Food & photo trip · summer 2026
New York, four days.
A Chinatown-anchored eating-and-shooting run for the new Fuji. Everything you've booked, what's left to lock, and how to play both cards.
Flights — booked
Hotel — to lock
Ranked by true value — review score vs. real all-in (online rate + NYC tax 14.75% + ~$3.50/nt + any facility fee). 4 nights, checkout Tue Jul 14. Deep-checked across every app; verify availability + exact Jul 10–14 before booking.
Fairfield by Marriott — Downtown EastBest available value
4.0★ (1.2K) · 3-star · Lower East Side, ~7 min walk to Chinatown · free breakfast · no resort fee · Marriott reliability & easy availability.
Off Soho SuitesCheapest
4.2★ (422) · 2-star · Nolita/LES edge, walk to Chinatown · private bath + kitchenette · no resort fee. Older building, but great price-to-rating.
Wyndham Garden ChinatownIn Chinatown
4-star label but only 3.9★ · 93 Bowery, right in Chinatown · ~$126/nt online + ~$20/nt facility fee. Lowest-rated, but the one truly in Chinatown.
Artezen HotelTop rated
4.7★ (987) · genuine 4-star · FiDi edge, ~10 min to Chinatown · guest: "all fees included." Best pick if you'll pay up for quality.
*Net = all-in total minus the $100 annual hotel credit. Summer Fri/Sat rates run higher than the sample — confirm at checkout.
Day by day
A loose flow — full spot catalogue with addresses & map links is on your scenic guide. Shoot golden hour for skylines, midday/night for streets.
Land & the doorstep
- Land EWR 12:21 PM → train/rideshare to Chinatown, drop the suitcase.
- Shoot your own block first: Doyers St, Mott/Pell, Columbus Park, Manhattan Bridge arch.
- EventChinatown Nights night market — Forsyth Plaza, 7:30–11:30 PM. Your #1 first-night pick.
Bridge, DUMBO & SoHo
- Early: Brooklyn Bridge → DUMBO (Washington St framing shot before crowds).
- Afternoon: SoHo & Nolita — cast-iron streets, cafés, boutiques.
- Eat your way back through Little Italy / Chinatown.
Harbor & the west side
- Morning: Stone St, Oculus, free Staten Island Ferry (skyline + Statue pass).
- Afternoon: West Village → High Line → Little Island.
- EventBastille Day on Madison Ave — French street festival, great candids.
Icons or greenery
- Pick: Midtown icons (SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, Top of the Rock, Grand Central) or Central Park (Bethesda, Bow Bridge, Gapstow).
- Save your must-eat list for tonight — last full evening.
Checkout & fly home
- Leave the hotel by ~10:30 AM → EWR for the 1:00 PM flight.
- Rideshare to airport on the Delta Gold ($10 credit). Land OMA 5:10 PM.
Card play for this trip
The flight & bag
Already the pay card — keeps your checked suitcase free. 2× Delta miles.
The hotel
Book via Chase Travel → 5× + $100 credit. Trip-delay & baggage cover included.
Airport rides
First $10 each way = the monthly rideshare credit. Free money.
All the food
3× on every restaurant, dumpling stall, and coffee. Your biggest spend here.