Christmas in New York ….

was always a little dream of ours… and guess what?

We actually made it happen with less than 6 months to plan! 🙈✨
Spontaneous? Yep.

Slightly chaotic? Absolutely.
Would we do it all over again? 100% yes.

✈️ Essentials Checklist Before Flying to the US

(Australian Citizens, 2025)

1. Valid Passport
   Ensure your passport has at least 6 months’ validity from your date of entry.

2. ESTA Approval
   We applied via the official website: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov
   Total cost for our group of four was AUD $124.74 at the time.

3. Return or Onward Ticket
   We printed our confirmation just in case immigration requested it.

4. Accommodation Details
   We booked through Expedia and Booking.com and kept both digital and printed copies.

5. Travel Insurance
   We used Cover-More, which covered both the US and Japan.
   Our total cost: $3,061 at the time.

6. Check Airline Requirements
   Review baggage rules, liquids, power banks, check-in requirements, and airline app updates.

7. Vaccinations & Health Requirements
   Always double-check the latest requirements before flying (rules can change).

8. Cash + Cards Ready
   We used WISE and ING for great overseas rates and easy access to funds.

9. Download Key Apps
   Google Maps, Expedia, Booking.com, Uber, Lyft — plus your airline app.

10. Secure & Insure Your Home + Complete Admin
    We made sure our home was secured/insured and completed any admin before flying (bills, roaming, travel notifications, etc.).

It was a rocky start to the trip — our 16-year-old’s passport got flagged at the Adelaide customs. After a few checks and some back-and-forth, he was finally cleared and able to pass through security.

Our flights went like this:

1. Adelaide → Changi Airport
   This flight was delayed, so we had to sprint from arrival to departure at midnight. We literally made it just in time.

2. Changi → Frankfurt
   As soon as we landed, our 16-year-old was flagged again and taken for a frisk search. Another scary moment, but we stayed right beside him the whole time.
   With barely an hour’s layover, we rushed straight to the next gate.

3. Frankfurt → JFK
   After that intense connection, we finally made it onto the last flight. The journey was long, but the flight itself wasn’t too bad — and we were just grateful to be on our way to New York.

After endless searching and reading reviews at 2am (we’ve all been there 😭), we chose DoubleTree by Hilton New York Downtown for our NYC stay (breakfast not included).
And honestly? It was the right call. 🗽✨

Although it wasn’t the highest-rated stay, it ended up being okay for us overall. During our time at DoubleTree by Hilton New York Downtown, only one elevator was working, which meant long waits — especially with luggage. Since we were on Level 22, we often took the stairs whenever we didn’t have bags to carry.

When we arrived at 2pm, our room was still being cleaned, so we went out for the afternoon. Even when we returned around 8:30pm, the room still wasn’t ready. The reception staff were fine, not overly warm but not rude either.

The room itself was small but workable for the four of us — two adults, two giant teens, and four large suitcases. It wasn’t as clean as we’d hoped (we even noticed bathroom flies), and there was no cleaning service during our stay. The view was simply the building next door.

But the biggest reason we chose this hotel — and the part we genuinely appreciated — was the location. Convenience was unbeatable:

• 100 Marketplace was just a few steps away

• The Charging Bull was a 5-minute walk

• And several other tourist spots were close by

So, while it wasn’t perfect, it still served its purpose in giving us a comfortable enough base for exploring New York.