LUMAS ART TRAVEL - New York

Destination airport: The three major international airports are John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport
Flight time: 8 to 9 hours.
Time difference: CET -6 hours in summer, CET -6 hours in winter. Attention! However, the dates when the time is set forwards and backwards are different from here.
Language: The national language is English, but almost all other national languages from around the world are also spoken here.
Population: Around 8.5 million people live in New York.
Currency and banking: The equivalent value of 1 US dollar is around 0.9 euros. Money can be exchanged in all banks and can also be paid by credit card almost everywhere.

In New York, you will find something exciting on every corner: from highly talented street musicians, culinary delights from award-winning star chefs and excitingly delicious street food to a breathtaking helicopter flight over the - very, very high - rooftops of the metropolis. Listing all the possibilities is doomed to failure, as the innovative city always offers new and exciting opportunities. Or are you looking for relaxation? You'll find that in New York too: in one of the many top-class spas and wellness centres, where even the excited stars of Sex & the City find peace and balance.

Here are a few suggestions:
Opened in 2014, One World Trade Centre offers you a breathtaking and unforgettable view of the skyline from its 102nd floor observation deck. Visit Ground Zero, the former site of the World Trade Centre, which today expresses the close bond between all people - you will feel it. Take a relaxing stroll across the architecturally unique Brooklyn Bridge and enjoy what is probably the most famous view of Manhattan. In Brooklyn Heights, the Dumbo Arts Centre, Mohammed Ali's famous boxing club "Gleason's Gym" and the nostalgic amusement park of Coney Island in the south of Brooklyn will entice you.

Sports fans get their money's worth at an exciting baseball match at Yankee Stadium in the south of the Bronx.

Do you like shopping? Nothing beats a shopping spree on the famous Fifth Avenue. Or would you prefer to enjoy some nature? Then Central Park is the place for you. You can easily explore the "green lung" by bicycle rickshaw. Several lakes, extensive meadows, shady trees and cosy benches invite you to take a break anywhere in the park. The city's many renowned museums are also well worth a visit. For example, the unmistakable spiral-shaped Guggenheim Museum, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) or the Whitney Museum of American Art and dozens of other museums offer something for every taste in art and culture. In the evening, head to the MET, New York's world-famous opera house, or one of the many musicals on Broadway.

A jazz concert in Harlem, in Marjorie Eliot's private flat, is also small but nice and very special. She has been organising jazz concerts in her living room every Sunday for 20 years. Flat 3F at number 555 on Edgecombe Avenue is sparsely furnished: There are folding chairs in the living room, hallway and kitchen - visiting artists, friends, New Yorkers - and you!

Wow - only New York offers so much choice!

Overview of activities:

• Theatre
• Museums
• Concerts
• Restaurants
• Boat tours
• Shopping
• Helicopter flights
• Historical guided tours

Of course there is outstanding international cuisine in New York that is second to none. But perhaps you are also looking for something tasty, special and delicious in the Big Apple - with that typical New York style. Here are our favourites. Stop by Roberta's, a legendary address in Brooklyn. Fancy classic bagels and smoked salmon? Head to Russ & Daugheres on the Lower East Side. For an authentic dinner, head to Empire Diner and Tom's Restaurant. For the perfect brunch, we recommend Prune in the East Village or Marlow & Sons or Cafe Colette (both in Williamsburg). Among the best delis are Katz's Delicatessen, in Manhattan, known for its indescribably tender, hand-cut meat, also in Manhattan is the 2nd Ave. Deli, which serves kosher cuisine, and Mile End Delicatessen in Brooklyn, where you can try a Ruth Wilensky sandwich with beef salami or authentic Canadian poutine made with chips, cheese and gravy.

In the late afternoon, enjoy the spectacular view of the city with a drink in one of the trendy rooftop bars, such as the "230-Fifth". In the evening, we recommend the fantastically decorated "TAO-Uptown" or a gourmet dinner at the legendary "River Café" in Brooklyn. The restaurant's location at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge is unique. Here you will not only be spoilt with exquisite delicacies - the evening view over the East River to the brightly shining New York skyline is also unforgettable.

For jazz fans, we recommend an evening at the Red Rooster in Harlem. For dinner, we can also recommend the award-winning restaurant "Eleven Madison Park", which is one of the best in the world, or a typical "New York steak" in one of the many outstanding steak houses in the city, such as "The Capital Grille" or "Keens". Please remember to book well in advance - you will not be admitted without a reservation.

Until now, the first thing that came to mind when thinking of New York was always the big, smooth giants made of steel, glass and concrete, which were above all practical and usually beautiful, but not always particularly "green". But New York has also been a trendsetter in this respect since a dream of sustainable urban development came true here. The High Line Park is Manhattan's new green lung, which the citizens love. An elevated railway line that had been disused for 30 years has been transformed into the most unusual city park in the world. Where cattle trucks once travelled, a park now invites you to linger. In two construction phases, a green park was created that does not want history to be forgotten. An entire design team, including Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf, is responsible for the sustainable and unique park design. A park at a height of ten metres was created in a very unusual way, which has been very enthusiastically received by New Yorkers and holidaymakers alike. An idea that would also suit other metropolises and that you should definitely visit.

The socket contacts in the USA are not round, but very flat with two pins. The voltage is also only 110 volts. You will therefore need an adapter. Our tip: Take a German multiple socket with you on your holiday in the USA. This way you can charge several devices at the same time and only need one American adapter.

Apart from your personal travel equipment (clothing, camera, etc.), you may bring the following into the USA duty-free per person: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 2 kg of tobacco, 1 litre of alcohol (adults at least 21 years old), gifts worth up to $ 100.

Strict customs regulations apply to fresh food.

Money and other means of payment can be imported in unlimited quantities. However, if you are importing or exporting more than 10,000 dollars, you must complete customs form 4790 from the US customs authorities. If you ignore this requirement, you risk confiscation of the money as well as civil and criminal prosecution.

Every piece of luggage is screened for explosives, and many are checked by hand. It is therefore in your own interest to leave your suitcase unlocked: The Transport Security Administration (TSA) has the right to open all items of luggage - even by force (i.e. by breaking them open). The TSA accepts no liability for any damage caused as a result.

The climate in New York is very similar to that of Germany. As the city has its own special charms at any time of year, there is no particular time of year to visit New York that is worth emphasising or recommending.

To enter the USA, German nationals require a passport valid for the entire duration of their stay or a temporary passport that requires a visa. As part of the "Visa Waiver" programme, visa-free entry is possible with a new passport in accordance with VWP requirements (burgundy colour and machine-readable). Children require their own valid children's passport. A visa is required for children if their children's passport was issued or extended after 26 October 2006.

Children's passports issued before this date and containing a photo authorise entry without a visa. Precise details on passport and visa regulations can be obtained from the Federal Foreign Office. Please also note the latest security regulations for flights to the USA.

Please note: Entry regulations have been tightened since the end of January 2017. Nationals of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen will not be allowed into the country for 90 days for the time being. This also applies to people who have dual citizenship, e.g. a German and an Iranian passport.
This also applies to travellers who have visited one of the countries (for whatever reason) since 11 March 2011. All ESTA authorisations already issued lose their validity with immediate effect. Travellers must apply for a visa to enter the USA. Passengers may be denied boarding at the departure airport or detained and turned back upon landing at a US airport. People who have a permanent right of residence or a valid visa can also be turned away.

No proof of vaccination is required for direct entry from Germany. However, the Federal Foreign Office recommends checking the standard vaccinations according to the current vaccination calendar of the Robert Koch Institute and completing them if necessary.