I have been to New York now too many times to mention. I’m not sure exactly what keeps drawing me back to this overcrowded and hectic city, but maybe it is a fascination with the lifestyle of its inhabitants.

If you go to stay in Manhattan during the cold winter months you will get quite a surprise. Yes, it is great for Christmas shopping and the fairytale image as seen in the movies is still certainly true, however it is bitterly cold and can get very windy around the shoreline of the Hudson River.

Like this time, I prefer to go at the end of the summer season, at the start of September. It won’t be as hot and humid as the sticky summer months but should still be warm enough to do plenty of outside activities and find things to do.

As I’m travelling with friends who have never been to the city before, it should be a really good trip and a bit different (I’ve still never done some of the more touristy things like go up the Empire State Building).