Alitalia Flights from Milan, Italy (MXP) to Newark (EWR)
As part of booking roundtrip flights which depart from US airports,
Orbitz is pleased to offer airline tickets on Alitalia, which operates a non-stop flight everyday except Monday and Thursday from Milan, Italy (MXP) to Newark (EWR), regularly scheduled to depart at 10:00am and arrive at 1:30pm. Usually a Boeing 767-400 is flown for this route. The average travel time from Milan, Italy to Newark, NJ is 9 hours and 30 minutes.
During your Newark vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Home of blockbuster after blockbuster exhibition, the Metropolitan Museum of Art attracts some 5 million people a year, more than any other spot in New York City. And it's no wonder -- this place is magnificent. At 1.6 million square feet, this is the largest museum in the western hemisphere. Nearly all the world's cultures are on display through the ages -- from Egyptian mummies to ancient Greek statuary to Islamic carvings to Renaissance paintings to Native American masks to 20th-century decorative arts -- and masterpieces are the rule. You could go once a week for a lifetime and still find something new on each visit.So unless you plan on spending your entire vacation in the museum (some people do), you cannot see the entire collection. My recommendation is to give it a good day -- or better yet, 2 half days so you don't burn out. One good way to get an overview is to take advantage of the little-known Museum Highlights Tour, offered every day at various times throughout the day (usually between 10:15am and 3:15pm; tours also offered in Spanish, Italian, German, and Korean). Even some New Yorkers who've spent many hours in the museum could profit from this once-over. Visit the museum's website for a schedule of this and subject-specific walking tours (Old Master Paintings, American Period Rooms, Arts of China, Islamic Art, and so on); you can also get a schedule of the day's tours at the Visitor Services desk when you arrive. A daily schedule of Gallery Talks is available as well.The least overwhelming way to see the Met on your own is to pick up a map at the round desk in the entry hall and choose to concentrate on what you like, whether it's 17th-century paintings, American furniture, or the art of the South Pacific. Highlights include the American Wing's Garden Court, with its 19th-century sculpture; the terrific ground-level Costume Hall; and the Frank Lloyd Wright room. The beautifully renovated Roman and Greek galleries are overwhelming, but in a marvelous way, as are the collections of Byzantine Art and later Chinese art. The highlight of the astounding Egyptian collection is the Temple of Dendur, in a dramatic, purpose-built glass-walled gallery with Central Park views. The Greek Galleries, which at last fully realize McKim, Mead & White's grand neoclassical plans of 1917, and the Ancient Near East Galleries, are particularly of note. But it all depends on what your interests are. Special exhibitions can range from Orazio and Artemisia Gentileschi: Father and Daughter Painters in Baroque Italy to Earthly Bodies: Irving Penn's Nudes, 1949-50.In a response to the huge crowds, in 2003 the Met began opening "Holiday Mondays." On those Mondays, such as Memorial Day or Labor Day, the museum is open from 9:30am to 5:30pm.To purchase tickets for concerts and lectures, call tel. 212/570-3949 (Mon-Sat 9:30am-5pm). The museum contains several dining facilities, including a full-service restaurant serving Continental cuisine (tel. 212/570-3964 for reservations). The roof garden is worth visiting if you're here from spring to autumn, offering peaceful views over Central Park and the city.The Met's medieval collections are housed in Upper Manhattan at the Cloisters;.Evenings at the Met--On Friday and Saturday evenings, the Met remains open late not only for art viewing but also for cocktails in the Great Hall Balcony Bar (5-8pm) and classical music from a string ensemble. A slate of after-hours programs (gallery talks, walking tours, family programs) changes by the week; call for the current schedule. The restaurant stays open until 10pm (last reservation at 8:30pm), and dinner is usually accompanied by piano music.
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
A New York institution, the Circle Line is famous for its 3-hour tour around the entire 35 miles of Manhattan. This Full Island cruise passes by the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Brooklyn Bridge, the United Nations, Yankee Stadium, the George Washington Bridge, and more, including Manhattan's wild northern tip. The panorama is riveting, and the commentary isn't bad. The big boats are basic but fine, with lots of deck room for everybody to enjoy the view. Snacks, soft drinks, coffee, and beer are available onboard for purchase.If 3 hours is more than you or the kids can handle, go for either the 2-hour Semi-Circle or the Sunset/Harbor Lights cruise, both of which show you the highlights of the skyline. There's also a 1-hour Seaport Liberty version that sticks close to the south end of the island. But of all the tours, the kids might like The Beast best, a thrill-a-minute speedboat ride offered in summer only.In addition, a number of adults-only Live Music and DJ Cruises sail regularly from the seaport from May through September ($20-$40 per person). Depending on the night of the week, you can groove to the sounds of jazz, Latin, gospel, dance tunes, or blues as you sail along the skyline.
