shirts - Fleece jacket - Comfortable walking socks - Warm hat and gloves (if appropriate) - Sun hat, sunglasses, lip salve and high SPF sun block - Swimwear (if appropriate) - Day sack (25 litre capacity) to comfortably carry the kit you'll take out for the day - Strong polythene bags to keep the contents of your daypack dry - Water bottle(s) - at least 1 litre capacity - Basic first aid kit (plasters, blister treatment, antiseptic etc) - Insect repellent - Plastic container and reusable cutlery for your picnic lunches - Walking/trekking poles (if applicable) Trekking Poles Many of our clients find walking poles hugely beneficial when walking. They can both reduce stress on the knees and aid confidence. If you use them please make sure that you have the rubber tips covering the sharp metal points. There is increasing evidence that the bare metal tips are damaging footpaths both in the UK and abroad. Water-to-Go An alternative to bottled water from single-use sealed water bottles is filtered water from a refillable bottle containing its own water filter such as a Water-to-go bottle available from www.watertogo.eu. Just fill up from any water source and save the environment from disposable plastic bottles. We have negotiated an exclusive 15% discount with our partners Water-to-Go for you as a thank you for helping the environment. Please go to their website at www.watertogo.eu and enter the code RWH17 when ordering. In addition, Water-to-Go will match the discount with a donation to our charity, Heart & Sole, which will allow us to continue to make a difference in the countries you visit on our holidays. Travel Document Checklist Documents and Information to take with you: - Your passport (make sure it's valid and it's yours) - Your travel tickets or e-ticket itinerary - Any visa or electronic travel authorisation (if required) - Holiday money - Credit or debit cards (and separate details of who to call if lost) - Car parking ticket and car park directions (if prebooked) - Coach or rail travel tickets (if prebooked) - Your holiday Booking Confirmation document - Your travel insurance details - Alternative form of identification (such as a driving licence) - Photocopy of the personal details pages of your passport
- A valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if relevant - Details of any medical condition or allergy your holiday leader should know about Maps, Guidebooks & Advice Maps and guidebooks relating to your holiday may be obtained before departure from: The Map Shop (www.themapshop.co.uk) Maps Street maps of New York City are available locally (free of charge from tourist offices). Maps of the surrounding area are available locally but can be quite expensive. Books New York City, Lonely Planet Publications (also has a small section on the Hudson Valley) New York City Rough Guides New York Style Cooking Authentic Recipes from the Empire State by Chef Maggie Chow Appetite City A Culinary History of New York by William Grimes Websites: You may also find the following websites useful: www.nycgo.com www.newyork.com www.iloveny.com Weather and Climate Visit the following websites for an idea of the climate in your destination: Weather2 www.myweather2.com BBC Weather www.bbc.co.uk/weather
Currency US Dollar Electricity Electricity is supplied at 110 Volts at 60Hz. If you wish to use electrical equipment you will need a two pin North America style adaptor with flat pins. More information can be found at www.powerplugadapter.uk. Health No compulsory immunisations are required for visits to the US. You should be up to date with the usual immunisations recommended in the UK. You may wish to consider immunisation against Tetanus. Zika virus also exists in the US; please take normal precautions against mosquito bites. Seek pre-travel Zika virus advice from your health care provider 6-8 weeks in advance of travel, particularly important if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy. Health requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements at least 6 to 8 weeks before departure. Advice on vaccinations is available from your GP. Further Travel Health Advice For further advice please visit: - The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) travel health website at www.travelhealthpro.org.uk - The NHS 'Fit for travel' website at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk - The Foreign Office Office Travel Advice Website at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. - Or a local travel health clinic. You might wish to take a small bottle of antibacterial hand gel with you for times when you're unable to wash your hands. Language English Insurance Travel Insurance You must be adequately insured to join our holidays. We do not insist that you insure with us but we require that you are adequately insured for the nature of your holiday. You will be unable to participate in our local walking and other activity programmes without being able to demonstrate that you have valid travel insurance. Please ensure that as a minimum your travel insurance policy covers you for medical expenses, mountain rescue and emergency repatriation in the event of illness or injury, and that your policy provides adequate cover for the activities, included and optional, you are likely to participate in during your holiday. See our brochure or website for further advice regarding holiday insurance. Whoever you insure with, please ensure that you take full details, and ideally the policy itself, with you on holiday and provide our tour leader with your insurer's name, the policy number and emergency assistance contact numbers. Please note that it is very difficult to obtain travel insurance once your holiday arrangements have started. Personal Safety The UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office provides up to date information on security and local laws for travellers, together with current passport and visa information, at www.gov.uk/travelaware. Please take a few minutes to look at the current advice on your planned destination. Please be aware of what's going on around you, take sensible precautions with your credit cards and passport and avoid displays of wealth such as wearing expensive jewellery or watches. Do not carry more cash on you than you will need for each day, and we recommend that a money belt is used.
Cultural Awareness Responsible Travel We're committed to ethical tourism in all our destinations. Our holidays are designed for you to discover the essence of the country you are visiting. Travelling in small groups not only gives you an up close and personal experience of your destination, but minimises your impact on the immediate environment. We feel that the most important starting point to protect the environment is to be out in it. For more details visit our website. Heart & Sole We appreciate that we are in a fortunate position to be able to use our profits to help make a difference to people's lives. Heart & Sole is a venture managed by our office staff, whose aim is to reach the heart of the communities in the countries we visit. Through Heart & Sole, we hope to make more of a long term, direct impact to these communities, particularly in less developed countries where even a small amount goes a long way. See our website for more information and details of some of the projects we support. You may wish to review the latest version of this Holiday Information Sheet online prior to travel. Please note that any advertised offers, benefits or initiatives may be discontinued at any time. Contact Us Ramblers Walking Holidays - Tel: UK +44 (0)1707 331133 - Email: info@ramblersholidays.co.uk - Web: www.ramblersholidays.co.uk Our office is open and our Sales & Reservations team available to speak to you from: - 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday - 9.15am to Midday on Saturdays - 9.15am to 3pm on Saturdays in January & February only Please quote your Booking Reference number and Tour Code whenever contacting us. We wish you an enjoyable holiday! Communication Mobile Phones Please do provide us with a mobile phone contact number. We will only use this to contact you with important information relating to your holiday arrangements. Please do keep your mobile phones switched on and readily available when travelling to the airport or if delayed in transit so that we can contact you with any last minute information relating to your travel arrangements. As a matter of courtesy, please switch off your mobile phone during walks, or endeavour to minimise its use. Please also try to minimise the use of mobile devices during group meals. Feedback We welcome all comments about our holidays and value ideas for the future. If you have provided us with an email address we will invite you to complete an online questionnaire or to add feedback to our page on independent review site 'Feefo'. Important Information Please note that this Holiday Information sheet may be periodically updated and reissued. In most cases the revisions will be minor and the overall nature of the holiday will remain unchanged. Should we make a major change to your holiday arrangements between you booking your holiday and your date of travel we will notify you to specifically draw your attention to any significant change.