New York – Glamourous City Life

Following our article about the availability of  flights to London to see the Capital from the London Eye in which we highlighted the romantic possibilities of the worlds tallest ferris wheel here we turn out attention to the other side of the Atlantic and reveal the steamy hot spots of the Big Apple

Romance and the City – New York

Sex and the city – the two words now belong together famously, and where else could we be referring to? As well as shopping, New York exudes seduction like steam from a Manhattan manhole cover. Feeling in the mood? Of course you are?

The icons of the skyline are the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings. Get the best view of both from Top of the Rock (30 Rockefeller Plaza; www.topoftherocknyc.com) – it’s the Rockefeller Center’s observation deck. You’ll be weak at the knees.

Momofuku Ssäm Bar (207 Second Ave at 13th St; www.momofuku.com) has had tongues wagging – and salivating – for a while, with fashionable, canteeny finishings and Korean/Oriental delights. Try the pillowy pork buns.

Not for the faint-hearted, but adored by night owls of more exotic plumage is The Box (00 1 212 982 9301, www.theboxnyc.com). Expect transgender contortionists and naked trapeze acts – and pack the smelling salts if unsure.

Much talked-about, super-tricky to find, ‘hidden’ bar (ie, new-style speakeasy) PDT is a treat when you’re finally in, sucking on a Pisco Sour (113 St Mark’s Place, Nr First Ave; 00 1 21 614 0386; booking crucial).

Dance people Santos’ Party House (96 Lafayette St; www.santospartyhouse.com) is a pulsing art, music and sound space between TriBeCa and Chinatown. With a different party every night of the week – fancy a Funkraiser? – it’s the place to ‘go wiggle’ once the cocktails have kicked in.

Make for cosy West Village classic The Spotted Pig (00 1 212 620 0393, www.thespottedpig.com) The closest thing Manhattan has to a gastropub, it’s an intimate shove, with chatty regulars plus juicy burgers and shoestring fries that’ll zap even Vesuvius-sized hangovers.

The Bowery (00 1 212 505 9100, www.theboweryhotel.com) is the perfect East Village hideaway – the restaurant has leather booths and superb steaks. Jimi Hendrix used to hang out in the playful rooms at the Chelsea Hotel (00 1 212 243 3700, www.hotelchelsea.com).

Flying Sky High in New York City

Flying halfway across the world is as easy as getting on a bus these days. We can live in one country and work or do business in another. Recently more competitions on the transatlantic routes have enebaled many to buy a cheap flight online.  Those flying with Air France from London to New York for business  meetings in the Big Apple may decide to stay on for few days holiday – see take a bite out of the Big Apple

See New York From a Helicopter Flight Tour

New York City really is as big as they say and unfortunately you would need far more than 2 days to see all that this city has to offer. For this reason visitors can see a lot in a short space of time and take a New York Helicopter Tour.

There are lots of companies which offer helicopter tours of New York and it is the perfect way to visit the whole city and capture great photos – all in just 30 minutes. Tours can be pricey, but if you have money to spare and little time on your hands, it is an experience not to be missed. The bird’s eye views of the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and Central Park are incredible.

Once you set your feet back on solid ground, go for a walk around Central Park. This green oasis is the perfect place to unwind, relax and come to terms with the fact that you are sitting in one of the most famous parks in the world.

So remember, if you don’t have much time in New York, do a helicopter tour and visit Central Park.

New York Biting into the Big Apple

Everyone dreams of walking down the streets of New York. It is the city we see on big screens in the cinema and only try to imagine

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Previously we featured Christmas shopping trip to New York with tips and ideas to get great deals when you arrive in the city.

Here we consider ways to save money getting to New York from European Cities. European travellers have often taken amny short flights – for city breaks and holidays in Europe however the prospect of long hual flights to Australia, the Far East and America can be quite daunting.

everyone should take a bite out of the Big Apple at least once in life.

Perhaps the most important things to remember when organising a trip halfway across the world are to book your flights to New York. well in advance, take out a good travel insurance and be aware of any immigration requirements.

So let’s start with the obvious; booking the flight. Experienced travellers find the best travel deals online. By using a search and comparison website you can find cheap flights to New York with top airlines such as Delta Airlines, Air France and British Airways.

The next step is to buy a good travel insurance to make sure you are covered for any unforeseen circumstances which may take place before and during your holiday. Shop around online, but make sure you read the terms and conditions carefully.

Lastly, make sure you check out the US immigration requirements so that you can apply for a visa if needed.

The Jane – from $99 a night

The Jane is a hot hotel in a hot district, and the bar was so hot that it reportedly had to close because the neighbours complained about the noise. Nevermind though, there are plenty of fashionable watering holes in the West Village and bordering Meatpacking District.

