Still the Biggest Apple

Few cities in the world are as cool as New York. There's just something about the skyscrapers, the distinct neighbourhoods and the hilariously bad yellow cab driving. I hit the ground running off the trans-Atlantic flight and didn’t stop until my trip was over. Along the way I learned a few things:

1. Though it’s good to have an idea of what ground you want to cover the best places you simply stumble upon, especially in downtown Manhattan. Despite rumour to the contrary, the locals are chatty and full of suggestions.

2. The queue to get to the top of the Empire State building is too long. Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Centre is just as beautiful and easier to get to.

3. The best burgers in town are from Shake Shack at Madison Square Park by the Flat Iron building. Fact.

4. The Rose Bar at Gramercy Park Hotel is one of the few members only bars in the city. It’s full of beautiful people and guests of the hotel can get on the coveted guest list.

5. Its sunny most of the time and sunglasses are half the price of what they are in the UK. Also, buying an ‘I ♥ NY’ sweatshirt is not tacky – it’s forward planning for keeping warm on the red eye flight home. OP