Now, if you fancy a trip to Faro where Julia stayed or other exotic foreign climes (I know I do) and you’re heading to East Midlands Airport why not save yourself the hassle of driving and go by bus? It’s greener and very convenient; they drop you right outside the door you know. Skylink runs up to every 30 minutes from Nottingham, Leicester, Loughborough and Derby (24/7) to East Midlands Airport. It’s just £10 return for a family of five (max two adults) BUT we can save you even that piffly cost!

The lovely folk at East Midlands Airport are giving away 10 tickets, each for a group of five. Hurrah!

To be in with a chance of winning a Skylink group ticket please fill in the boxes below:

Small print:

Each family ticket is for 2 adults maximum. The ticket covers your journeys to and from the East Midlands Airport and is valid for one month. The bus driver may ask you to present your flight confirmation when travelling.

Closing Date: 30th June

From time to time we may send you information about fabulous products, services and brands that may interest you. If you mind terribly, email claire@69-247.com otherwise keep your eyes peeled.

Check out how Julia’s trip to Portugal went at:

69-247.com/2010/05/pret-a-portugal/

What’s an enjoyable way to spend the Bank Holiday, or any weekend for that matter? Down the park, in the pub, or sunning yourself in Portugal?

That’s how I spent last weekend (smug, moi?) and it really revitalises you. Well it did me and my other half. After just 48 hours we feel like we’ve had a proper holiday. We even got a bit of a tan. It probably helped that the drive to East Midlands Airport is only 20 minutes, and our flight with BMI Baby to Faro less than three hours.

Faro is a bustling city and if you’re in the area for longer than a weekend, definitely worth a visit. Head over to Rue de Santo Antonio for some serious shopping action, and while you’re there check out the goodies at Pastelaria Gardy. These are cakes worth breaking the diet for.

We stayed about half an hour’s drive from Faro, in Albufeira. It’s a beautiful coastal town with just the right combination of culture and entertainment. The main square and its surrounding meandering paths are chokka full of bars and restaurants. I’d recommend trying the Ruina at least once- it’s definitely not cheap, but it’s definitely worth it. Elsewhere you can grab dinner for around 15 euros a head, and the atmosphere around the square is very chilled, with lots of live music and lazy dining until around 11pm when the louder, more partycentric vibe kicks in. If you fancy a bit of that all night, you’re better off heading to The Strip. This area of downtown is so heaving in peak season they pedestrianise it. If it’s summer loving you’re after, here’s where you’ll have a blast.

While you’re releasing your inner Sandy or Danny, the beaches here are beautiful to get down in the sand. Albufeira has the most blue flags in all the Algarve-so the sand and water quality here is champion. Cliffs surround most of the beaches, which means a lot of them are small and private. We spent some time at the Sao Rafael beach and didn’t see another soul. Heavenly.

There’s the usual accommodation to choose from, apartments; camping, hotels. We stayed just outside the town at The Sheraton Algarve. This (Portuguese) Five Star hotel was set in lush immaculate gardens on the Pine Cliffs. Our room had a huge (very comfortable) bed and lounge area, with a sea view. Going for a stroll to the beach, we were rather over excited to discover the means of transport to it – a glass lift down the cliffs. Very James Bond. Makes you wanna have a martini at the Beach Club restaurant, but it was early so we stuck to water and a tuna sandwich. For dinner we tried the Il Giardino Italian and the food was amazing. There are a variety of restaurants to choose from, and breakfast on the terrace surrounded by birds was quite lovely. Talking of lovely, did I mention our massage? The hotel has a well-equipped gym and Spa too. That’s an enjoyable way to spend the weekend.

JS.

Julia Sherwood travelled courtesy of BMI Baby and The Sheraton Luxury Collection (see pics below)

BMI Baby flies to Faro form East Midlands Airport Daily and from Birmingham three times a week.

“A new study by the UK’s fastest growing online independent travel agent has revealed that tourists are least likely to trust a pilot with a Birmingham accent and are put most at ease if the voice that comes over the tannoy speaks in Queen’s English. Less than 1 in 5 said they would feel at ease with a female pilot.

