New York Holiday Guide

New York has two main airports, JFK and LaGuardia, and is also served by the nearby Newark International in New Jersey. Most flights from the UK arrive at JFK, and take about seven hours.

There are lots of ways to travel around the city, such as the subway, which operates round the clock – hence the tag ‘the city that never sleeps’, or the many yellow cabs which, for a city of New York's position and stature, are pleasantly affordable. It's easy enough to get around but remember to allow time for the crowds who are likely to get in your way.

Probably New York's most popular area for beaches is Long Island, which often holds fairs and festivals along its proms. Fire Island, off the southern shore of Long Island, has some great sand dunes, views and shopping facilities.

Not all of the beaches in New York are open to the general public. For instance, most of the ones in the exclusive Hamptons area require permits to get on to.

New York is crammed with well-known landmarks, so if you want to see most of them while on holiday here, you'll either need to have a lot of time on your hands or a well thought-out itinerary. Sights to behold include the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building, while Central Park is an ideal place to relax.

Whilst a visit to Ground Zero, the site of the former World Trade Center will be emotional, it will also help you to appreciate the effort the city has made to overcome the attacks on the Twin Towers.

If you're feeling lucky, the gambling haven that is Atlantic City is about 100 miles or so down the coast. Or if you would prefer to escape the hustle and bustle, the Catskill Mountains are an ideal retreat and offer some stunning views of New York State.

The Hudson Valley, also upstate, has some wonderful scenery too. Holiday thrill-seekers may prefer to tackle the slopes at nearby Mountain Creek, or the rides at the Six Flags amusement park.

As you can probably imagine, there's no shortage of options when it comes to dining out in New York - especially if you're a fan of Italian, Chinese or Jewish food. It's estimated that there are more than 18,000 places to dine out in the city.

There are delis galore, while you're never far away from a burger and fries with a shake. You can even have breakfast at Tiffany's, or grab a bite to eat in Tom's Restaurant, the subject of the Suzanne Vega hit Tom's Diner and featured regularly in Seinfeld.

Unsurprisingly, there are countless ways to spend an evening in "the city that never sleeps". Times Square comes to life in the evening, and you should catch a show on Broadway while you're in the area.

New York is also a significant place in the world of jazz - take in some of the local atmosphere in one of the city's jazz clubs, in areas such as SoHo and Greenwich. Up-and-coming Brooklyn is also overtaking the Meatpacking district in terms of popularity.

Due to the bargains on offer and falling flight costs, New York has become a very popular weekend shopping destination for many holidaying Britons in recent times. Items such as clothes and jewellery can be bought for a fraction of the prices paid this side of the pond, particularly in the large stores along Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue.

There are also many bargains to be had at Market NYC, while Chelsea Market is a great place to pick up local culinary delicacies.

Children are often happy just walking round New York and taking in the amazing sights, but they might also like to take in one of the many museums in the city. If the Metropolitan Museum of Art doesn't take their fancy, the Children's Museum of the Arts might.

There are often Broadway shows that the kids will love, such as The Lion King or Beauty and The Beast. Due to the size of the city, it may be worth arranging a few stops throughout the day, in places such as Central Park (where there is also a zoo), or on one of the city's many boat rides.