At a glance
They don't come any bigger than the Big Apple - king of the hill, top of the heap, New York, New York. It's got its fair share of the tired, the poor, and the huddled masses, but it also has world-class museums, big statues, even bigger buildings, outrageous excess, and a whole lot of whooo-wheee!
New York is a densely packed mass of humanity and all this living on top of one another makes the New Yorker a special kind of person. It's hard to put a finger on what makes the place buzz so hard, but the city's hyperactive rush keeps drawing more and more people to it.

When To Go
If it's first-class international events and gallery openings you're after, the question is when not to go. Despite the fantastic atmosphere around Christmas/Hanukkah and the New Year, the weather can be gaspingly chilly. In summer the prices rise and the tourist numbers soar. It can also be oppressively hot. Aim for spring (March-June) and fall (September-November).

Places to See
From the top of the Empire State Building to the bottom of a glass in a Manhattan nightclub, New York has it all. For a closer look at the city, wander through Times Square and the streets of Greenwich Village and Soho, check out the Wall Street super traders, or hop on a ferry to Staten Island.

Places to Eat
If you're hungry in New York, you're just not trying - it's a glutton's dream. With around 20,000 eateries, the possibilities are almost endless: you could have dinner at a different restaurant every night for 50 years, running the gourmet gamut from hot dog to Cordon Bleu.

Night Time Venues
New York's novella-length weekly entertainment listings tend to include a favourite performer you never dared dream you'd see live. The city also contains thousands of venues, ranging from poky East Village bars to pulsating mega-clubs or luxurious late-night lounges.

Places to Shop
There isn't a craving that can't be satisfied in New York. Tibetan fur-trimmed hat? Worm-studded lollypops? Thought you'd never ask! The shopping is so good that you might find yourself buying something you thought you'd never need: extra luggage.

Tipping
Tipping is expected in restaurants, bars and better hotels, taxis, and by hairdressers and baggage carriers. In restaurants, wait staff are paid less than the minimum wage and rely upon tips to make a living. Tip at least 15% unless the service is terrible, in which case a light tip will get your point across. Most New Yorkers either tip a straight up 20%, or just double the 8.25% sales tax. At bars, bartenders typically expect a US$1.00 tip for every drink they serve (at preferred drinking spots, the old rule of fourth round free stands and decent tips help perpetuate that tradition). Never tip in fast-food, take-out or buffet-style restaurants where you serve yourself.
Taxi drivers expect 10% AND HAIRDRESSERS 15% if their service is satisfactory. Baggage carriers (skycaps in airports, bellhops in hotels) receive US$1.00 for the first bag and US$0.50 for each additional bag. In 1st class and luxury hotels, tipping can reach ludicrous proportions - doormen, bellboys and parking attendants all expect to be tipped at least US$1.00 for each service performed - including simply opening a taxi door for you. (Business travellers should tip the cleaning staff US$5.00 a day.)

CITY BREAKS IN NEW YORK