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New York…..Why go?Well, quite simply, it’s the most exciting city in the world. New York City comprises five boroughs, but Manhattan is the one that never sleeps – and there’s no shortage of action: from the bright lights of Broadway and Times Square to some of the most recognisable museums and architectural landmarks in the world. Plus, there are more restaurants and bars in New York than you could hope to visit in a year – all of which makes this city the Rome of our age.New York is constantly reinventing itself, too. Once-crime-bitten neighbourhoods such as the Meatpacking District and large parts of Brooklyn are now safe and hip, while in formerly drab commercial areas such as Flatiron and the Garment District new restaurants are opening every week.Big cities can be lonely places, but the other charm of New York is that it welcomes you, makes you feel you belong. This is partly thanks to the logic of design: Manhattan is laid out on a simple grid system so that, unlike in London, say, you always know where you are and can pretty much walk everywhere.But it’s also welcoming because New Yorkers, contrary to their hard-bitten image, are surprisingly friendly. Step into a diner or a subway car and the person next to you will strike up a conversation, make you part of his or her movie. Say what you like, New York, New York is still so good they named it twice. When to go - It’s a year-round destination with four distinct seasons. Winter can be magical, with thick snowfalls followed by cloudless skies. Summer has the most reliable weather, although August can be insufferably humid. Spring and autumn are the best, with clear skies and a crispness to the air, the leaves in Central Park turning a beautiful golden red by October.Flights – Services from Britain arrive at JFK, La Guardia or Newark airports. British Airways (www.ba.com), United (www.united.com), Virgin Atlantic (www.virgin-atlantic.com), Delta (www.delta.com) and Continental (www.continental.com/uk) all offer direct flights.Transfers - Taxis from JFK to Manhattan take 45-60 minutes and cost $45 (£27) before tip and tolls. La Guardia is much closer and a cab should not be more than $30 (£18). Newark to Manhattan taxis take 35-50 minutes. Rail, subway and AirTrain services are available, but are more time-consuming. Private bus services to Grand Central Station, Penn Station and Port Authority are fast and cost $16-$28 (£10-£18) depending on the airport. For more information see www.panynj.gov/airports; or phone 001 800 247 7433.