VITAL INFORMATION
| Population | 8,000,000 |
| Language spoken | English |
| Currency | American Dollar (USD) |
| Average temperature | Summer: 63°-84°F; Winter: 26°-41°F |
| High season | June to August |
An expensive city to visit by any measuring stick, New York City remains the mecca of tourism in America. And if you have the means, it's always fun to live it up -- especially in a millionaire-filled city like New York.
With that in mind, allow me to present you with an exciting whirlwind tour of New York from the viewpoint of a baller -- someone who can afford all of the glitz, glamour, star treatment, and high-priced delights that the city has to offer.
Here's what an unlimited budget and a three-day itinerary in New York can get you. Unless otherwise specified, all prices are in American dollars and account for two people.
Day 1: Crack out the plastic
The only way to start this luxurious mini-vacation off right is by checking into one of New York's lavish hotels. There are many to choose from in this category, but one of the most expensive is the Presidential Suite at The Four Seasons (located at 57 East 57th), which will run you $10,000 a night.This price will get you a 3,000-square foot penthouse on the 52nd floor, complete with a 24-hour staff at your beck and call, black marble floors, a marble bathtub, and original Alexander Calder sketches hung on the wood-paneled walls. As a Presidential Suite tenant, you'll be in elite company -- Michael Jackson once rented it out for three months straight.
find your lap of luxury
Once you're settled in, it's time to hit the town. Sure, New York's a great walking city, but why walk when you can ride in style? Unless you live a stone's throw away from the Big Apple, you probably flew in, which leaves you sans car.Pick up a fine ride from a luxury car rental outfit and cruise NYC's streets like a celeb. The people at Gotham Dream Cars will hook you up with a Bentley Continental GTC, a sublime vehicle that can be borrowed for $1,450 a day. They also lease out Ferraris and Lamborghinis, but this classy city deserves to be seen from the chrome and wood cockpit of a Bentley.
a fine lunch, per se
The added benefit of renting the Bentley lies in its capabilities as a cargo-holder. This is because, after chowing down on some lunch, you'll be shopping. Food takes priority, though, so line up a table at Per Se, Chef Thomas Keller's French restaurant on the Upper West Side.Order from the ever-changing daily menu and you'll be surprised with plates that may range from Island Creek oysters to braised pig's head with quail egg. This five-course option costs $175 per person. Be aware that, on weekends, lunch at Per Se is served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and reservations should be made two months in advance.
Freshly energized from your meal, you should now be ready, willing and able to tackle New York's famous shopping districts in search of some fine attire. Call ahead to the Gucci, Versace, Bulgari, and Cartier stores on Fifth Avenue to ensure that each boutique will have an attendant waiting to provide you with an exclusive and personal shopping experience. If you really cherish your elbow room, you can arrange for certain stores to shut down to the public so you can drop thousands of dollars on fine wear in private.
Return to your hotel to drop off your new wardrobe, jewelry and any other luxury items you put on your platinum card, then get set for your first night out.
hoop dreams
Luckily for you, Shaq and the Suns are in town visiting the Knicks. $330 a pop will fetch you courtside seats, placing you as close to the action as possible.Don't want to hear Spike Lee screaming at his beloved Knickerbockers? A luxury suite -- with a capacity of 16 -- will cost you between $8,000 and $10,000 depending on the visiting team. Here you'll enjoy a full bar, plush seating, a selection of fine food and custom menus, and a full-time attendant who will tend to your every need.
Once the game at Madison Square Garden is done, it's time to make good on your reservation for a late-night dinner at Masa, home to New York's finest sushi and some of the priciest meals in town. Located in the Time Warner Center at 10 Columbus Center, this elegant establishment offers only 26 seats, so you'll have to book yours a few weeks in advance.
You won't be ordering off a menu, but will dine according to Chef Takayama's whims (which usually involve snow crab and white-truffle tempura). Your bill will be in the range of $600 to $1,000 -- a small price for an incredible dining experience.
A true baller never lets the night end at dinner, so it's time for you to stroll into one of New York's elite clubs. Choose between Bungalow 8 in West Chelsea and Lotus, a supper
club on West 14th Street. Both clubs are upscale and popular with celebrities, so be prepared to flash your cash and break out the smooth talk in the V.I.P. section.Bottles are expensive at both venues (a Veuve Clicquot Balthazar runs $3,000 before the automatic 20% gratuity), so come prepared.
Price tag for day one: From $25,000 to $40,000.
Day 2: Fine country living
To begin your second day in the city, head for brunch at Le Parker Meridien, a hotel just south of Central Park. The Meridien is home to Norma's, an elegant restaurant where you can grab a fine meal of blueberry pancakes (a classic choice), banana-macadamia nut flapjacks, foie gras French toast, or even a $1,000 plate of a Sevruga caviar-based frittata. While breakfasting like a champ, you can go over your plans for the day, which actually involve leaving the city.escape to the hamptons
New York is the city that never sleeps, and as such it can be a hectic place to live in. Accordingly, many of its inhabitants feel the need to escape, and the well-heeled among them escape to the Hamptons. Located on the eastern tip of Long Island and dotted with amazing beachside mansions, the hamlets here are home to many a celebrity.Those who don't actually live in the Hamptons but wish to experience the lavishness of the area can easily rent out a sprawling home for a night, a weekend or longer.
