New York

May, June, September and October are New York at its best: walkable, bright, alive. Late December is genuinely magical and genuinely a scrum; take the lights, accept the queues. August is hot, slow and half empty, which is a complaint or a recommendation depending entirely on the client. We have booked it proudly for people who wanted Manhattan to themselves.

Hotels here are a character reference. The Carlyle, with jazz drifting out of Bemelmans Bar, says one thing; Aman New York in the Crown Building says another; Nine Orchard, downtown in a converted bank, says a third. Tell us who is travelling and we will place you accordingly. Then the access layer: an early-hours guide through the Met before the doors open, a producer's house seats for the show that is meant to be sold out, a table uptown for the Sunday jazz brunch.

Best months

May to June, September to October. December for the spectacle, eyes open.

How long

Four nights. Enough for three neighbourhoods, two shows and one long walk: the High Line down into Hudson Yards, or across to Domino Park for the bridge view.

Worth asking us for

Pre-opening museum visits, theatre house seats, courtside at the Garden.

Good for

City breaks, big birthdays, business trips, the East Coast pairing with New England in the autumn.