I am so blessed to have a lovely friend and neighbor who is also a travel agent.
Beth Ann lives on the other side of my back wall. She has been a wonderful and supportive friend for years, especially since Dennis left.
When she was offered another “fam trip” as a travel agent, (familiarization trip), she asked if I wanted to join her. The last one we did was for 4 nights in Cancun, Mexico in May 2025.
This time she was offered a 7-day cruise from New York up to St. John and Halifax, with stops in Newport, Boston, and Portland. Her husband, Steve, was not interested (thanks, Steve!), thus, my blessing to be invited.
When Beth Ann found out that I have only been to NYC for a drive through Manhattan and a Yankees game a few years ago, she planned an entire itinerary before and after the cruise for us.
Like I said …. BLESSED!
We flew Tucson (early!) – Chicago – LaGuardia and arrived around 3:30 Tucson time. It took us an hour to travel from the airport to the Sheraton Times Square New York hotel.
But WHAT? Her reservation for 4 nights was CANCELLED?? And without telling her? Now what the hell are we supposed to do in Manhattan where hotel space is limited and VERY EXPENSIVE??
For a moment we thought we were SOL. But being The Travel Agent Extraordinaire that she is, she was able to find us lodging at another Marriott for 3 nights, but not tonight. Since she is a dog with a bone when plans go awry, she and the front desk clerk were able to find us a room just for tonight at the St Regis on 5th Avenue.
We decided to walk to the St Regis since it was only a little over a half mile away. What a BEAUTIFUL hotel on 5th Avenue. Founded in Sept 1904 by John Jacob Astor IV, it features a Maxwell Parrish mural (Old King Cole) in the bar. It is also where The Bloody Mary was invented! No doubt we will check all of that out tomorrow after we stroll the shops of 5th Avenue. She even got us a 4pm checkout time!
But for now …. time to get settled in our room.
So what seemed like lemons with the room cancelation certainly turned into some very sweet lemonaid.
What a memorable way to start our 2 week trip!