This is exactly what you will do on day two: Gather a big crew of your friends and peruse the Hamptons rentals listings to choose a prime house for the night. Note that many residences are only available for rent based on a three-night minimum.
A typical six-bedroom, five-bathroom opulent home in the Hamptons can be had for a summer weekend for $5,500. Owners are well aware of the scale of amenities that is expected in exchange for such an exorbitant fee, so a home like this will most probably boast richly furnished living and lounging areas, the best in home entertainment equipment, at least one private pool, and enough land to accommodate dozens of friends over for an outdoor party.
You won't be the only one heading to the Hamptons during the weekend, so avoid the traffic by taking a helicopter down to the rich community. A one-way 'copter ride from Manhattan will cost you about $500.
Once you've settled into your rented house, cooked up a barbecue lunch and spent some time relaxing outdoors, it'll be time to get ready for the night's events. Tonight is when you'll really go over the top.
party on the water
How can you top a luxury home in the Hamptons? One-up your neighbors by renting a yacht and cruising the New York waters all night with your homeboys. Depending on the size of your party, the scale of the yacht (which can easily range from 70 to 130 feet) and the amenities provided, you'll be looking at between $2,200 and $10,000 for a night's worth of fun.The charter company will typically provide a fine dinner for you and your guests, so you needn't worry about going hungry. No doubt your night on the water will be one to remember.
Price tag for day two: Approximately $16,000.
Day 3: A dash of refined culture
Back in Manhattan after a relaxing day in the Hamptons, it's time to see the cultural side of New York. Indulge in the privilege of attending museums, plays and other stimulating activities in a highly personal way.After having breakfast in bed, head out to Fifth Avenue's Museum Mile for some special treatment at two of America's finest collection houses. Custom tours of Guggenheim's fantastic modernist art collection are offered at a cost of $200 per head.
Private tours of the Metropolitan Museum of Art -- considered one of New York's premier attractions -- are also available, but the prices vary greatly. The minimum fee for an adult group of $255 will increase if you include a stop at the Met's restaurant for lunch or elect to view the majority of the museum's 6,500 objects rather than just one exhibit.
get modern for lunch
If you opt to eat lunch outside of the Met, try The Modern, a chic restaurant located in the Museum of Modern Art that offers fine French/American fusion fare. Try their roasted Maine lobster in a “folly of herbs” with salsify and green apple for $45. Taking appetizers and drinks for two into account, expect to flirt with at least a $150 mark for lunch here.Once you've had your fill, stroll down Madison Avenue or drive to Soho and West Chelsea to browse through art galleries, looking for the perfect piece for your penthouse back home. Inspired by your visits to New York's Museums, it's time to find a masterpiece for your own exhibition. You can expect to drop anywhere from $1,000 to well over $10,000 in Von Lintel or The Annex, two popular Chelsea galleries.
To continue the cultural tour, head off to a late-afternoon Broadway show. Landing orchestra seats at one of the season's hot shows will cost a minimum of $100 per person. Be sure to buy your tickets weeks (or even months) in advance to secure the best view possible.
Once the crowd lets out at the theater, it's time to dine. For your final formal dinner, there is no other choice but to visit Alain Ducasse and Christian Delouvrier's Essex House at 155 West 58th Street. Note, though, that if you started your trip on a Friday, Essex will be closed (the chefs here don't work on Sundays).
The $235, seven-course tasting menu here brings a symphony of flavors that will undoubtedly make for one of your most memorable dining experiences ever. This meal might include wild Alaskan salmon, creamy pumpkin soup and carpaccio of blue fin tuna. Either way, you'll certainly be considered a big spender once you arrive at this extravagant spot.
join the library
Wrap up your day of exclusive touring by renting out a private club for you and your crew: the trendy Accompanied Library in the National Arts Club, located at 15 Gramercy Park South. Though the decor evokes the memory of a rich grandfather's low-lit living room, the people who gather at this unique spot are a lot younger than you would think.Still, the scene is very subdued and classy, often filled with literary types looking to relax with a nice cognac. To have the Library's great room, conference room and bar to yourself for the evening commands a fee of $5,000.
If you're interested in a more raucous final night out, try Marquee, at 289 10th Avenue. Here you'll catch the likes of Gisele Bundchen and Karolina Kurkova dancing the night away. So, if you play the cards right (including your credit card) who knows who you will end up with when the night's over.
Of course, Marquee being a celebrity hotspot, you'll need to call ahead or flash a whole lot of green just to enter this club.
Price tag for day three: Over $16,000 (if you bought a high-end piece of artwork).
see green in new york city
New York has lots to offer for folks from all walks of life, but if you have the cash, you can see a side of the Big Apple that few get to even peek at. Over the course of a three-day stop in New York City, the wealthy can cram in more luxury than most of us will experience in a lifetime. If you have the coin in the bank, a vacation of pampering, first-class treatment and luxury awaits.Total price tag: Approximately $72,000
tips for the trip
Resources:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/north_america/new_york_city/
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/newyorkcity/
http://travel.discovery.com/fansites/worldsbest/xpensivesuite/xpensivesuite.html
http://www.nba.com/knicks/tickets/arena.html#seatingchart
http://www.newyorkmetro.com/
http://www.lotusnewyork.com/
http://www.guggenheim.org/
http://www.metmuseum.org/
http://www.fourseasons.com/newyorkfs/index.html
New York City Travel Guide
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