A Fast & Fabulous Weekend in New York City

Morning

Take an early morning flight into Laguardia International Airport (LGA). You’ll miss some of the weekend traffic, and after catching a ride share, you should make it to your hotel (we stayed at Virgin Hotels NYC) before noon. With Fora Perks at Virgin NYC, you’ll be offered priority check-in, but if your room isn’t ready, just check your bag with the concierge and take advantage of the extra time to explore. They’ll text you when your chamber is ready.

Afternoon

Steps from Virgin Hotel is Korea Town. K-Town is a vibrant, compact burst of Seoul right in the heart of Manhattan—mostly centered along 32nd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It’s a buzzing, sensory-rich area packed with Korean BBQ joints, bubble tea cafes, and tons of K-beauty shops. Make a stop at the well-known (to NYC locals) Teso convenience store to purchase quirky snacks, viral skincare, and instant ramen flavors you didn’t know you needed. Tip: Don’t leave K-Town without stopping by Food Gallery 32—home to bold, crave-worthy flavor mashups. Try the crispy, cheesy, and unapologetically over-the-top Cheetos K-hotdog and the trendy and nostalgic Matcha Crunch Churro. I promise it’s a worthy little culinary adventure you’ll be talking about long after the weekend ends.

Night

If you’re planning a quick NYC weekend, do yourself a favor and build in one cozy night of room service, movies, and a little pampering. After a day of exploring K-Town, wind things down with one of the best views you’ll ever have, courtesy of your Virgin Hotels NYC hotel room: the Empire State Building right outside your window. Stream from your phone a movie of your choice (thank you, modern hotel tech…we queued up The Devil Wears Prada for a little NYC-themed comfort viewing) and order room service using your $100 room credit right from the TV. We recommend sharing mac and cheese, fries, and a warm lava cake. (Note: This will not be your usual late-night hotel fare—the food is thoughtfully plated, high-end restaurant-quality food delivered straight to the bed. For pick up, just easily summon the YES! staff through the app to retrieve the room service tray). Before eating and getting cozy, make sure to test a few of your new K-beauty products and enjoy a little mother-daughter spa moment.

Morning

Enjoy brunch at Everdene, the Virgin Hotel’s rooftop restaurant. Picture this: soft piano melodies drifting through the air as you sip a perfectly chilled mimosa, the Empire State Building standing tall just beyond the terrace. The vibe strikes a rare balance, relaxed yet alive with city energy. We couldn’t resist sitting outside, where the fresh morning air and Empire State Building views made our brunch feel like a little celebration just for us.

Afternoon

An easy 15-minute walk from Virgin Hotel NYC puts you right in the center of Times Square. Catch an afternoon Broadway performance (we saw Hell’s Kitchen, a perfect blend of high energy, killer vocals, and definitely worth the hype). Afterward, hang around Times Square for a bit to take it all in. There’s plenty to do: people-watching from the red steps, shopping from the street vendors, or taking selfies with the stars at Madame Tussauds. We opted for something a little less crowded, so we grabbed the subway (you can take a ride share—it depends on how your feet feel) down to SoHo for some serious window shopping. Think Chanel, Prada, and Dior…mostly places admired from the sidewalk, but you’ll still have fun looking!). To wrap up the day, my daughter insisted on walking over to the West Village to view the iconic Sex and the City stoop at Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment (yep, the one she sold for Aidan) for a photo opp.

Evening

By the end of the day, you’ll likely have logged a solid 10,000 steps across the city! So it’s a great time to head back to the hotel for a well-deserved power nap. One thing I loved about staying at the Virgin Hotel NYC? Their nap-worthy bedding and plush pillows are truly a short-snooze standout. Once we felt human again, we asked friends for dinner recs and landed on Lolita at 45 West 45th Street. It’s walkable from the hotel, but we opted for a quick ride share. If you go, don’t miss the shrimp or plantain empanadas, paired perfectly with their elevated Lolita Margarita or a refreshing Paloma. After filling up on tacos and tequila, we returned to the hotel to pack, ready the morning Nespresso, and lay out our bags for an early flight home. Pro tip: Have your Fora Travel Advisor arrange a driver to ensure a smooth, on-time ride. NYC offers endless things to do—but you can absolutely pack it all into one fast and fabulous weekend to remember.

If you happen to be flying out of NYC on a Monday afternoon, you can still enjoy a great morning in the city. Grab your breakfast from the hotel (complimentary if you booked with Fora Perks) and then head over to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), where you can catch iconic works like Van Gogh’s Starry Night and pieces by Warhol and Picasso; or take a tour of the Empire State Building. Both are compact enough to enjoy in just over an hour. If you have extra time, and the weather is nice, take a short walk through Central Park, entering near 5th Avenue and 59th Street. Be sure to leave for LGA early enough to allow for traffic and airport security!