First things first − when planning a road trip to a major city like New York on the whim, be sure to make booking the hotel a top priority.
It’s important because if your daily gig involves something like recycling paper clips (I’d imagine somebody does it), then you might not realize how hard it’ll be finding a room when a city’s hosting an event like Fashion Week.
Not that you don’t think Gucci or Prada could use your insight on how to cut down on the mis usage of those vital little metal office supplies in this digital age. But staying on top of major events just might not be your thing.
Whatever the reason, the hotel can make or break a spontaneous road trip. So, winging the room thing is never a good move.
Frustrated with Googling then calling what seemed like an endless list of hotels in NY for my trip, I decided to take a stab at HotWire.com. For my budget ($140 a night), it had the best options for a 3 star or better after waiting up until five hours before arriving to New York to try to book a room. Still, as a first-timer I was a little hesitant about not knowing exactly what hotel I’d be staying before typing in those last 4 digits of my credit card number.
Then I thought, if it’s a four-star in Times Square − how bad can it be? Well, that depends considering that when I booked a hotel in the area a few years ago I got stuck with a cricket chirping in my room all night. Imagine having to put up with that after an all-day drive.
Thankfully, my luck was a lot better with Hotwire.com. The hotel, the Algonquin, is one of the many gem boutique spots scattered throughout New York City that you’d typically never find on your own. Great location (Midtown Manhattan), and a very simple yet elegant decor.
My ride for the trip? A 2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe. I’d driven the car before. But the nine hour drive from Detroit to Philadelphia to visit an old high school friend before heading to New York gave me a new appreciation for the G.
It rides and handles great as either a sports car or a luxury automobile depending on your mood or if you’re willing to risk a couple of hundred for a ticket, which can also blow a road trip.
Philly and New York are great travel destinations to take in some of the sights and sounds of the East Coast. Often lost in all of the news about Philadelphia’s crime rate, is the beauty of the city’s public community murals. They’re amazing and free, which definitely helps when budgeting a trip.
Whether it’s taking a show in on Broadway, window shopping on Fifth Ave., dining at one of the city’s countless restaurants or partying in the Meat Packing District to 4 a.m., the excitement of NYC is endless.
Just be sure to start the hotel search as soon as you’ve locked down your destination. If not, one of your most memorable events of the trip could be trying to find another place to stay after realizing that sharing a communal shower with four strangers blows the idea of a cool getaway.
Check out Marcus Amick at www.WheelSide.com for more trips and tips in the world of cars.
