We have been back a week or so now, but due to work pressures I have not been able to post a trip report until now.

Anyway this time we tried a dual centre holiday going to New York for 4 days and then down to Orlando for 11 days.

First time in New York - flew Virgin ( as always ) from Heathrow approach to JFK was some what bumpy - due to the tail end of Ivan.

Weather was wet and windy for most of Saturday which was not great.

Stayed at the Pennsylvania Hotel - which was very close to everything - but it is just about the worst Hotel I have ever had the misfortune to stay in - thankfully we were out most of the time -but never again !!!!

Spent the afternoon getting our bearings and buying Metro Tickets etc and shopping in Maceys.

Sunday up early lovely sunny morning - down to Ground Zero for 7.30 am - very moving and great becuase there was no one around - we had the place to ourselves.

Walked over to the Brookyln Bridge and then down to catch the Staton Island Ferry - great views of Manhatten and Statue of Liberty and its all free

Back over to Central Park down 5th Avenue and across to Bloomingdales and Grand Central Station and more shopping in Macey's.

Then it was down to Canal Street for a few 'faux' items of designer hand bags for the wife and her friends - anyway 15 bags later we are back at the hotel - changed and over to the Rainbow Rooms for drinks.

A great view of Manhatten at night - then dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe - had to walk everywhere as the place was gridlocked due to Bush and Kerry being in town.

Monday weather great agian and we were up and out to catch the bus to Woodberry Common Outlet Centre - after a slow start the wife found her motivation and spent £'s for England - back on the bus with more bags than everone else put together !!!

Then Dinner at the Olive Garden in Times Square.

Tuesday another great day weather wise, so up early and waiting in line when they opened at the Empire State Building - purchased tickets on line before hand so no waiting in line.

Great views across the whole of Manhatten and beyond - then it was over to JFK for the trip down to Orlando.

Well over the baggae allowance but it only cost me $32.00 - so not much of a problem in the end.

We flew Song ( which are part of Delta ) great airline very young and funky style - back of seat entertainment which was good - would fly with them again no problem.

Landed in Orlando to have a slight issue with our usual Hotel ( the Rosen Plaza ) as they didn't have the room we requested available for us - but as they know us so well they gave us a free Dinner and Breakfast for our trouble.

The next few days were spent relaxing by the Pool, reading, sunbathing and then shopping in the afternoon - the temps were still in the 90's

On Saturday the 25th which happend to be my 40th birthday we had to be back indoors by 9.00 pm as Hurricane Jeanne was about to hit.

Not a good idea to be on the top floor of a 14 storey hotel in such high winds - but at least we had a good view - had to stay in the Hotel until 9.00 pm Sunday night - so went a lttle stir crazy.

Monday most things were back to normal everywhere was open so the rest of the week was spent much like the first few days relaxing, shopping and meeting up with old friends.

Flew home on Saturday the 2nd - flight was ok no real issues with Virgin.

Although for the first time ever, for the return trip we had to have more than one case each - we had 3 large cases the weights ( with no pre-weighing ) came in at 32kg / 31kg and 30.5kg [:O] a little to close to call !!

Now I just have to find room in the house for all the new stuff !!!

Anyway we are back over agian at Christmas and agian in May 2005 - counting the days already