London vs. New York City showdown video: Which one comes out on top?

Sometimes the best trips are the ones you least expect. Like when a great points and miles deal takes you somewhere that wasn't even on your radar — or when a friend plans a trip for you to one of their favorite places, sight unseen.That's exactly what two of our staff members recently did.These TPGers both have strong feelings about their favorite cities, so they decided to go head-to-head and see which city wins. The catch? They had to swap cities for 48 hours and plan each other's itinerary. The London resident headed to New York City, while the Big Apple lover headed across the pond to England's capital.SYLVAIN SONNET/GETTY IMAGESThey picked out some super cool hotels (that you can book with points, of course) in neighborhoods packed with things to do. Plus, they sampled iconic city flavors, from fish 'n' chips and New York pizza to housemade pasta and London's unofficial national dish. They also discovered some hidden gems, including a 1940s-themed speakeasy and a mystery comedy venue where you never know what act you're getting.At the end of their whirlwind trips, they tallied up the results for each city across categories such as transportation, lodging, neighborhoods, dinin...