Latest findings from research commissioned by sunshine.co.uk have revealed the UK accents people most and least trust when it comes to the person flying them to their holiday destination. 2,043 people were polled and it was revealed that pilots with a RP accent, or those who speak in Queens English, are the most likely to put their passengers at ease. Those with a Birmingham or Liverpudlian accent are the most likely to make their passengers anxious.”

So there you go, please leave your thoughts below.

Just two and a half hours away from the UK, and a mere hop skip and ski jump away by complimentary transfer shuttle from Zurich Airport, LAAX is situated on the Swiss side of the Alps and is one of three tiny villages that together offer some of the best snow conditions in Europe. With over 220km of on-piste action to keep all levels of boarders, free stylers and skiers happy, LAAX is ready to take on the big boys and show the snow-world how to really do it in style.

Ever the consummate professionals, the 69 team gave up some of their Christmas break to scope out the slopes on your behalf… Life is hard…

As you’d expect from us hard-hitting journalists (don’t laugh), we arrived at the luxury, hostel-style hotel, Riders Palace, and promptly booked into one of the penthouse suites rather than the shared dormitory style rooms that make up the hotel’s main accommodation.

That said; don’t let the idea of dormitory style accommodation put you off: if Calvin Klein made Bunk Beds they’d be in the rooms at Riders. All rooms, even the dorms, feature panoramic views, plasma TVs and X-box 360s. Everyone gets secure storage, so there are no issues around sharing and, as any sort of ski / boarding holiday is best served with a bunch of mates, then this style of accommodation is great, especially if you’re saving your Swiss francs for the après ski.

But, we say leave that to the kids.  Get yourself an upgrade to the card-access penthouse floor and live like a King. It’s a different world; expect floor to ceiling glass walls, reindeer skin on the polished oak floor (Sorry, Rudolph), a Philippe Starck freestanding bath and colour changing L.E.D lighting everywhere.  It all adds up to create an amazingly sexy loft style space with stunning views over snowy peaks, fir trees and ski-lift gondolas making their way silently up cotton covered mountains.  It’s seriously like something out of MTV Cribs.

When not gawping out of the picture-perfect window, or whilst recovering from an exhausting day on the piste (or off piste – ask our Editor), you’re beautifully catered for with 50-inch plasma TV and an X-box with full entertainment system and surround sound.  The only thing lacking was an i-Pod dock and a kettle.  It should also be noted that Riders does not have an on-site restaurant, so no foodie room service.  Residents will either eat at the adjoining hotel, or at one of the many luxe resort restaurants.

This is quite a spendy option, so LAAX has recently launched the Rocks Resort – a collection of five gorgeously minimalist self catering apartment blocks that rise out of the frozen ground like modernist works of art.  Hewn from glistening, locally sourced granite with oddly angled windows carved into its form, Rocks Resort resembles a spectacular Bond set – and the interiors of the apartments are just as exciting (though unfortunately don’t feature Daniel Craig): the bedroom walls are made from untreated gnarled oak, while age slaked lime and concrete have been used for the walls and floors in the living room. Each apartment incorporates a mini spa with steam bath and steam shower and the bathroom is finished in the same palette of materials, ensuring the design is cohesive, refined and contemporary.

This attention to detail, coupled with a similar choice of materials, can be equally found at any of the hip bars, restaurants and stores.  It all adds up to create a resort that is an incredibly stylish winter paradise where life is as cool off the slopes as it is on.

Want more?  Try this baby on for size: the BRITS at LAAX.  Bring it on.  Kicking off the BRITS music week in true British Hip Hop style and christening one LAAX’s hottest club venue will be top DJ collective, Scratch.  Over the week, you can also expect sets from the Godfather of British Hip Hop, Rodney P and a DJ demi-god against mere DJ mortals, DJ Woody.

