Luxury Trip to New York

Love it or hate it, you can’t deny that New York City is impressive. Often referred to as the “Big Apple,” the “City That Never Sleeps” or the “Capital of the World,” New York is one of the most vibrant urban centers on the planet, and also one of the largest.

When people talk about New York, they typically mean Manhattan, which is but one of five boroughs that make up the city proper, the others being Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. The full metropolitan area, which includes nearby Long Island, Westchester County, and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut, has a population upwards of 18 million.

New York draws tourists from around the globe, not only for its rich cultural and historical attractions, but also because it is a major center for media, theater, food, fashion, art, research, finance, trade and nightlife. It also has one of the most famous skylines on earth, dominated by the iconic Empire State Building.

First-time visitors can’t go wrong by hitting the traditional tourist spots: the top of the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, Greenwich Village and SoHo, Rockefeller Center, Lincoln Center, Central Park, even Times Square. But those looking for more local, authentic experiences, plan a trip to Brooklyn to check out the Brooklyn Museum, Prospect Park and the Botanical Gardens; Manhattan’s Lower East Side for a taste of old-world immigrant history meets modern-day hipsters and nascent art scene; or Jackson Heights in Queens, for the best Indian and Thai food outside of Asia.

Hilton Waldorf Towers is located ten miles from the LaGuardia Airport. Local attractions include Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, Broadway Theater District, United Nations Headquarters, Grand Central Terminal, Chrysler Building, Carnegie Hall, Central Park and Wall Street. Hotel amenities include beauty salon, health club, florist, theater desk, complimentary usage of the nearby Plus One Fitness, Bull and Bear (steakhouse and bar), Oscar's American Brasserie, Inagiku Restaurant (Japanese cuisine), Oscar's Bar, Cocktail Terrace and Sir Harry's. Other services include babysitting, concierge, valet laundry service and garage and valet parking. All rooms include coffeemakers, minibars, work desks, fax machines, telephones, voicemail, dataports, safes, marble bathrooms with separate tubs and baths, hairdryers, oversized closets, kitchenettes or wet bars with refrigerators, Lodgenet Video, complimentary newspapers, down comforters and pillows, triple sheeting, irons and ironing boards, and twice-daily maid service.

Bar Masa keeps up to the high standards of its sister restaurant, Masa, next door. The sushi is great—black truffles baked with oyster, pearly shrimp and silky squids are every seafood lover's delight. Chef Masa serves the freshest catch in the traditional Japanese way. Dimly lit surroundings, sake and seafood make Masa a gourmet delight.

Any visitor to New York should spend at least a couple of hours at this vast museum. Designed by Richard Morris Hunt in 1895, it has more than 1.5 million square feet of exhibition space. European paintings on display include works by Monet, Degas, Van Gogh, Cézanne, Titian and Vermeer. The Egyptian gallery is unparalleled. Asian art, sculpture, armory, and photography also vie for your attention. During warm weather, the open-air roof garden displays contemporary sculpture. See their website for exhibition schedule, membership details, complete visitor details and especially Met Holiday Mondays.

This hangout for rich shoppers features sumptuous decor everywhere, including lots of bronze, marble, crystal and flowing water. It is a great place to come if you are looking for a knockout diamond solitaire engagement ring, as there is no shortage of prestigious gem stores. Cartier & Asprey is one example (just be sure to bring your platinum card). Other shops here are Salvatore Feragamo, Dooney & Bourke and the Boheme, Dyansen and Arras Galleries.

You're surrounded by quiet elegance at Cru, where you can choose from an astounding list of over 3000 wines to complement your meal. They serve contemporary European fare with influences from all over the continent-- dishes include all sorts of meats from quail to rabbit to duck, and for the psuedo-vegetarian there is lots of fish, and for raw food enthusiasts there is a section of seafood crudo appetizers. And you'll like the impressive dessert list, which has trifle, terrines, tarts, and more.

Since 1847, Cartier has been selling some of the world's finest and most expensive jewellery and watches. Their selection includes diamond engagement rings, wedding rings and other jewellery including necklaces and bracelets. The store also sells perfume, eyewear, pens and leather goods. Over the years, Cartier designers and artisans have taken their inspiration from sources as diverse as Etruscan pottery and Hindu temples to Picasso paintings! Sundays are closed in July and August.

You will spot Saks by its array of flags flying outside the building. It is a fashion-only department store, featuring contemporary women's clothing and classic men's outfits. The women's departments have a great range of international designer wear, including Dolce & Gabbana, Moschino and Sonia Rykiel and popular fragrances by Bond no.9. There are also the traditional American designers like Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and Donna Karan. The men's department leans to the conservative side.

Masa, located in the Time Warner Center at the Columbus Circle is a dining experience truly like none other. There are no windows. There is no menu. You order a specialty cocktail made with top-shelf ingredients. Then Chef Masa Takayama, just inches away, goes to work on a three-hour multi-course meal of the most mouthwatering, heart-melting sushi. But the fact that Masa is one of a microscopic few non-French establishments to be awarded The New York Times' coveted 4-star honors is evidence that being at the chef's mercy might not be so bad. A step into Bar Masa next door is also worthwhile.

Right in the heart of Manhattan stands this oasis of rolling pastures and gardens, stretching from Midtown to Harlem. It was created in 1857 by Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux. These days walkers, rollerbladers, bikers and joggers compete for space. Lovers meet at Bethseda Fountain on Bethseda Terrace. To the north, others wonder at the mystery of Belvedere Castle. Nearby is the Delacorte Theater, where you can watch plays in the summer. It blends so easily with the Manhattan environment that it is difficult to guess that it is totally man made. Across the park lies a charming Central Park Wildlife Conservation Center, and children of all ages love the restored carousel.