United Nations
In the midst of New York City is this working monument to world peace. The U.N. headquarters occupies 18 acres of international territory -- neither the city nor the United States has jurisdiction here -- along the East River from 42nd to 48th streets. Designed by an international team of architects (led by American Wallace K. Harrison and including Le Corbusier) and finished in 1952, the complex along the East River weds the 39-story glass slab Secretariat with the free-form General Assembly on beautifully landscaped grounds donated by John D. Rockefeller Jr. One hundred eighty nations use the facilities to arbitrate worldwide disputes.Guided tours leave every half-hour or so and last 45 minutes to an hour. Your guide will take you to the General Assembly Hall and the Security Council Chamber and introduce the history and activities of the United Nations and its related organizations. Along the tour you'll see donated objects and artwork, including charred artifacts that survived the atomic bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, stained-glass windows by Chagall, a replica of the first Sputnik, and a colorful mosaic called The Golden Rule, based on a Norman Rockwell drawing, which was a gift from the United States in 1985.If you take the time to wander the beautifully landscaped grounds, you'll be rewarded with lovely views and some surprises. The mammoth monument Good Defeats Evil, donated by the Soviet Union in 1990, fashioned a contemporary St. George slaying a dragon from parts of a Russian ballistic missile and an American Pershing missile.For an unusual treat try a multi-ethnic meal while visiting the UN at the Delegates' Dining Room (tel. 212/963-7625).
Murray Hill Inn
Housed in a renovated five-story walk-up in a pleasant and quiet residential neighborhood, the Murray Hill Inn is shoestring basic -- but there's no arguing with its cleanliness, which is key when judging accommodations in this price range. Rooms are tiny and outfitted with not much more than either one or two beds with motel-standard bedspread and furnishings, a wall rack, a phone, and a small TV; most rooms with shared bathroom also have private sinks (request one when booking). These Euro-style rooms share the in-hall bathrooms that are new and spotless. Some of the doubles have an alcove that can accommodate a third traveler on a cot if you're on an extra-tight budget. Rooms with private bathrooms are definitely the nicest; they're spacious, with new bathrooms and dataports on the telephones. Most also have pullout sofas that can accommodate an extra traveler or two. Don't expect much in terms of facilities beyond a pleasant (if tiny) lobby, plus a plain downstairs sitting area with a vending machine, an ATM, and a luggage-storage area. Services are kept to a bare minimum to keep costs down, but the staff is personable.
The Alex
One of the few new hotels to debut in 2003, The Alex not only continues the trend of high style, it takes it to a new level. The hotel's theme is serenity and comfort, and that's a tough task when you are located in the middle of one of the busiest sections of Manhattan. Renowned designer David Rockwell, using his trademark economically sleek, moderne style, has created a soothing and very glossy retreat. Each room features furniture designed exclusively for the hotel, such as the four mobile pieces -- a chair, a low game table, a coffee table that rises to dining table height, and a nightstand. And all rooms, which range from large junior suites to one- and two-bedroom apartments, also feature state-of-the-art full kitchens with sub-zero refrigerators that are so cleverly designed it took this high-style innocent way too long to distinguish it from the other kitchen amenities. But who needs a refrigerator when you can order room service from the hotel's fabulous restaurant, Riingo ?You'll also find flat-panel televisions in each room and in the bathrooms, which feature rain-forest showers and Frederic Fekkai products. Efficiency is the key word here, and service goes out of its way to make sure they meet the specific needs of each of the hotel's guests. My only real complaint is that in their search for efficiency, the workspace, hidden inside a closet, is much too small. But why come here to work when there are all those toys and gadgets to play with?
Waldorf-Astoria and the Waldorf Towers
If you are looking for the epitome of old school elegance, you can't do better than the Waldorf-Astoria. This massive 1-square-block Art-Deco masterpiece is not only a hotel icon, it's a genuine New York City landmark. Here you'll find a lobby so big and grand, it's reminiscent of Grand Central Station, including having its own signature clock. With over 1,000 rooms, the pace can be hectic, and at times the lines for checking in might remind you of the post office. Thankfully, service here is much more efficient than the post office and it won't be long before you're in your room. And what rooms they are; no two the same, yet all are airy, with high ceilings, traditional decor, comfortable linens and beds, and spacious marble bathrooms, along with fax machines and high-speed Internet access. If you crave more luxury, book a room on the Astoria level, which features huge suites, deluxe bathroom amenities, access to the clubby Astoria Lounge for breakfast or afternoon hors d'oeuvres, and free entry to the hotel's fitness club (other guests pay a fee); for even more opulence, try a suite in the Waldorf Towers, where most rooms are bigger than New York City apartments.One of three bars in the hotel, Sir Harry's Bar, off the lobby, is the main gathering spot for a pre- or post-dinner cocktail, but even better is the Bull and Bear, with its signature round mahogany bar, classic original cocktail creations, and celebrated steaks. Oscars, which also has a bar, offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and Inagiku serves innovative Japanese cuisine.Facilities: 3 restaurants; 4 bars; 3,000-sq.-ft. fitness center and excellent spa; concierge and theater desk; expansive 24-hr. business center; salon; 24-hr. room service; dry cleaning/laundry service; executive-level rooms. Tower rooms include butler service, Clefs d'Or concierge.
