New York City apartments - holiday apartments throughout New York City

NEW YORK CITY

New York City Apartments: With its flashy lights, late nights, skyscrapers and unbeatable cultural scene, no city can compare to New York. An apartment here will put you in the thick of the action, whether you choose to stay in Manhattan, the Bronx, or a quiet spot on the outskirts of New York. Apartments are all available for flexible, short-term rental. See www.selfcateringhol.com's growing list of New York apartments to decide which one is right for your holiday.

Read our mini guide to New York City

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Central Park. The Empire State Building. Times Square. Fifth Avenue. Broadway. China Town. Even if you've never been to "The Big Apple" chances are that you know its icons. The city, however, is much more than its landmarks.

Covering 800 square kilometres, New York City can be an overwhelming place to visit. The City is divided into five main boroughs - Manhattan, The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. Calling these areas "neighbourhoods" is a bit misleading, as they're each big enough to constitute individual cities. The Bronx, for example, is the fourth-largest 'city' in the US!

Manhattan is far and away the most-visited borough of New York. Apartments in this area are conveniently located near the city's main sights and shopping, eating and entertainment areas. Chinatown, Greenwich Village, Harlem, Little Italy, Soho & Tribeca, the neighbourhoods around Central Park, and Union Square are all packed into Manhattan, making this one of the most diverse areas of New York. Apartments range from spacious to studio, but all will give you a unique taste of New York.

An apartment in the Bronx puts you a bit off the beaten tourist track and into the heart of working city. Packed with parks (including the Bronx zoo) and historic sights, this is a fascinating place to rent an apartment, even though it doesn?t have the fame of Manhattan. Here, be sure to see Yankee Stadium, the New York Botanical Garden and the Edgar Allen Poe Cottage, where the author wrote many of his most famous poems.

Brooklyn, across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, offers some of the best views in New York. An apartment here could be near one of the borough's many parks or along the waterfront. Main sights here include Brooklyn Heights, a sprawling historical district and the scene of many films, and the Brooklyn Museum of Art. Coney Island, with its beaches and boardwalk, is here too.

Across the East River is the huge borough of Queens. Cultural attractions like the P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center and the Socrates Sculpture Park have put this once-marginalized area back on the map. Queens' street life is fascinating too; this is the most culturally diverse area of New York, and the many international shops and restaurants here make you feel like you've been transported from America to Argentina to Armenia within just a few blocks.

Staten Island, which is closer to New Jersey than to the rest of New York state, is packed with interesting sights, although it's not a place most visitors ever see. For a great overview, take the free Staten Island Ferry from the tip of Manhattan through New York Harbour, where it passes the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Governors Island. On the island, visit the Museum of Tibetan art (which has the largest collection of Tibetan art outside Tibet) or America's oldest elementary school, Historic Richmond Town. A zoo, a botanical garden and several of New York's smaller museums are here too. Yet Staten Island's most popular attraction is its shore. South Beach, which boasts the world's fourth-longest boardwalk, and the sprawling Gateway National Recreation Area, offer great places for swimming, strolling, fishing or sunbathing within easy reach of downtown New York.

New York City is a year-round destination. In autumn (fall), the cultural calendar is packed with concerts and exhibits. In winter, the Christmas lights, New Years' celebrations and seasonal attractions like ice-skating in Madison Square Garden make the city a magical place to be. Spring brings a blooming Central Park and the chance to dine al fresco in the city's countless sidewalk caf?s. Summer is time for taking it easy and soaking up the sun in the parks or along the waterfront.

Average highs and lows in New York City are: January 3?C/-4?C February 4?C/-3?C March 9?C/1?C April 16?C/6?C May 21?C/12?C June 26?C/17?C July 29?C/ 20?C August 28?C/ 19?C September 24?C/16?C October 18?C/9?C November 12?C/5?C December 6?C/-1?C

There are three major airports that service the New York City metropolitan area: JFK, LaGuardia and Newark. A flight from London takes about six hours.

From the airports, there are several ways to get in to the city. A taxi is the most expensive option ($45 or more). JFK is an hour from Manhattan, LaGuardia is 30 minutes from Manhattan, and Newark is 50 minutes from Manhattan. Buses are cheaper, but can take up to two hours and may be complicated if you're carrying a lot of luggage. For bus schedules, see the Port Authority link (on the link tab). An easier option is a shared van service. For $10-$15 vans will take up to 10 passengers into central locations in the city; inquire about these at the airport. From JFK and Newark there is also rail or subway service available, and LaGuardia offers a free bus shuttle to the nearest subway stop.

Once in the city, public transportation is widely available and relatively easy to use if you have a good map. The New York subway is a complex web of trains and tunnels that will take you to nearly every corner of the city. Be careful with your belongings, and be aware of the special express trains that don't stop at every station.

Taxis are also widely available and may be necessary for night-time travel. Fares can be pricey, and you're expected to tip a bare minimum of 10% on top of the regular fare.

New York City is known for its museums, theatres and restaurants, but there are a lot of outdoor activities available here too. Surprisingly, New York City has more green spaces than any other city in America. It claims 1,700 parks and playgrounds that cover a full 26.8% of the city.

Head to the famed Central Park for a stroll, a jog, or a great place to roller blade or cycle. Public basketball courts, baseball diamonds, tennis courts and soccer (football) fields are here as well, and special events like guided bird walks are also available. Other notable parks in New York City include Battery Park, along the waterfront, and Bryant Park, near the NY Public Library. Gardens like the Brooklyn Botanical Garden or the New York Botanical garden are great places for strolls or just for sitting in the sun.

New York City is not known for its beaches, but in fact it has beautiful stretches of sand lapped by clean Atlantic waters. Head to Coney Island, an American icon, for a stroll on the boardwalk, a ride on the famous Cyclone roller coaster and a taste of one of its world-renowned hot dogs. Other good beaches in New York City include the Gateway National Recreation Area that covers the city's south shore as well as part of Staten Island, Orchard Beach (dubbed the "Bronx Riviera"), and the 10-mile-long Rockaway Beach, America's longest urban beach.

LOCAL INFO

NY & NJ Port Authority website: Detailed information about the three major airports that service the New York City metropolitan area: JFK, LaGuardia and Newark.