New York
Hotels/restaurants/ money savers in that order.
Michelangelo Hotel Room
Al with Esat Aloshi at Rosie O'Grady's
We always stay at the Michelangelo. Everything is around Times Square but that’s where you want to be. Excellent staff and morning coffee and Italian pastries. 51str@ 7th. Worth It because you are within walking distance of so much.
Food: Carmine’s 44th and Broadway. They tell you to split entrees…because they are so huge. Salad for one and pasta for one will still leave food on your plate. Be prepared to wait a while. Its popular.
Carnegie Deli. .a NY must. Huge sandwiches but very good. Landmark place. 52nd /7th. Alternative with great desserts, Roxy Deli. 47th on TS.
Ben Bensons for steak but I prefer Uncle Jacks 56th st. or Ruth Chris….yes …Ruth Chris, next door to the hotel.
Ellen’s starlight diner, brk, lunch, or dinner. Singing waiters cheap food. Great experience.
Little italy ……La Mela, Mulberry street
Chinese…WO Pah….(call me about this one)
Get the 27.50 subway card….good for a week, will save you over a hundred dollars or more on cab fare and it’s fun and safe.
Fly into Newark and take the monorail to the New Jersey Transit. Takes you to Penn Station where a cheap cab ride gets you anywhere in midtown…otherwise, JFK and LA G will cost an arm and a leg….need more call me here. 896-5555x154
San Francisco
Latest from San Francisco. Still the best bargain in town. White Swan Inn, 845 Bush in Nob Hill. Convenient to cable cars, (Powell and Mason, Powell and Hyde). Both run to Union Square and the Wharf. Get the three day 21.00 ticket. Unlimited rides. Otherwise pay 5.50 a pop. White Swan has fireplaces in rooms(which you will need IN SF), a full breakfast that is to die for and a happy hour with wines and cheese each day. Old fashioned elevator adds to the ambience. Rates are around 195.00 per. Free soft drinks and water in the fridge.
Food: McCormick and Kuleto’s. waterfront. Great seafood, a tad pricy, entrees around 25 to 30 but every table has a great view of the water including Alcatraz.
ELO trading post. On Sutter. Most magnificent Asian fusion food around. Butternut squash dumplings and ribs the size of Texas. Fresh asparagus that is straight from the farm. Most reasonable and excellent service. Price is lower than most in SF.
Uncle Vitos. Pasta and ravioli and home made pizza. Less than ten bucks and cheap wine and beer. Bush @ Mason.
Sears….like the store …..on Sutter. Home of silver dollar pancakes, great breakfast, super reuben sandwiches and full meals at a very low price.
Aliottos, Scomas, seafood at the wharf…lot of money touristy, good..but touristy.
Clam chowder in the bowl which is made of cut out sourdough bread. Five bucks and great...Pier 39 at the Wharf.
Golden Gate park. Next to the cable cars, the best value in town. Bus will take you to the front door. Everything from T Rex to a real albino live alligator named Claude. Great historical items and worth the trip. 25.00 per a the door unless you are a senior but it will take up a whole day.
Hawaii
If you are going to Hawaii, let me give you a few tips. Instead of just flying into Honolulu and spending all your time there, or catching a flight after you get there to Maui, instead get in touch with Nowegian Cruise Lines. Their “Pride of America” sails weekly from Honolulu to Mau, the big island, Kona, Hilo, and other great places. Seven days with two days spent in Maui and some of the most extraordinary service and scenery anywhere. The ship itself has most reasonable rates with cabins that feature king sized beds, balconies and unbelievably good food. The service, entertainment and ambiance are the very best. Continental has a non stop morning flight getting into Honolulu in mid afternoon. (four hour time difference) “Speed Shuttle” is the most reasonable form of transportation taking you to your hotel for around 30.00 per couple. A taxi will cost you twice as much. I strongly recommend the Hyatt Regency on Waikiki beach. It is across the street from the beach and offers top notch service, beautiful rooms with a very accommodating staff at most reasonable prices. Being so close to the beach and other attractions is also a convenience. “Dukes” is a restaurant you wont want to miss. Across from the hotel, they feature wonderfully fresh caught fish. Next door is a great coffee shop featuring morning pastries at reasonable prices. There is a shuttle that will take you to the Alamoana shopping mall(one of the biggest anywhere) for two bucks a piece. Buses to Pearl Harbor are around the corner. There are also tours to Pearl Harbor which is a must see. If you can, plan to spend at least a day and a half in Honolulu. There is much to see there. You can catch a cab to the ship from the Hyatt for around fifteen dollars. It’s much closer than the airport. When boarding the ship, do not attempt to bring or hide any liquor in your belongings. It will be found and you will have to pay a 15.00 “corking” charge. The cruise is 7 days, leaving on Saturday afternoon, arriving back on Saturday morning. Take your camera and your video. Your cell phone will perform just like it does here in southeast Texas because of course, Hawaii is in the United States. Bring money if you are going to shop for food because it is expensive. On board make sure you book the Volcano tour while on Maui and the Luau on Thursday night. It’s awesome.
