When people think of New York they picture the skyscrapers of Downtown Manhattan, the leafy spaces of Central Park and the bright lights of Broadway. And while these are all exciting places to base yourselves, there are also quieter areas away from the razzle dazzle where actual New Yorkers live. That’s why, when you plan a trip to the city, it’s so much better to stay in a luxury vacation rental in New York rather than a hotel, because you will get a taste for local life.
Head north of Central Park towards the Bronx and you will discover New York townhouses to rent that look like something straight from the movies.
Luxury Apartments on the Upper West Side are also a good choice thanks to their walkability factor.
If your loved one has always dreamed of living out a Carrie Bradshaw-style fantasy in the city, then choose a luxury vacation rental in Chelsea New York where she can walk around the East Village pretending to be in the stylish TV show.
You will never run out of things to do in New York. The city is full of fun activities and exciting things to see and do. We recommend taking a walk around Central Park. The green space is just as beautiful in summer and winter and is a gorgeous place to spend an afternoon. You can even hire bikes rowing boats on the liken the middle.
Take a walk over Brooklyn Bridge and admire the skyline from the other side of the Hudson River. Once you get to Brooklyn you can explore the arty neighbourhood DUMBO and maybe even take the train up to Williamsburg which is the hipster hotspot.
Take a ferry trip out into the harbour., You can choose an organised tourist trip to the Statue of Liberty or you can save your dollars and jump on the Staten Island Ferry for next to nothing and see the iconic green lady from the water.
Visiting some of New York’s museums will be a fabulous way to enjoy the city. MOMA and the Guggenheim are world famous for their collections of modern art while the Natural History Museum will please keen environmentalists. If you want to do something free, have a walk around New York public library. The rows of books will inspire even the book-shy.
New York is not only the culture capital of the world, but also one of the shopping capitals. There are so many places to shop in the city that you literally won’t know where to start. The bust area around Times Square is best avoided if you want to preserve your sanity, but the much more mellow Union Square nearby also has lots of the same shops but won’t be so busy.
As we’ve already mentioned, heading over to Brooklyn and Williamsburg will ensure you seek out vintage finds from the trendiest haunts. There are lots of sustainable fashion stores in this part of town as well as vegan and vegetarian restaurants and supermarkets.
New York, New York. So good they names it twice. Treating someone you love to a long weekend in New York will be a gift they’ll never forget. No one can fail to be impressed by this city and all that it has to offer. If you’re planning your holiday for the winter and fancy going somewhere a bit warmer, check out our All Luxury guide to Saint Barthelemy for some more gifting ideas. Of if you have your heart set on a major city but you’re not sure about travelling to New York then why not consider Paris or London which might be a bit closer to home.