There are three major airports serving the city of New York:
• John F Kennedy International Airport in Queens (often over an hour by cab from the office, depending on traffic). Most international and long distance internal flights arrive here.
• La Guardia Airport (some 30-40 minutes away by cab). Used for shorter domestic flights, including those from Canada.
• Newark International Airport in the State of New Jersey (some 40-50 minutes away by cab). Domestic and, increasingly, international flights.

Getting from the airports to Manhattan

JFK to Manhattan
Taxi – $45.00 flat fare (plus tolls of $4-$6 and tip)
New York Airport Service (bus) – $13.00 to Grand Central or Port Authority Bus Station; $15 to Manhattan hotels. www.nyairportservice.com
AirTrain and Long Island Railroad (LIRR): $8-15 www.airtrainjfk.com

La Guardia to Manhattan
Taxi – $35.00 (plus tolls of $4-$6 and tip)
New York Airport Service (bus) – $10.00 to Grand Central or Port Authority Bus Station; $12 to Manhattan hotels. www.nyairportservice.com

Newark to Manhattan
Taxi – $44.00 (plus tolls and tip)
AirTrain – $11.55 www.airtrainnewark.com
PATH Train (Port Authority Trans Hudson) – Taxi from Newark airport to Newark Penn Station $13, PATH fare $1.50

All airports
Supershuttle – To/from JFK or Newark $19, La Guardia $15. www.supershuttle.com

People travelling into the United States must be aware that clearing immigration and customs is likely to take longer than is the past due to the recent heightened security measures. If you are a foreigner, prepare to be targeted in random security checks.

Whether it is the fine arts or shopping that you love New York has something for everyone. You can go star spotting at many of the nightclubs or fine dining restaurants.

One of the highlights of Christmas shopping in New York is the department stores and the annual holiday displays. You don’t have to spend a dime to take in all these fantastic window displays. There is even a walking tour map to help guide you from shop to shop.

A visit to New York would not be complete without a visit to Broadway. You can see well-known shows such as the Lion King, the Phantom of the Opera, Chicago and the Little Mermaid. Apart from the big names there are plenty more shows with something for all tastes. Who knows you might discover the next big thing.

Other things to do on vacation in New York include a trip to the Statue of Liberty or a ride up the Empire State building to take in the awesome views. You may also enjoy a visit to Wall Street or if sports are more your thing why not take in a hockey match or basketball game at Madison Square Garden.

I have covered just a few of the things to look forward to while on vacation in New York. If you are planning a visit why not take advantage of great savings on offer by getting yourself a New York City Tour package. A New York pass includes admission to over 40 top New York attractions and you can grab it for one low price starting at $65.

If you can’t make it to New York to see the Rockefeller Centre Christmas tree why not follow the link to a video on Youtube.