I’ve traveled to New York City several times, sometimes for pleasure and sometimes for business, but I have never stayed in the Upper East Side. That is, not until the NYC trip I just returned from this week, and I must say, I’ll be staying there again. Away from the hustle and bustle and crowds of Times Square, staying in the Upper East Side gave me a whole different NYC vibe and I left feeling more relaxed than I have ever felt following my previous trips to the Big Apple.

We stayed at The Surrey, a renowned Virtuoso property that began as a townhouse to the stars in the 1920’s. Nestled in Manhattan’s Upper East Side at 76^th Street and Madison, The Surrey is just a half block away from Central Park and because of that ultra-convenient location, I enjoyed walks in the park each morning, which was a great way to start the day!  The staff at The Surrey could not have been more hospitable – from Ellen and Miles who arranged an upgraded room (a standard Virtuoso amenity our clients receive) that was just perfect for my family’s needs, to Matthew our concierge who made sure we made great dinner choices, to Pablo our bellman who went out of his way without hesitation to ensure we had everything we needed right from the start – we could not have felt more welcome or taken care of. And if you have never experienced the Private Rooftop Bar at The Surrey, it is amazing and not to be missed.

We packed quite a bit into our three night stay in NYC. We were able to attend two Broadway shows, The Play That Goes Wrong (which was absolutely hilarious) and CATS.  Seeing CATS was truly a special treat for me, my husband, and our two daughters because not only were we able to see our good friend, Lexington’s own Haley Fish, performing in her Broadway debut as Rumpleteazer, but we were also able to meet up with another close friend (also a Lexington to NYC transplant), Allie Coop, who joined us for the CATS performance.  (Way to go Haley, you were amazing!)

We also managed to squeeze in a food tour, something that I have suggested to several of my clients in the past and which always seems to get rave reviews. On this trip, we chose The Heart of The Village tour hosted by Foods of NY Tours, having enjoyed their Original Greenwich Village tour so much a few years ago. Our guide, Raheem, was very entertaining and informative. And the food, of course, was delicious.

This most recent trip to NYC was a memorable one for my family and we all had a great time. If you haven’t stayed in the Upper East Side recently (or perhaps at all) during a visit to NYC, I can definitely recommend it.

Sharon Betts

Co-Owner, Travel Advisor