Where to stay
Make the most of your stay by opting for a place in a prime location. Midtown luxury hotel The Jumeirah Essex Hotel (www.jumeirah.com) is set in the heart of Manhattan on Central Park South. Fusing old-world charm with modern luxe, it's a quick five-minute walk to Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center and 15 blocks to Times Square. You can do all the sights on foot! The concierge is a font of all knowledge, and the new eatery South Gate is divine.
What to do
A must-do for any fashionista is the Sex and the City Bus Tour - a three-and-a-half hour trip around the city with a tour guide who pinpoints specific locations in the show, while TVs play clips of famous landmarks. We stopped for cupcakes at Magnolia, peeked into Buddakan, wandered around the Meat Packing district (very cool) before heading to Aidan and Steve's Scout bar. A great laugh! $48 (Dh176) www.screentours.com.
Where to shop
Discover hundreds of designer houses selling items at heavily discounted prices at Woodbury Common Outlet, an hour outside New York. Fifth Avenue is shopping heaven, while Soho boasts lots of high-end hideaways such as J. Crew and Calypso. A must is to head over to Bloomingdale's - the sales are amazing!
What to see
A simple and cheap way to see it all in 48 hours is the New York City pass (www.newyorkpass.com). For $79 you can visit six of NYC's top attractions, ride the tour buses and cruise the island. And the best bit is it guarantees you jump the queue. Catch the subway south and take in the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry - enjoy that famous skyline. The Rockefeller Center, Empire State Building, and the Museum of Natural History are a must. You shouldn't leave New York without visiting Ground Zero to see the emotional memorial. Then end your trip on a high and hit Times Square where the bright lights and energy do all the talking.
Where to eat
There are eateries on every corner here, but I recommend the dripping-in-glamour Balthazar (www.balthazarny.com) in Soho, a relaxed French bistro that's also great for celeb-spotting: I saw Dita Von Teese and Courtney Cox in one evening. I also loved Dos Caminos in the Meat Packing District (www.doscaminos.com), which delivers stunning modern Mexican food (think roasted plantain empanadas) and chic cocktails (think plum or sage margaritas). In the heart of Soho, the Mercer Kitchen is a must for a sushi lunch treat (www.mercerhotel.com). The chocolate pot is worth every calorie.
Where to spa
Forty-eight hours of shopping and sightseeing can only mean one thing - pamper time in one of the city's finest spas. Sense Spa (www.sensespa.com) at the Carlyle Hotel is one of my favourites for facials - think 90 minutes of therapeutic bliss for $300. Cleansing, exfoliation and a steam is followed by an amazing massage and mask. While the mask set, I was given hand and foot pampering, before finishing with a soothing moisturiser.
Facebook fan feedback: My New York
"The reception at Macy's offers overseas visitors discount vouchers."
Beryl Comar
"Visit Hell's Kitchen Flea Market, Soho for fashion and do A Night at the Museum sleepover at The Met."
Jen Mueller-Barton
"Having lived in NY for 23 years, I love the spa, Tres Belle Petite Medi-Spa; the fashion store Century 21 and Red Hook in Brooklyn for quirky finds."
Nadege Bernard Brunacci