The hotel opened after an imaginative refurbishment in July 2009 and bills itself as a “200-room micro hotel for young travellers with more dash than cash”. The budget bit means you’ll save money on accommodation, but the cheapest rooms require that you share a bathroom, albeit a modern clean, spacious bathroom with rainsoak showerheads and huge sinks.

The bedrooms are wonderful – inspired by luxury train cabins, with lots of storage on period-style rails and hooks and tucked under the beds, which stretch wall to wall with sheets tucked neatly around comfortable mattresses. Rooms also have televisions, air conditioning, large mirrors, windows that open, fans, ipod docks and free wifi.

The lobby is where the theatrical experience starts – a former ballroom, its is divided by huge columns and crowned with elegant plasterwork and a marble fountain.

The adjoining Cafe Gitane does a wonderful North African-inspired breakfast and will soon be open for dinner and evening drinks. The hotel owners also plan to restore a hand-tiled swimming pool and sauna in the basement.

Rooms start at $99 a night for shared bathroom.

113 Jane Street, New York, NY 10014

www.thejanenyc.com

Wrap up your Christmas shopping in New York

New York is one of the most festive cities in the world at Christmas time, festooned with street decorations and elaborate shop window displays, making it a favourite destination for a Christmas shopping spree.

Until recently, the US dollar was fairly weak against the pound, but with the recent economic downturn the pound has weakened, closing the gap somewhat. So is it still worth packing your woollies for a Christmas shopping trip to wintry New York? Apart from the pleasure of visiting New York at its most colourful and festive, the massive bulk-buying power of the US market means things are often cheaper there anyway. You can certainly buy some US brand products, particularly clothes especially dresses and lingerie, cosmetics and skincare, at far cheaper prices than you’d get them in the UK. And you can also find reasonably priced places to stay and eat, so you don’t have to spend a fortune.

The real shopping frenzy starts a few weeks into November, which can, at  Christmas hamper your shopping progress — so leave yourself at least a couple of dedicated shopping days to fight the crowds.

New York Shops

As a tourist, you can sometimes benefit from extra discounts by showing your passport.  Some big department stores such as Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s may offer 10% off on production of your passport, so it’s always worth asking at customer services.

Bagging a bargain

For good value high street goods head for Banana Republic for clothes; Walmart for discount products; Nordstrom for top clothing brands, shoes and accessories; Newegg, for computer hardware or digital cameras; Urban Outfitters for clothing, footwear and household goods; Old Navy for family fashion; and Dell Computers, where there is no customs duty on laptops or PCs. For cosmetics, skin care and fragrance try Sephora (which has 11 stores across the city) where you can stock up on American products such as Mac, Bliss Spa, Laura Mercier and Benefit at far cheaper prices than you’ll find in the UK.

For a real bargain, you could consider a visit to Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, a discount shopping centre about an hour north of New York City (498 Red Apple Court, Central Valley – see  www.premiumoutlets.com). It’s home to around 200 shops selling mainly clothes plus shoes, handbags and other accessories, at clearance prices. Some but not all of them are from last season, including Burberry, Chloé, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Gap, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Prada, Saks, and more. You can pick up some goods for around a quarter of the UK price.

Things to watch out for

Shopping Sales Tax in United States

Just remember when you look at price tags that in the US that the price shown doesn’t include Sales Tax, which is like VAT, and is only added when you get to the till.

Under European Union (EU) rules, there is a goods allowance of £320 (excluding tobacco and alcohol), on bringing items back to the UK from countries outside the EU. This includes souvenirs, clothing, electrical goods and perfume. For anything above this amount, you’re expected to declare the goods at the airport and pay customs duty. The amount varies depending on the item, how much it costs and what it’s made from, as well as 15% VAT. Some shoppers walk though the ‘Nothing to Declare’ exit illegally, with goods well over this value, and get away with it — but there is a hefty fine for those who are caught. See http://www.which.co.uk/advice/duty-free-allowances/outside-the-eu/index.jsp for more information.

Also, both shoe sizes and dress sizes differ to those in the UK, so if you don’t already know them, find out your US sizes (or the sizes of those people you’re buying for) before you go. You can use an online converter such as http://www.onlineconversion.com/clothing.htm.

Other things to do in New York at Christmas

While you’re shopping, don’t whizz through department store doors without pausing to take in the impressive Christmas window displays, each competing with one another for the most eye-catching design. Across the city you’ll also find a number of different outdoor Christmas Markets to browse for handmade gifts and seasonal foods.

For some festive fun, head to the outdoor ice rink at Rockefeller Plaza, and pose for a photo in front of the imposing Rockefeller Center’s Christmas Tree, which is decorated with some 78,000 lights.

If you still haven’t had your fill of Christmas lights, head to Grand Central Terminal for the high-tech wintry wonderland visuals projected onto the Astrological ceiling of the terminal’s Main Concourse. There is show every half an hour, between 11:00 and 21:00, for six weeks over the Christmas period. See http://grandcentralterminal.com/ for details.