New York. You might love it, you might loathe it, but visit it you must. And when you do you'll be very busy indeed, for a city which has welcomed 11 million immigrants from all over the world is sure to be packed with every type of sight, sound, taste and experience imaginable.
Hotels in New York must be booked in advance - this is a thriving tourist destination and a lively city where nothing ever stands still. New York hotels range from cheerful basic hotels to the grandest luxury hotels, with all levels of comfort and service catered for in between. One thing for sure is that prices are always on the high side.
Apart from some of the most expensive hotels in the world, New York's five districts offer something for every taste and pocket. The island district of Manhattan is the place for the high end hotels when money is no object. Also here is the bulk of all the airport hotels. Populous Brooklyn offers many hotel options and feels like a city in its own right. The Bronx has a very individual character, but, like Queens, is not generally considered suitable for visitors, whilst Staten Island is a mainly residential area.
| There's nothing like shopping to work up an appetite... |
Most of the things you'll want to see in New York are in Manhattan, and there's no better way to arrive than over the Brooklyn Bridge. Spun like a spider's web, it's an architectural icon, with amazing skyline views from the pedestrian walkway (for those in the know there's also the tempting Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory which lies in the bridge's shadow nearby).
A boat trip to view the Statue of Liberty and to visit the Ellis Island immigration museum is a must to wallow in the tales of all those immigrants who have shaped this city. Other 'can't be missed' experiences include climbing the Empire State Building to gaze down on the city from above, and strolling in Central Park, where classic attractions include a zoo and a boating lake, but you might find watching New Yorkers at play even more entertaining - look out for roller-bladers, horse and carriage drivers and African drummers.
Now for the shopping - reason alone to visit New York. Try 5th Avenue for big name department stores like Macy's, Madison Avenue for designer boutiques, Chelsea for quirky markets and great food stalls, and Greenwich for boho boutiques and the edgy fashion of The Meatpacking District. There's nothing like shopping to work up an appetite, and here in New York, you'll need one, for there are so many choices when it comes to food. Try artichoke ravioli in Little Italy, hot ribs in Harlem, Dim Sum in Chinatown, or take the children for the best pizza in town at Grimaldi's in Brooklyn.
Come nightfall there are basement jazz bars where new artists make it big in Greenwich Village, or nightclubs pumping out deep house music in The Meatpacking District. Not your style? Then head for the big name shows on Broadway or opera and al fresco dance shows at the Lincoln Centre.
Whatever you do in New York, leave time for a few surprises, for this is a city where you never know what you'll find around the next corner.
Related Links:
New York Flights
New York Car Hire
New York Holidays