As the week progresses DJ Adam Freeland will be tearing up the dance floor with his iconic electro beats and, for those who enjoy their nights out a bit more hands on, there’s everything from the 7” Throwdown night, which delivers a twist (of the vinyl variety) on the much loved Stick-It-On night, to the Guitar Hero antics of the Animal Rock Night where Kerrang DJ, Christian Stevenson, will be throwing rock hammer after rock hammer and conducting the Air Guitar symphony. Spandex at the ready, apparently rock dress is compulsory!  But better make it Thermal.

There’s also an International Headlining Act who (at time of going to press) is a closely guarded secret. To be kept up to date, head over to the BRITS website.

For the more hardened board freaks amongst you there are loads of opportunities to register to compete in any of the British Snowboard and Freeski Championship events including the Animal Slopestyle, SNO!zone Halfpipe and Trespass Snowboard/Skiercross. Think we’ll just watch…;-)

So, you’re thinking: an achingly hip design resort (think bigger than a ‘design hotel’), amazing slopes (suitable for all abilities), incredible après ski and a world-class music festival will cost a bomb?  Wrong.  There are some package deals still available for the BRITS and they start from as little as £230 per person, which includes seven nights’ accommodation, seven days lift pass, an event pack containing exclusive goodies and a BRITS festival wristband giving access to the Club Nights and discounts.

69 Flew to Zurich from Manchester courtesy of Swiss Air.  swiss.com

Swiss Air also fly from Birmingham.

For more information on LAAX, visit rocksresort.com or riderspalace.com

The Snow and Music Festival runs from the 21^st – 28^th March. brits10.com

britishsnowtour.com/brits/championships

If you feel you need to brush up on your snowboarding skills we have a competition to win time at SNO!zone just click here.

bmibaby has recently announced several new routes for this spring so we thought we’d check out what they have to offer.

Sardinia

A beautiful Island off the coast off Italy, why not head to glitzy Forte Village and channel your inner A-Lister with visits to the Thærmae Del Forte spa, with its extensive treatment list and series of saltwater pools, or flex the plastic at the array of designer shops – Fendi, D&G, Cartier and Ralph Lauren, for starters – in the resort’s retail hub, Piazza Maria Luigia. That’ll do nicely.

Venice

Venice isn’t just canals and Popes you know, it’s also one of the main cities for shopping in Italy, a real shopper’s paradise. Brand lovers need to take a stroll to Mercerie: this is Venice’s main shopping street that connects Piazza San Marco to Rialto. Here you’ll find boutiques such as Max Mara, Sergio Rossi, Cartier, Krizia, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and many others. The surroundings are gorgeous as you walk downtown for some serious Venice shopping.  There are also an incredible number of restaurants, bars, and best of all osterie (wine bars) Bellisimo.

Dubrovnik (Croatia)

Think ‘small is beautiful’; as exclusive jewellers, fashion boutiques and artisans shops in the old town are the best place for shopping in Dubrovnik. Some international brands have outlets in Dubrovnik- hurrah for cut-price goodies. There’s also plenty of handmade accessories-for truly extravagant hats pop into Ronchi on Lucarica.  During the evening enjoy live performances at Troubadorr Jazz café, which stays open until 3am.

If these don’t take your fancy you’re obviously quite mad but fear not, bmibaby fly from East Midlands Airport to 23 destinations throughout UK and Europe with fares starting from only £14.99 one-way incl. Taxes.

They also fly from Birmingham Airport to 14 destinations throughout UK and Europe with fares starting from only £21.99 one-way incl. Taxes.

New routes for summer 2010 include Jersey-Bournemouth, East Midlands to Alghero (Sardinia), Barcelona, Bastia, Dubrovnik, Newquay and Venice.

bmibaby.com

fortevillageresort.com

una-volta.org

veniceworld.com

dubrovnik365.com

WIN!

To celebrate their new routes, and well, just because they’re nice like that, the special folk at bmibaby are offering one jammy, sorry, lucky reader the chance to win a trip for two. The winner will be able to take their pick from bmibaby’s routes from either East Midlands or Birmingham Airports. Smashing.

All you need to do is fill in your details below.

Closing date 20th April

T’s & C’s

From time to time we may send you information about fabulous products, services and brands that may interest you. If you mind terribly, email david@69-247.com otherwise keep your eyes peeled.

