Guests staying at our boutique hotel The MAve have a limitless amount of options when it comes to exploring NYC, but those looking for a somewhat unique way to see the city should think about calling Manhattan Helicopters or the Spirit of New York.

Departing from a helicopter pad downtown, Manhattan Helicopters takes visitors on 15-30 minute aerial tours of Manhattan. Zooming past the Lower Manhattan skyline and along the East River, the helicopters travel past iconic NYC landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, Central Park and Times Square.

At approximately $200 per person, the tours aren’t cheap, but they are definitely fun and the present an altogether unique way to see the city.

For something a little more down to earth, the Spirit of New York operates daily lunch and dinner cruises on its luxurious three-deck ships. Sailing on the Hudson River, East River and the Upper New York Bay, the cruises give patrons ample time to appreciate the NYC skyline and famed landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge, Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty as they dine.

Guests on the dinner cruise can take advantage of the ship’s new open-air rooftop lounge and enjoy drinks and dancing against the backdrop of the New York skyline.

Dinner cruises last for three hours and prices start at $85. Lunch, meanwhile, is served on two-hour long cruises starting at only $45. Not bad at all for a buffet lunch and a scenic cruise around the city.

The post Two Contrasting Views of NYC appeared first on The MAve Hotel.

It’s true, the Empire State Building is iconic for it’s 360-degree views from the Observation Deck–but the cost is more than the $22 ticket fee. Along with its status symbol, you pay in terms of wait time (one-hour minimum), as well as long interweaving lines, cramped quarters, and packed elevators. If you suffer from any kind of anxiety, this is a tourist trap in its truest form of torture.

INSTEAD–head to the Rainbow Room for a spectacular view. Save the $20 you would have spent at the Empire State Building and buy yourself a cocktail–make it a Manhattan–and take in the view at 65 floors up from 30 Rockefeller Center. The bartenders are highly trained and attentive and the décor is art deco glamour (which beats the stale cement floors and kitschy gift shops all over ESB).

For a non-alcoholic option, head to the Top of the Rock at the 70th floor observation deck which towers over Rockefeller Center with a vantage point just as good as the Empire State Building. The wait is much shorter which makes for an infinitely more pleasant experience.

More great views around the city:

Metropolitan Museum of Art–The Rooftop

Open in warm weather months, the art roof garden offers breathtaking views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline. The gift of philanthropists Iris and B. Gerald Cantor (of Cantor Fitzgerald), the Garden first opened to the public on August 1, 1987. Writer Mindy Aloff describes the Roof Garden as “the loveliest airborne space I know of in New York.”

Adult general admission to the museum is $25 which includes access to all exhibitions and gardens. You can purchase tickets online here.

Staten Island Ferry (free)

It’s the best free view of New York Harbor, Lady Liberty, and the Manhattan skyline that you could possibly ask for. Plus, it’s FREE–as not many things in NYC are. Among the sights you’ll see on this commuter ferry are Governors Island, Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, lower Manhattan, Wall Street’s skyscrapers, Ellis Island, and the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.

This ferry operates 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, except from midnight till 6am, and each leg takes half an hour.

The ferry departs Manhattan from: Whitehall and Water St.
The ferry departs Staten Island from 1 Bay St.

For more info, call 718.815.BOAT

The Pen-Top Bar & Terrace

The former infamous astro-turf roof deck has been replaced with a new glass-encased bar for a futuristic James Bond vibe. Centrally located in Midtown–this bustling bar boasts stunning views of Fifth Avenue and Central Park as well as Midtown’s architectural gems. With plenty of tables at this slate-topped terrace, why not order a decadent cocktail and take it all in?

Located at the Peninsula Hotel – 700 Fifth Ave at 55th St.

The post Best Hassle-Free Views in Manhattan … appeared first on The MAve Hotel.