Travel
Originally published on Tuesday, 18th November 2014
TRAVEL SUPPLEMENT WINTER
Here at UJHQ we love this time of year. The weather has turned crisp, nights are longer, and the festive season is imminent. And this year, we’re feeling the pull of Thanksgiving (we have, after all, adopted Halloween). With that in mind, we’ve given our Travel Supplement a USA twist. We have the traditional New York pick (where to stay, eat, drink, and sleep) and a not-so-traditional Atlanta pick (music, history, bike tours and erm, sustainability). Not feeling the pull of America? No fear. We’ve got a few other holiday getaways, including ‘The Happiest Place On Earth’. Have fun.
NEW YORK STAY: NEW YORK STAY
NY hotels – why is finding one so hard? When you’re through with the young/cooler-than-thou shabby digs, and want something more grown up, head straight for the Park Hyatt New York. This is one class act. Click here to read about our five star stay at this contemporary luxe hotel. We would have moved in.
ON OUR RADAR : ON OUR RADAR
From Shanghai to Beijing and now Chengdu, the latest Chinese city to grace our bucket list… and it’s not just to meet the locals (80% of the world's pandas live in the Sichuan province). The megacity, with its contrasting elements such as tech hubs next to teahouses and historic World Heritage sites vs. gigantic buildings (the world's largest, New Century Global Centre, is in the heart of the city), makes it part nature escape, part bustling city-break. And then there’s the food. It’s the only Asian city to be named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, thanks to its spicy Sichuan cuisine. Ready to pack your bags? Good news: British Airways now flies direct.
NEW YORK RESTAURANTS : Top 5 by Jonathan Downey
Jonathan Downey, owner of Milk & Honey Soho | Danger of Death Brick Lane, partner in @StreetFeastLDN #ModelMarket #HawkerHouse and @Rotorino, has led UJ on many a good foodie trail: the right tapas bar in the Boqueria, hidden gems in Ibiza, and top tips literally everywhere across the globe. He’s also a NY frequent flyer – click here to see the top five restaurants from his most recent trip.
FUN TIMES: DISNEYLAND PARIS
It’s no secret: we love us a bit of Disney action at the best of times. Add Christmas to the equation, and it’s off to Disneyland Paris we go for frosted snowflakes, giant trees, fairytales, fireworks and, of course, the Christmas parade with all the usual suspects. Want a change of scenery? Head next door to Walt Disney Studios. Think old school LA, complete with boulevards, neon signs, and The Hollywood Tower Hotel – #UJLoves. And because we’ve got the US of A on the mind, stay at Disney’s art deco Hotel New York. It’s circa 1930s Manhattan, complete with skyscrapers, a pool and a New York City Bar.
Go direct from London to Disneyland Paris by Eurostar. All the highlights from our Disneyland Paris trip will be in our next Weekend Guide. Stay tuned.
NEW YORK PARTY: The Standard, High line
If it’s more of a play hard, play hard trip you’re after, The Standard High Line is a good option. Book a room facing the Hudson and you’ve got an easy roll home from The Top of The Standard and Le Bain nights. Make sure you get on the guest list though, as your room key won’t cut it here. Bundle up and hit the roof for the views, and then head back to your room post party to raid the mini bar’s pretzels and M&Ms, root beer and mini bottles. Feel like something a bit more grown up? Try the newer Standard, East Village on for size.
SOFT LAUNCH: BE THE FIRST
We love a good soft launch: restaurants, bars and, of course, hotels – apart from being in-the-know, a soft launch is usually a significant money saver. So it’s good news we’ve found www.bethefirst.com – the new website offering news on hotel openings and soft launches. Two birds at once. Sign us up.
NY DIVE BAR TOUR: TOP 5 NY RACHEL HARRISON
A trip to NY isn’t complete without a trip over the bridge to Williamsburg. And what better way to spend your time there than on a dive bar tour? To show you the way, UJ has enlisted the help of nightlife/drinks PR extraordinaire, Rachel Harrison. What this girl doesn’t know about drinks is not worth knowing! And if you do take Rachel’s Williamsburg dive bar tour (do it), our top tip is pace yourself and bring your ID: no ID, no service (or entry). Click here for Rachel’s Williamsburg Dive Bar Tour.
NY TOP FIVE DIVE BARS BY RACHEL HARRISON
ATLANTA CITY FILE: 48 HOURS IN THE ATL
We’re big fans of travelling somewhere that isn’t necessarily at the top of our list – when there are no expectations, anything that’s good is a bonus! So when we went to Atlanta on Virgin’s inaugural 787 flight last month, we thought, ‘Atlanta. Well, okay.’ Fast forward to arriving to gospel singers, followed by delving into redneck and hip hop culture, old wealth and new bling, southern health and sustainability trends and of course, remarkable history – it’s the home of Martin Luther King, Jr. after all – and UJ was an instant ATL convert. Read how it all went down, and make sure that ATL is on your to do list. It should be: this is one educational, inspiring spot.
FOODIE STAY: EL BLOK, PUERTO RICO
Bypass San Juan and instead head east to Vieques. The ramshackle beach village just got itself a high-octane hotel, El Blok – and it ticks all the boxes. Aside from its brutalist architecture and deco (think curvilinear shapes and exposed, raw concrete), its kitchen is its main calling card. Chef José Enrique (2013 F&W Best New Chef winner) takes charge of the restaurant with his take on traditional Puerto Rican dishes such as fried mackerel (with fried eggplant and mojo), flank steak (with Creole panzanella salad) and roast chicken (with aji ragout, a spicy meat stew). And, just like his namesake restaurant in San Juan's La Placita, expect a table-to-dance floor dining experience.
