York Country Hotels

• Cityscape Bright lights, hip city
• City life Be a part of it

The archetypal modern city, New York is still as big, bold and beautiful as ever.

For many of us, the path between Heathrow and JFK is so familiar that it seems less a pond to cross than a puddle to hop. And who could blame us for flocking to this wonderful city? With its fantastic bars and restaurants, irresistible shopping and gorgeous boutique hotels, New York is ever-evolving, ever with something new to show off. Browse the boutiques of NoLiTa, get your limited-edition trainers and vinyl in the East Village, take in art and culture in SoHo, see a show on Broadway and have a cocktail back in your boudoir. And that's just before dinner. This is truly the city that never sleeps. And nor should you.

Do go/Don’t go

Winter can be bitterly cold. While Christmastime is wonderfully awash with Santas and fairy lights, you may want to skip the snow in January and February. August is hot, hot, hot (which is why many locals flee to the Hamptons on summer weekends).

• Planes There are three major airports: JFK | La Guardia and Newark. Buses run between Manhattan and JFK and La Guardia; see
• Boats You can get water taxis, cruise liners and ferries from the west and southern points of Manhattan.
• Trains Amtrak ( provides all long-distance services from Penn Station.
• Automobiles A cab from JFK will charge a flat rate of $45 plus tolls. This is not the place to be renting a car: parking is a headache | while the subway and cabs are cheap and easy.
• Taxis Yellow cabs are abundant except during rush hour and when it’s raining, but be warned: it helps if you know exactly where you’re going, as drivers aren’t always as knowledgeable as you might hope.