Taking place in the jewel of the Austrian Alps, The Yeti Festival is a five-day extravaganza on the slopes, in the Alpine lodges and terrace bars and in one of the most incredible nightclub venues in Austria under Yeti HQ, The Cube. Creating all the nonsense and musical mayhem will be some of the most recognisable and influential party and festival brands in the UK, namely The Secret Garden Party, Secretsundaze, The Remix, Lost and Found and East Village as well as some of the hottest DJ talent offered up for your serious dancefloor pleasure. Already the future looks very bright for this burgeoning alpine party.

Nassfeld has been a firm favourite and closely guarded secret amongst Austrian snow aficionados for many years. The pistes are big, wide, steep and swoopy – perfect for speed queens looking to get some serious carving in.Non skiers are catered for with many varied and interesting snow pursuits available from hiking and tubing to sledging and even snow biking. Lost and Found will also be hosting magical alpine parties where you can expect Sauna Speed Dating, The Mad Hatters Schnapps Party, Pen-Quin Bowling and loads more snow based skulduggery

The Cube Club is a 1000 capacity venue split into three intimate club-rooms under the main Cube Hotel. Costs to stay at the hotel half board start from £399.

www.yetifestival.com

Amsterdam is one of those cities that everyone has an opinion about – whether they have ever been or not.  From the pills to the ping-pongs, the spliff to the sideshows it’s long been one of ‘those’ places where you go for a guaranteed good time.  But if a city is to be considered Cultural, it needs to inspire in daylight as much as it does after-dark.

ut I think Amsterdam has an ace or three up it’s (wizard’s) sleeve: it’s brimming with magnificent museums detailing Netherland’s past coupled with up-to-the second contemporary art.  And experiencing them is as easy as pie.

Using our Iamsterdam cards (a must, as they offer free tram travel and discounts for lots of museums, restaurants, shops etc) we wandered around the many museums, houses and attractions included in the pass. It allowed us to see things we may not have tried otherwise. A proper cultural eye opener!

You can order your card online at www.traveldna.ne they range in price from €38 – €58 depending on how many days you would like to use your card for.

Our first stop was the Van Gogh Museum; it’s a little way out of the centre of the city, so our tram passes were most welcome. The permanent collection takes the visitor on a journey through Van Gogh’s progression of his now iconic work. I’ll warn you; this part of the museum gets very busy, so get there early or all you’ll be seeing is the back of people’s heads. Call me a philistine, but I didn’t feel very inspired by Van Gogh. Years of seeing his work on textbooks, postcards, etc has desensitised me to his greatness.  (The same thing happened to me in Florence – Ed) But for the less blasé, it’s a definite must-do on your cultural checklist.

Luckily, like us Brits, the Dutch went on a rampage in their deep, dark history and started stealing from other countries. The result is the Rijksmuseum. This is an incredibly beautiful (and ever so slightly creepy) building filled to the brim with (half inched) historical artefacts. It’s the only place to see Rembrandt’s ‘The Night Watchmen’ in all its wall-filling glory (well partially; apparently huge chunks were taken off the sides at some point – hey, look at us learning things!)

But it’s not all about the past, skip the centuries and head to the future at the NEMO centre – a rather amazing landmark building with an equally amazing interactive exhibition inside. This included a surprisingly (read ‘saucy’) graphic video on the stages of puberty.  *Snigger*.  Despite being aimed at the younger generation, it kept us two twenty-somethings entertained for a good couple of hours. (Hmmm – Ed) We also learned how to make rain; that we’re feeble and unable to lift our own body weight without the help of pullies (wimps); and that the Bjork robot (from her ‘All Is Full Of Love’ video) is very clever indeed and teaches the history of her robot-kind to us philistines. There was also a 15ft tall robot girl with multi coloured hair who looked fab, but we’re unsure as to her raison d’etre.  Admittedly, that’s probably more down to our inherent lack of understanding of girls full-stop, rather than the museum’s fault.

