My New York

I used to travel to New York City (NYC) for work; now I travel for pleasure, and try to plan a trip once a year. The first thing you notice when you get into the city is the skyline; the Manhattan skyline is majestic and singular. My first visit to the city was as a student in 1992. I was studying in the state of Indiana, and my exposure to a large American city until then was limited to Chicago. But even that did not prepare me for my first encounter with New York City. It was truly unforgettable.

Recommendations
While on work, I mainly stayed at the New York Hilton Midtown, which is located on the Avenue of the Americas. During my latest visit, I stayed at the Waldorf Astoria. New York has many hotels, and now a large number of boutique hotels have come up as well.

The subway is the best way to get across town in Manhattan. For short trips, jumping into a cab works, otherwise walking in NYC is always fun.

The best places to hold business meetings are the many Regus business centres across the city. There are more than 60 which are conveniently located, and they provide the right professional environment.
I love eating at the diners and the local delis in the city. Dining in SoHo is a great experience, with the multitude of restaurants that serve cuisines from all across the globe. I love to experiment each time I am there, from Spanish tapas bars to authentic Vietnamese restaurants.  

After Hours
In NYC, a brisk walk works well to charge me; the city is so dynamic. Another option is to take some time off to visit some of the great museums, such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Guggenheim. The city has a great nightlife, from the bars on the Upper West Side to the ones in SoHo.
It also has great shopping options, from large stores like Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s to the shops down Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue. You can find all sorts of brands in New York, you just need the time to explore the city. On my last couple of trips, I had picked up some American wines from California and Oregon.

Tips
Among the things you should avoid is getting ripped off. However, this could happen anywhere in the world and is not restricted to New York City. You should also check the weather forecast before your visit to make sure you pack the right clothes. It tends to get very cold in and around winter.  

The pulse of the city, the people, and the culture of New York are great and hard to replicate in any other city, including any other American city.

Harsh Lambah is the country manager (India) for the Regus Group

(Coordinated by Jasodhara Banerjee)