Located right next door to the famed Carnegie Hall, the Russian Tea Room has a rich and long-standing history with New York high society. Originally opened by members of the Russian Imperial Ballet in 1926, this elegant, red and gold culinary masterpiece has been host to countless celebrities, performers and political officials. The restaurant has since changed hands since its closure in 2002 after the death of owner Warner LeRoy, but despite the new faces it has returned with the same opulent and stately atmosphere its dedicated customers have come to know and love.

On the opening night of this famous music house, Tchaikovsky conducted and New York's elite waited in line to enter. Carnegie Hall quickly became an international Mecca of classical music, attracting the brightest stars from Bernstein to Toscanini. Today, over a hundred years later, top orchestras and modern music share this venue. The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Frank Zappa and Frank Sinatra have all headlined here. Many musicians claim it has the best acoustics in the world. Tours are available during the day. Call for information. And you don't have to 'practice, practice, practice' to get here either!

One of the original 13 colonies that became the United States, this northeastern state has grown to include a world capital—with the home of the United Nations in New York City. The cosmopolitan yet rural state appeals to people from all over the world.

Go wine tasting in some of the oldest vineyards in the nation in the Finger Lakes region, or travel by boat or foot through the popular Hudson River Valley. Pick apples or leaf peep in the fall, and enjoy the state’s beautiful scenery any time of year. Enjoy a gourmet meal, view world famous art, or simply feel the heartbeat of the city that never sleeps. There’s so much to do in New York that all visitors are bound to find something to love.

Before the creators of some posh day spas were even born, Elizabeth Arden's Red Door Spa was dispensing luxurious beauty treatments to the rich and famous. It is located in Midtown and still has its signature red door, complete with a white-gloved doorman. Despite all its competition, it still stands out as one of the best spas and certainly one of the biggest, occupying nine floors. It offers hairstyling, makeup, massages, facials, manicures, pedicures and beauty wraps.

This restaurant is located in the West Village. It is run by renowned chef April Bloomfield, known for her work in Chez Panisse, Kensington Place and River Cafe. Try the favorites, which include Marinated Black Fig Salad with Thyme & Parmesan and Pot Roast Rabbit with Fennel & Olives. The ones who aren't too hungry also come here only to try desserts like the cheese plate and the Crème Catalan. Since this joint serves British and Italian fare, there is also a good stock of wines and beers on offer. A hundred patrons can be easily accommodated, hence parties and events can be organized too, with prior intimation though.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden contains 52 acres of nature's splendor. From romantic blossom lined gardens to a conservatory and a visitor centre, it provides for a great day out. Learn more about the importance of botanical and horticultural life as you observe the thousands of varieties of indoor and outdoor plants. Plan a trip with the kids as there are plenty of family programs, art classes, workshops and more. Take a look at the art gallery at the Steinhardt Conservatory or saunter around at the fragrant Magnolia Plaza. You can also hold picture-perfect wedding ceremonies here, with prior booking. Lush and green, a beautiful place to visit, even for those who don't have a green thumb. Check the website for admission prices and other details.

Renowned chef Thomas Keller has brought the sophisticated appeal of his Napa Valley's The French Laundry to Manhattan with Per Se, located in the Time Warner Center. With only 15 tables, reservations two months in advance are recommended to take in a beautiful view of Central Park while enjoying contemporary American cuisine with French influences like Sabayon of Oysters and Caviar, Kobe Beef with Marrow, Chilled Sweet Corn Soup, and Apricot Sorbet. Per Se includes a lounge, bar and wine cellar along with two private dining rooms. See website for menus and more.

Love it or hate it, you can’t deny that New York City is impressive. Often referred to as the “Big Apple,” the “City That Never Sleeps” or the “Capital of the World,” New York is one of the most vibrant urban centers on the planet, and also one of the largest.

When people talk about New York, they typically mean Manhattan, which is but one of five boroughs that make up the city proper, the others being Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. The full metropolitan area, which includes nearby Long Island, Westchester County, and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut, has a population upwards of 18 million.

New York draws tourists from around the globe, not only for its rich cultural and historical attractions, but also because it is a major center for media, theater, food, fashion, art, research, finance, trade and nightlife. It also has one of the most famous skylines on earth, dominated by the iconic Empire State Building.

First-time visitors can’t go wrong by hitting the traditional tourist spots: the top of the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, Greenwich Village and SoHo, Rockefeller Center, Lincoln Center, Central Park, even Times Square. But those looking for more local, authentic experiences, plan a trip to Brooklyn to check out the Brooklyn Museum, Prospect Park and the Botanical Gardens; Manhattan’s Lower East Side for a taste of old-world immigrant history meets modern-day hipsters and nascent art scene; or Jackson Heights in Queens, for the best Indian and Thai food outside of Asia.

Hilton Waldorf Towers is located ten miles from the LaGuardia Airport. Local attractions include Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, Broadway Theater District, United Nations Headquarters, Grand Central Terminal, Chrysler Building, Carnegie Hall, Central Park and Wall Street. Hotel amenities include beauty salon, health club, florist, theater desk, complimentary usage of the nearby Plus One Fitness, Bull and Bear (steakhouse and bar), Oscar's American Brasserie, Inagiku Restaurant (Japanese cuisine), Oscar's Bar, Cocktail Terrace and Sir Harry's. Other services include babysitting, concierge, valet laundry service and garage and valet parking. All rooms include coffeemakers, minibars, work desks, fax machines, telephones, voicemail, dataports, safes, marble bathrooms with separate tubs and baths, hairdryers, oversized closets, kitchenettes or wet bars with refrigerators, Lodgenet Video, complimentary newspapers, down comforters and pillows, triple sheeting, irons and ironing boards, and twice-daily maid service.