This was only the tip of the cultural iceberg. My greatest Amsterdam hint is to get lost.  Seriously.  Whilst the public transport system is a speedy way to get from A to B (and a god-send if you’ve been on your feet all day), Amsterdam has so many hidden treats it’s worth taking a walk off the beaten track. A wrong turn can lead to a giant glass tree or an exhibition of the city’s bike stands (oddly beautiful, trust me.)

If winter travelling is not your thing, Amsterdam seems to have a constant rotation of festivals and events to offer all year round. The most impressive of these is the Holland Festival, which runs throughout June. Before you go to Amsterdam, check out iamsterdam.com – it’s updated with the best events and things to do in Amsterdam.

Whichever ‘weg’ you find yourself on, one thing you can guarantee is that it will be flanked by the most gorgeous townhouses, many of which have open views over the canals for which Amsterdam is so famous. It’s worth making a special note about Amsterdam’s architecture: it’s a marvel.  Buildings lean in to each other on the street in a Tim Burton-esque way. That’s definitely Amsterdam hint two, keep your eyes up and open, there’s so much to see just above street level.

What you might not know is that many of these houses are open to the public – for historical purposes you understand and not just to indulge your inner voyeur.  It’s definitely worth having a nosy in one or two to see how the other half lived a few hundred years ago.  Sadly for winter travellers these houses are only open during the summer months.

Even the infamous red light district has a cultural twist (and we’re not talking about the more supple of the ‘ladies’ either).  Pick up a ‘red light art’ booklet (available from numerous venues in the red light district) and wander the area. We found the most interesting and arresting installations, but the one that sticks out was where one lady of the night’s pleasure palace had been transformed into a filthy doctor’s surgery. A comment on the health care system or maybe a nod to how she soothes ailments in a dirty manner? Who knows, but this was a wonderful way to bring art out of the museum and into the masses. I wish I could tell you where to find this display but it was during one of our intentional ‘getting lost’ sessions, sorry.

You want more? No problem.  Foam is a beautiful photography space; the Anne Frank house is an emotional and harrowing journey through WWII suffering; and the Homo Monument is the only space of its kind in the world that commemorates all gay men and lesbians that have been subjected to persecution.

With so much to see and do in the ‘dam, it’s worth finding a central hotel.  We stayed in the lovely ‘Dikker En Thijs’ Hotel (no sniggering). A huge bedroom, bathroom to equal it and the friendliest staff I have encountered in a hotel made this the perfect resting place. But to be honest there is so much to do you will only need your hotel as a space to rest your head.

So, is Amsterdam on a hiding to nothing in deflecting attention away from it’s naughty nocturnals, or does it have the power behind the proposed Cultural punch?  Is it a city worthy of comparison to Vienna, Barcelona, Paris even?  I say, wholeheartedly, yes.  It’s got culture galore, but also a very honest and upfront dark side too.  One without the other is like bread without butter.  And if the city can embrace its past and future, its daytime and darkness it won’t have any problems, er…rising to the occasion.

BMI Baby fly from Manchester to Amsterdam 11 times per week. Flights are just over an hour making it an easy and stress-free destination for long weekends.

Bmibaby.com

Not quite sure what to do to bring in the New Year?  69 (with the help of bmibaby) have created a guide to celebrate 2010 in some of Europe’s hottest cities.  Take a look at the best places to stay, eat, what to do and how to treat yourself to something special.  Happy New Year!

  Where to stay:

Amsterdam – Unique and a little different, Hotel de Filosoof’s rooms are all themed to a different philosopher or philosophy. Great hotel if you want a more cultural stay and also has the convenience of being within walking distance to the main museums and shopping areas.

Belfast – Simple, but stylish, Tara Lodge offers great accommodation at a great price. Located around 10 minutes from the main centre and close to a number of restaurants, it’s suited to anyone that wants to cram in as much activity as possible. This hotel has had great reviews in the past, and we can see why!

Paris – L’Hotel du 7^℮ Art is a film lover’s dream, lining the walls of the hotel with a host of movie memorabilia, such as the Wizard of Oz, Donald Duck and Laurel and Hardy. Also located close to the Seine and in the heart of Saint-Paul Village, this hotel is also great for sightseeing and shopping.

