The day began bright and early as we awoke at 05:00, filled with excitement for our journey ahead. By 06:30, we bid farewell to our home in Hindley Green, Wigan, and hit the road towards Heathrow Airport.
The drive to Heathrow airport, London
The drive to Heathrow was surprisingly smooth, taking us only 3 hours and 45 minutes to reach our destination. We did stop off at the Moto service station at Cherwell Valley (J10 M40) as we were ahead of ourselves for 55 minutes. Should have stayed for another hour in bed but if we had we’d have met traffic! We opted for the meet and greet car park service at Terminal 3, which provided us with excellent service and made the parking process a breeze.
London greeted us with sunny weather as we stepped foot into the bustling airport. As luck would have it, we had to pass by the Virgin Upper Class check-in area, and it made us a bit envious. Oh, how we longed for that luxurious experience again!
While Michele, my wonderful wife, indulged in some duty-free shopping, I took care of our check-in at the Number 1 lounge. Unfortunately, the facilities there left much to be desired. The toilets were not the cleanest, and the food selection was disappointing. However, the beer they offered was tolerable, so we made the best of it.
The flight from LHR to JFK
Thankfully, the queue to board our Virgin Atlantic flight was short, thanks to our Premium class tickets. The staff at Virgin Atlantic were exceptional, providing us with top-notch service throughout the flight from Heathrow (LHR).
As always, the in-flight dining was delightful. I savored a delicious chicken and leek pie, while Michele enjoyed a mouthwatering pulled pork dish. Later, during afternoon tea, I opted for savory treats, while Michele satisfied her sweet tooth.
We landed at JFK on time from LHR, but unfortunately, we had to endure a 45-minute queue at immigration. They asked me the usual question about why I had a visa instead of an ESTA. Nothing out of the ordinary there!
It was raining at JFK, so we decided to take a taxi instead of the subway. It turned out to be a wrong decision as the traffic was heavy, and it took us a whopping 90 minutes to reach the Riu Plaza on the corner of 8th and 46th streets. To add to the inconvenience, taxi fares have gone up too, now costing $82.
Riu Plaza hotel, New York
After finally checking in and dropping off our bags in the room on the 29th floor of the Riu Plaza Hotel, Times Square, New York, we headed out for a much-needed nightcap. I enjoyed a refreshing beer, while Michele opted for her favorite amaretto and coke.
With 22 hours of being awake, exhaustion began to catch up with us, and we realized it was time to call it a night. LHR to JFK can take its toll. We bid you all goodnight as we look forward to a well-deserved rest. Stay tuned for more updates on our New York adventures!
| Today’s travel stats | Miles |
| Driving | 198 |
| Flying | 3442 |
| Taxi | 15 |
