Two Star New York Hotels

At the heart of Manhattan lies Central Park – a district in its own right and nearly as famous as the city it serves - this green, or autumnal orange, swathe of forest, lawns, gardens, fountains, statues, and lake is a recreational oasis in the heart of New York’s never-sleeping metropolis. Clamber aboard a horse-drawn carriage and trot past the likes of Central Park Zoo and 19th Century Belvedere Castle.

Once New York’s industrial heartland, these lively Manhattan neighborhoods have undergone radical changes over the years. Now home to the super rich and famous, Tribeca’s once abandoned warehouses became squatting artists’ studios and gritty clubs before the luxurious six-figure apartments took hold, while SoHo’s elegantly preserved industrial buildings now house exclusive designer boutiques. Head off Broadway to find tenement-lined cobble stone streets dotted with old-school style local bakeries.

Upper East Side has long been synonymous with wealth – think luxury Park Avenue apartments, select boutiques where the designer items are so exclusive they don’t have price tags, and high-heel clad ladies-who-lunch tottering with their miniature poodles. Recently hubs of downtown style have stretched into the neighborhood so you can try out funky restaurants as well as upscale bistros. Don’t miss Museum Mile – home to the famous Guggenheim.

Once synonymous with student grunge hang-outs, artsy cafés, and eclectic clothes stores, East Village and Lower East Side have plaid host to typical New York gentrification over the years with super expensive apartments and exclusive designer boutiques now scattering these neighborhoods. If you fancy some serious bargain hunting head to eclectic Orchard Street, while foodies will enjoy the area’s cool mix of trendy bistros, old-town delis, and diverse restaurants.

Known as the "Crossroads of the World", Times Square is a dazzling intersection famed for its lavish neon signs, grand theaters, and pulsating crowds. Whether you're on your way to a Broadway show, a buzzing bar or one of the family-friendly restaurant that line the streets, look out for iconic structures like the Paramount Building and One Times Square – site of the celebrated New Year's Eve ball drop.

Think "New York City" and the sights of Midtown East will spring to mind . There's the towering Art Deco splendor of the Chrysler Building, the gleaming edges of the Empire State Building, and the opulence of Grand Central – arguably the world's most famous train station. For top flight shopping, make your way to Saks Fifth Avenue, and you can even walk the corridors of power at the UN Headquarters.

Anyone visiting the Big Apple will want to explore Midtown West – this is where the razzle dazzle of Times Square is, after all. Take in a show on Broadway or, if you fancy giving your mind a workout, take a tour of the celebrated Museum of Modern Art (or MoMA). And when your tummy starts rumbling, check out the French brasseries, sushi bars and Russian eateries on Restaurant Row.

Sandwiched between the winding Hudson River and lush Central Park, Manhattan's Upper West Side is home to New York's most exclusive high-rise apartments, as well as Columbia University. The American Museum of Natural History makes it a history-buff's dream, while the Lincoln Center showcases everything from opera to jazz. A stroll around Riverside Park in full bloom is a fine way to spend a sunny day.

Once a shouting spot of political unrest, Union Square’s leafy recreational plaza is now known for its colorful summertime Greenmarket. Away from the square, Gramercy Flatiron district abounds with restaurants, bars, and shops among iconic Manhattan skyscrapers, including the wedge-like Flatiron Building. If you fancy some peace, wander down to leafy Gramercy Park – park-side residents hold New York’s most sought-after key, allowing them access to the small, but perfectly-formed gardens.