You never have enough time in New York. It isn't one city, it's so many different places that compete for your attention. It is the city of ever changing 'in' places, from the uptown glitz of the West Side (of Central Park) to the downtown chic of the West Village, from Chinatown to Little Italy, from Murray Hill to Midtown, from the constantly trendy acronyms like SoHo (South of Houston Street) to Dumbo (Down under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), you are offered entirely different sights, sounds and even smells in each neighbourhood.

With such an exciting city and so much to see and do, you really need to do a little planning. There are certain must sees, such as the Empire State Building and a cruise around the island, the Statue of Liberty, and if you can, visit Ellis Island, which will turn out to be one of the most memorable visits you have ever made.  This was where millions of immigrants were cleared when they landed in the USA, and the museum is one of the best.

Another very good way to get around New York is to use the air conditioned double-decker buses that take in all of the major attractions. You simply hop on or off whenever you want. 

The list is endless of things to see and do when visiting the Big Apple ... those listed below are just a taster.

 

You're spoilt for choice in New York. Also, you have to adopt a different strategy when dealing with New York hotels as The Big Apple is such a major tourist city that you need to constantly be looking for the best deal for your clients.

One hotel we have used many times is the Ameritania which is located in the Theatre District on the corner of 54th Street and Broadway. You'll find it central to many of New York's biggest attractions, some within walking distance. Penn Station is 20 blocks, Central Park is five blocks, New York's Museum of Modern Art is just two blocks and Times Square is five.

The Ameritania has a full service restaurant, Bar 54, with a large sky-lit atrium. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Frank Sinatra fans will be interested to know that he and the Rat Pack used to wine and wine (mostly wine!) here in the golden days of the Big Band. The hotel offers 209 rooms on 12 floors.

• Statue of Liberty ~ Catch a ferry across and then climb 354 steps to the statue's crown.
• Ellis Island ~ America's main immigration station between 1892 and 1954, where over 12 million immigrants first set foot in the New World. The Immigration Museum is fascinating.
• World Trade Centre site ~ where the Twin Towers once stood, now more commonly referred to as Ground Zero.
• Rockefeller Centre ~ This art deco complex houses the statues of Atlas and Prometheus, and is best known in winter for its skating rink and large Christmas tree.
• Radio City Music Hall ~ Take a guided tour of this art deco theatre.
• Museums ~ Guggenheim, Intrepid Sea Air & Space, Natural History, and Modern Art
• Empire State Building ~ The world's tallest building between 1931 and 1977, and offering exceptional views from the two observation decks on floors 86 and 102.
• Chrysler Building ~ This art deco masterpiece is only open to the public at ground floor level but worth a peep inside anyway.
• Circle Line ferry ~ 3 hour ferry ride around Manhattan.  Shorter trips available but if you have the time, do this one. 
• Central Park ~ Where New Yorkers go to enjoy some greenery! Includes a zoo, the Ramble, and Shakespeare in the Park theatre.
• Shopping ~ Saks 5th Avenue, Bloomingdales and Macy's