 Where to eat:

Amsterdam – If you want a restaurant with a twist, then you have to check out Kinderkook Kafe. All the bartending, serving and cooking here is done by the children, meaning they prepare, cook and serve everything you eat! An exciting, fun and different way to eat out and entertaining for all the family.

Belfast – You may think you’d be barking mad to go here, but The Barking Dog restaurant has a delicious menu and a team of friendly staff to make your experience even better. Great food and reasonably priced it also gives you the perfect chance to meet the locals, and maybe make a friend or two!

Paris – This hidden gem is popular with local Parisians, but not known to many tourists. Café Panique is a small, intimate and stylish restaurant with a welcoming and contemporary feel. Imaginative and surprising dishes will leave your mouth watering – one course just won’t be enough!

Where to go out

Amsterdam – If you want a relaxed atmosphere to sit back and enjoy a few drinks with your friends, then Rain is the place to be! Sleek, funky and refreshing, this bar/club also mixes up music, dancing, visual art and live performances to tempt those who are a little wilder. Overall a great night is to be had by everyone.

If you really want to see the New Year in with the locals, then hit the streets of Amsterdam! Wander around Dam Square, Rembrandtplein, Nieuwmarkt and Leidseplein to find people singing, lighting fireworks, sparklers and offering drinks all round!

Belfast – Belfast is known for great nights out and you won’t be disappointed by Bar Bacca. The bar has a Far Eastern theme with Oriental furnishings and dark shades of lighting. The music is varied to suit most tastes, whilst the cocktails and champagne are very reasonably priced.

Paris – One of the hippest bars to be found in the heart of Paris, Bound bar is sure to impress! At night there are DJs to entertain and even a sushi bar restaurant should you get a little peckish.

Shopping

Amsterdam - To experience authentic Amsterdam take a stroll down The 9 Streets and spend the day in some of the city’s best boutiques. The streets are lined with 17^th century houses and surrounded by picturesque canals – enough to make any shopping trip a little more special

Belfast – Hate having the same clothes as everyone else? Then ensure you don’t leave Belfast without taking a look around Liberty Blue. This award-winning boutique offers unique clothes and jewellery at high street prices

Paris – No trip to Paris is complete without going to Le Marais. This shopping quarter is host to some really unique and interesting shops and there is something to suit everyone, even the boyfriend!

Pamper Yourself

Amsterdam – Why not start the New Year by clearing the mind and just relaxing? Koan Float offers the chance to unwind and to try out ‘floating’ which gets you feeling more like yourself again.

Belfast – If you want to truly pamper yourself, grab some of your girlfriends and head to Aura Day Spa to bring a little luxury into your life. Offering some great treatments, including facials, makeup and even tanning it provides the perfect excuse to indulge

Paris – In the luxurious Hotel Le Meurice lies Spa Valmont, which offers makeup and revitalising treatments and massages. The idea is to leave your face and body feeling pampered and create the perfect atmosphere for a relaxed and fun day. The Spa also offers light refreshments if you are thinking of making more of a day of it.

Getting There

bmibaby operate flights to each of the 3 featured resorts.  bmibaby fly from/to East Midlands, Birmingham and Manchester airports.  Check them out at www.bmibaby.com

No wonder then, that this is the city that spawned shopaholic Carrie, or that this is the city to which millions of fashion-hungry tourists flock annually to get their style fix. Perhaps more than any city, New York works its hardest to continually satisfy – there’s always the latest restaurant, the new must-wear designer, spa, club, fad or even neighbourhood, and this means that no matter how many times you visit, you’ll always find something new.

Throughout the last 300 years, countless nationalities have made New York their home. From Little Italy to bustling China Town, immigrants from every corner of the globe have made New York a true melting pot. And, with such a diversity of cultures, it’s no surprise that the food in New York is some of the best you’ll find in the world. Whether it’s the omnipresent smell of hot dog and pretzels wafting from street vendors, a social Sunday brunch, on-the-go Chinese food or high-end fine dining, in this city you definitely won’t be going hungry.

