New affordable Edinburgh to New York flights launched by JetBlue

The Big Apple – it’s somewhere we all want to visit without taking too big a bite out of our hard-earned finances.

New York City just became all the more possible a destination for Scots however with much less faff, with JetBlue’s brand new daily direct flights from Edinburgh.

And with round trip fares beginning at just £399, you’ll have plenty to shell out on making it a trip to remember.

Leaving the Scottish capital at around midday, you arrive Stateside with an evening to soak up the sights and sounds, albeit battling the elements of jet lag.

It’s no struggle to keep yourself entertained on board. Each seat comes with its own TV screen and a plethora of content for all travellers.

I kicked back and enjoyed the latest Brad Pitt movie after tucking in to my inflight meal, and that did just the trick in keeping me fuelled for what was set to be a busy evening.

Landing at JFK, and you suddenly realise just how big a deal air travel is in the US, but once you’re through the airport and on the road, that dream of ticking off NYC becomes ever more real.

The bright lights, the noise, the skyscrapers, and the never-ending stream of iconic yellow taxis – you have arrived in the city that never sleeps.

Of course we’ve all done a long flight and instantly craved a quick shower and a freshening up before hitting the streets to tick off some attractions.

That’s where YOTEL steps in. The Times Square hotel is positioned perfectly for those looking to make the most of a short trip and see all there is to see quickly.

Of course, you complete the first item on the list within mere metres of your hotel, Times Square itself and the sensory overload that is the countless advertising boards accompanied by the Alicia Keys classic about this very city is truly spectacular.

YOTEL prides itself on its ease, with contactless check-in at both their Edinburgh and New York hotels making it a speedy process for all.

The rooms themselves are next level though, as you step through the door and immediately encounter that famous skyline right from your bedroom window.

It might be a surprise to learn as well that for just £108 during the low season, you have a room with space you never thought would be affordable.

An extending day bed, a rainfall shower, and a HD Smart TV – there’s a lot to see in New York yet your little paradise of a hotel room almost makes you want to stay in for the night.

Downstairs as well there is the unique feature of luggage storage controlled by a robot. Yes, a robot.

They don’t mess around with the hotels either. Across 25 floors you have a whopping 713 rooms, and yet it never feels like you’re overcrowded.

After taking in the sights on the hotel’s fourth floor rooftop bar before getting some superb sleep, it’s time to get moving, enjoy the delights of the breakfast buffet and start seeing the attractions.

Just a few blocks away is the incredible Hudson Yards, a former railway yard totally transformed into a complex of brand new towering additions to the skies of New York.

The Empire State Building is a sight to behold, but peering over the glass balcony from the top of The Edge which stands 110 floors tall, you suddenly question whether you can stomach heights.

I’ve had a beer in worse places, but the top of a skyscraper overlooking one of the most adored cities in the world? That tops the list.

That was just the morning’s activities, and there was still plenty more to go on what was a three-day trip, and thanks to CityPASS, which grants you access to a wide range of venues and attractions, it’s easier than ever to make sure you don’t miss a thing.

Returning to ground level after a dizzying experience up above, I ventured along the High Line, again a feature of the former railway turned into an urban paradise.

The nearly 1.5-mile walkway is surrounded by greenery and as you waltz along you see a little bit of home with impressive murals scattered along the walls.

It was well above the 30-degree mark – a far more toasty experience than seeing the murals of Glasgow or the street art in Aberdeen – but you’re blessed by the shade from the trees and plants.

At the end of the line you’ll find the famous Chelsea Market, where you can tuck in to some outstanding food, as I paid Friedmans a visit.

Of course, one part of the city people will visit is Ground Zero. Nothing quite hits you like coming out of the subway stairwell and suddenly seeing the monuments where the Twin Towers once stood.

A sombre yet emotional experience, the museum also sits just feet away where you can learn more from that day.

Hell’s Kitchen was next, where once again it was time to sample more of the goods New York has to offer before heading back to the YOTEL.

Just next to the rooftop bar, a cabaret club – Green Room 42 – is tucked away where you can be entertained by some of the city’s newest talents looking to break into Broadway.

A thoroughly enjoyable experience, but after a long day in the roasting sun and over 20,000 steps later, it’s time to dive back into the paradise of the sliding bed and get some shuteye.

The final day begins, and this time I wanted to pay a visit to Central Park, where even in the early hours of the morning it is still a hive of activity.

Buskers galore, groups of tourists, dog walkers by the dozen – it suddenly makes Princes Street Gardens or Union Terrace Gardens in my home city of Aberdeen feel just a little bit quiet.

If the skyline is your thing, and those famous snaps of the array of towers is something you want to take home, CityPASS once again has you covered.

A boat tour along the Hudson River will give you a view like no other, and again, I took my opportunity to enjoy a fine beverage with a remarkable backdrop.

Soaking in the sights of the Statue of Liberty, One World Trade Center, Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, and so much more.

You even get a history lesson like no other from the tour guide, and you might think 90 minutes of constant facts and stories might be a lot to take in, but it’s the perfect accompaniment to your trip sprinkled with just the right amount of humour.

Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises are worth every penny, but after that, it’s time to start thinking about heading for home.

Gutted to be seeing my trip of a lifetime come to an end, there was one thing left I had to do, and that was dive into Joe’s Pizza Broadway.

Anyone who watched the Spiderman films featuring Toby Maguire might recognise this place, it was where he delivered pizzas from all while constantly being threatened with the sack.

Yes there’s a queue, but those slices of pepperoni pizza were well worth it, and with that, plus one last stop on the YOTEL roof terrace, it was time to return to JFK.

On the way to New York I flew economy, on my return however it was time for a Mint experience, as I flew first class all the way back to Scotland.

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Starting at £1,999, you can relax in your own private booth, recline your seat into a bed, and again, dive into some of the latest films as you drift off to sleep.

Up comes the sun, and out your window you see Scotland. In just three days you have completed an epic adventure for an affordable price and you have done something you previously thought might never have been possible.

But JetBlue and YOTEL make it happen, without bursting the bank, and in sublime comfort with ease.

I may even go back for more, but after a good few days of overindulging in the foods of New York, perhaps I’ll give my craving for a bagel a rest for a wee while.