3 nights – New York

The problem with visiting New York City is knowing where to begin but even if you don’t immediately rush off to view the world-famous sights and landmarks of this most dynamic of cities just being there is enough: the wonder of New York is in the energy and the diversity that emanates from its densely packed multi-cultural population. The city vibrates with colliding cultures and languages; here high-life and low-life rub shoulders and whoever you are and whatever your taste there will be something to amuse and stimulate you 24-hours a day.Whether lolling on a bench in leafy Central Park watching the world go by from a French bistro in Soho or gazing up at ‘Lady Liberty’ from the deck of the Staten Island Ferry most visitors will feel they’ve done it all before simply because New York is so familiar to anyone who has ever seen a movie or watched television. There is something special however in actually seeing the familiar landmarks and experiencing the pulse of the ‘city that never sleeps’. New York City is made up of five boroughs: Staten Island The Bronx Brooklyn Queens and Manhattan but many visitors never leave Manhattan. There is a lot packed into this tiny area: the 24-hour pasta restaurants of Little Italy and the bustling sidewalks of Chinatown the jazz clubs of Greenwich Village and the theatres of Broadway; and of course the iconic sights of the Statue of Liberty the Empire State Building and Times Square. New York has been described as the best three-day city in the world and that’s about right. After a frenzy of museums galleries bars and clubs many visitors are ready for a break. Fortunately there’s a lot of choice in excursions from the National Parks of upstate New York to the beaches of Long Island or simply the leafy oasis of Central Park. Whatever you’re after New York is ready and waiting to bewitch bother and bewilder.

7 nights – Cancun

Located on the northeast coast of the Yucatan Peninsula the world-famous beach resort hub of Cancun was once a humble fishing village but has blossomed into a city which caters mostly to tourists in search of sand sun and surf. The city is dominated by the hotel zone blessed with all the amenities visitors could possibly desire and Cancun’s downtown area home to the locals is often overlooked by foreigners. Downtown Cancun is less glamorous than the glitzy beachfront but it does allow travellers to experience a more authentic Mexican community with bustling markets cheap and friendly restaurants vendors and street performers. As a beach resort Cancun is inexhaustibly popular and its reputation is well deserved: the powdery white sand and clear waters make for a Caribbean paradise where watersports are the main diversion. Scuba divers and snorkelers flock to the region for some of the best coral reef diving in the world (particularly around the island of Cozumel). The variety and quality of accommodation in Cancun is superb and the nightlife is extremely energetic making it a great favourite with young Americans. The city offers splendid shopping and eating out venues and there are some remarkable Mayan ruins nearby for a touch of culture and history on a beach holiday.