Daraius’ Adventures in Queens: Part 2 – Moon Barber Shop in Jackson Heights
Signing up for credit cards through partner links earns us a commission. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Here’s our full advertising policy: How we make money.
Update: One or more card offers in this post are no longer available. Check our Hot Deals for the latest offers.I always have a great time when I visit New York. And usually focus on Manhattan, like most tourists. But this time, I decided to spend more time in Queens.
The highlight of my trip was getting a shave and head massage at a little barber shop in Jackson Heights.
I’m so glad places like this still exist in the US.
Exploring Queens Index:
Part 1 – Hyatt Herald Square Review
Part 2 – My Haircut at Moon Barber Shop in Jackson Heights
Part 3 – Sri Pra Phai Restaurant
Part 5 – Trip to the US Open Tournament
Moon Barber Shop Jackson Heights
I went to Jackson Heights in Queens, which is an extremely diverse neighborhood filled with tons of amazing ethnic restaurants. In fact, it is one of the most culturally diverse places in the world!
I don’t like shaving myself. But I love it when others shave me with a straight razor. Barbers are fairly common and cheap in other parts of the world. But in the US, I’ve found it hard to find a barber who can use a straight razor skillfully.
And they are terribly expensive! I’m not paying $45 for a shave from a hip Austin barber.
I had googled barber shops in Jackson Heights and found one which resembled barber’s shops in India.
When I walked in, I heard Urdu spoken from the Pakistani barbers. Urdu is quite similar to Hindi, so we could communicate with each other!
I found out a shave would cost $10. That’s a great deal, so I took a seat in the barber’s chair.
The barber was detailed and professional. I trusted his experience and found myself quickly relaxing.
As we spoke, I found out I could add a head massage to my bill for only $5, so I agreed. Anything to keep me there a little longer – I didn’t want to leave so soon! And I love head massages.
I’ve gotten shaves back home in Austin. But something about Moon Barber Shop was comforting to me.
Perhaps it was the experienced barber, the conversation in Urdu & Hindi, or the collection of products, images, and tools stuffed into every available surface. Much unlike than the fancy minimalist salons I’ve been going to!
The total bill for my shave and head massage was only $15. For so much relaxation, I would’ve gladly paid more. I thanked my barber and walked back into Jackson Heights. I’m grateful there are still places like this.
It was the highlight of my entire trip!
You Can Do It Too
Want to visit New York? It’s easy to use your miles & points to do it on the cheap! Here are a few ideas:
1. Flights
- United Airlines – United Airlines miles are easy to earn. If you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, Sapphire Reserve, Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, or Ink Plus or Ink Bold (both no longer available), you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to transfer partners like United Airlines. Check out my post on how to use United Airlines miles.
- Southwest – Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Southwest, too! Plus, if you have the Southwest Companion Pass, a friend can fly with you for (almost) free!
- British Airways – If you’re a short flight away from New York, you can save miles by using British Airways Avios points to book an award flight on American Airlines. You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points, American Express Membership Rewards points, and Starwood points to British Airways.
2. Hotels
New York is full of hotels you can book with points! For example, there are ~30 Starwood hotels and 12 Hyatt hotels around New York City! I also like Airbnb for larger groups, or for a more authentic feel.
One of my favorite hotels is the Andaz 5th Avenue. The big plus of this hotel is its proximity to major attractions, like Central Park, Rockefeller Center, and Times Square. It costs 25,000 Hyatt points per night. This is a great hotel to stay at if you want to use the 2 free nights that come with the Chase Hyatt card. Or stay 4 nights with the sign-up bonus from the Chase Sapphire Reserve!
Bottom Line
I love authentic experiences in new places. Jackson Heights in Queens is a diverse neighborhood filled with the unexpected.
I got a shave and a head massage at Moon Barber Shop on 73rd Street near Broadway. But I wasn’t expecting it to be the highlight of my trip! It was comforting to speak Hindi in the small shop. I’m glad I took a chance. That’s what travel is all about!
Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)
Join the Discussion!