The wonder of New York City lies in its energy and in its diversity. This densely packed, multicultural population creates a kaleidoscopic effect of languages and cultures, lifestyles and cuisines. What’s more, it simply never stops: there is something to titillate, to amuse and stimulate you 24 hours a day.
Whether you choose to loll on a bench in leafy Central Park, watch the weird and wonderful world go by from a French bistro in Soho, or simply cast admiring glances at ‘Lady Liberty’ from the deck of the Staten Island ferry, New York will work its magic on you.
New York City is made up of five boroughs: Staten Island, The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan, though many visitors never find time to explore beyond Manhattan – the epicentre of the city.
There is certainly an awful lot packed on to this teeming island, from the all-night pasta restaurants of Little Italy to the riot of colour on the bustling sidewalks of Chinatown; from the cooler-than-thou jazz clubs of Greenwich Village to the bright neon lights of Broadway theatres.
Iconic sights abound, which gives the city a familiar feel even if you have never visited before. Who could ever mistake Times Square, the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building?
If the frenzy of classy shops, bijou boutiques, expansive museums, cutting-edge galleries, lively bars and cool clubs begins to lead to sensory overload, there are plenty of trips and excursions to restore your overstimulated nerves to tranquillity. Head out to take in the National Parks of Upstate New York, chill out on the beaches of Long Island or simply find your centre in the leafy oasis of Central Park.
If you are visiting on business, our corporate Travel Managers for New York can recommend the best places to stay both for work and for play.
Times Square is the perfect place to spend your evening dining and shopping, but it may be that a relaxing Circle Line cruise is ideal to take a break from the merry tune that the city dances to.
A visit to Broadway will show you the stars of the stage, but a trip to the haunts of the celebrities, organised by TMZ, may afford you a glimpse of the rich and famous in real life.
The nightlife in New York City is second to none. There are jazz bars, nightclubs, lounges, comedy clubs and live shows on offer every night in locales such as the Village, Broadway, Bowery and Madison Square Garden.
Visitors will be blown away by the shops, stores and sheer volume of luxury goods on display. Offering some of the best and most expensive shopping in the world, 5th Avenue is synonymous with classy high-end department stores such as Bergdorf’s and Saks. Madison Avenue is 15 blocks of celebrity designer outlets, such as Chanel, Jimmy Choo and Prada, to name a few. Soho offers one of the most attractive ways to blow the credit card limit, with its cobblestone streets and loft-like spaces.
The best way to take in all the sights of New York is on foot – and it’s a surprisingly walkable city. Get yourself some well-heeled shoes and take a bite of the Big Apple.
Climate
New York has a humid continental climate, with hot, moist summers and cold winters, when snow and rain are common. The average temperature in the summer months of June to August is a sunny 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit). The average may fall to just 2 degrees Celsius (36 degrees Fahrenheit) in January and February, but the city remains an all-year destination due to the sheer wealth of leisure and cultural activities available.
Language
English is the most common language, but there is also a large Spanish-speaking population.
Passport Visa
Visitors entering the country under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) must have a machine-readable passport (MRP) that includes their biometrics. They also need to register online three days before travel.
All visitors to the USA will have a photograph and two fingerprints taken by an inkless scanner on arrival.
Please check rules around visa requirements before you travel, as they may change regularly.
Safety
New York does have a problem with drug and gang-related crime, so visitors are advised to remain vigilant at all times and stick to the recognised tourist-friendly areas. There remains an ever-present background threat of terrorist incidents.
Our Services
For all your high-end, bespoke leisure and corporate travel needs to New York, contact our Travel Managers on 0203 535 9290 or leisure@simplexitytravel.com today.
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