After satisfying your appetite, its time to move onto your next desire – shopping. Cool Williamsburg in Brooklyn is the place to head for vintage bargain hunting. 69 Magazine made a return visit to our favourite Marc Jacobs outlet store on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village, which is so popular there’s a queue most days outside the shop. However, if you want to combine shopping with a spot of celeb-stalking, then the trendy Meatpacking District is the place to go.

The stomping ground for a veritable cornucopia of celebrities, the Meatpacking District is home to some of the most glamorous people watching in the city, and some of the coolest boutiques and shops (Alexander McQueen and Stella Mccartney to name but a few). Posh has been papped here on various occasions along with the likes of Lindsay Lohan, who loves the rooftop bar at the Hotel Gansevoort, Gwyneth Paltrow and designers Dolce & Gabbana, who cite nearby bistro Pastis (also used several times in the SATC series) as one of their favourite hangouts in town. Speaking of SATC, one of the newest hotspots in the area, Buddakan, was the venue for Carrie and Big’s pre-wedding dinner in the movie.

Returning home with much heavier luggage and a frazzled credit card – recession, what recession? – plans for our return visit were already in motion, after all, with spring/summer just around the corner, we’re going to need a whole new wardrobe.

WHERE TO STAY

The Inn at Irving Place

www.innatirving.com

On entering this unassuming brownstone building located in the heart of Gramercy, the pungent smell of florals immediately hits you – vases full of fresh lillies and scented candles, cover nearly every surface. This is the ultimate in boutique hotels, a hotel where faded Victorian grandeur meets euro-chic. A must for travellers seeking something a bit different and, unlike most hotels in the US, there’s a tasty continental breakfast inclusive in the price of your stay. It’s also a venue du jour for baby showers and lunches, so don’t be surprised to see some of Manhattan’s social set partying in the intimate dining room during your stay.

WHERE TO EAT

Adour

www.adour-stregis.com

The latest New York restaurant from renowned chef, Alain DuCasse, Adour speciaises in contemporary French cuisine, served in a sleek, unpretentious environment. Despite having opened under two years ago, the restaurant is already a mainstay in Manhattan’s dining scene. Our advice? Put yourselves in the hands of the expert Chef and wine sommelier and enjoy.

Asiate

www.mandarinoriental.com

Situated in the ultra-luxurious Mandarin Oriental hotel, this Asian-fusion restaurant is a standing favourite with celebs, locals and visitors alike. 69 Magazine sat adjacent to SJP’s usual table and we discovered that Britney and Will Smith are both regulars when in town and only the night before, Lady Gaga had dined at the restaurant. And, while it isn’t cheap, the gorgeous food and unforgettable views across Central Park and the Manhattan skyline (the restaurant is on the 35th floor) definitely make it worth splashing out on.

Ocean Grill

www.brguestrestaurants.com

If you’re in town on a Sunday then a brunch is a must – it’s a New York institution. Ocean Grill is one of the best and, with its focus on seafood, you’ll be able to try yummy combinations such as the crab Eggs Benedict.

WHERE TO SPA

Scientific Skincare

www.scientificskincare.com

Naturally, 69 Magazine has its finger on the pulse of all things cool, so post-flight we headed straight to Dr Lulu Rios-Hollmann’s Soho-based, clinic. She’s the go-to woman for facials, trust us, every self-respecting Manhattanite has her on speed dial. Agyness Deyn is just one of her A-list regulars and her ‘purity’ facials are perfect for reviving jet-lagged skin and clearing-up any skin nasties. After all, being perenially manicured and well-groomed a pre-requiste in this city.

WHAT TO DO

Sex and the City tour

www.screentours.com

Follow the Manolo trail and take in more than 40 locations that were used in the series and the film. This is the ultimate for all SATC fans (who isn’t?!) and the 3.5 hour tour allows you to shop where the girls shop, drink where the girls drink (cosmos, naturally) and gossip where they gossiped.

GETTING THERE

Virgin Atlantic flies daily from London to New York. For more information see www.virgin-atlantic.com