Vacation Rentals & Villas

Manhattan means “hilly island” or possibly “place of intoxication”, although we would certainly prefer the latter, because that's the meaning which seems so apt, once you have experienced it. Manhattan, a name synonymous with the city of New York, Manhattan – its beauty and picturesque architecture made popular, not only through Hollywood, but also through those numerous travel shows. A place every tourist invariably visits when on a trip to New York.

Situated on the banks of the Hudson, it's one of the 5 boroughs that make up the city of New York; it's an island with a population of about 1.5 million, a city within a city one might add, and with a cityscape through which we have come to identify New York over the years. Whether you are an American not living in New York, or a citizen of another country, it's absolutely impossible that you haven't heard of Manhattan; let's say a British citizen might not have heard of Cambridge or a person from China might have not heard of Shanghai, but you can be sure they have heard of Manhattan. Because Manhattan isn't just a place it's a lifestyle, and though not politically correct, one might even say it's the tobacco to the cigarette that is New York, totally addictive.

Manhattan might even place its claim to the financial, cultural and possibly the architectural capital of the world. Although one might dispute the veracity of these claims, examples like Wall Street for the financial, Empire State building for the architectural and Broadway or Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts for the cultural, might seal the lips of the harshest critics. There might be places under the sun which might be better in one thing or the other, but to find so many huddled together is absolutely impossible. And let us not forget the oasis that is Central Park, situated in the heart of Manhattan, it is spread over 834 acres, which should give you an idea of its enormity. With several artificial lakes, extensive walking tracks, two ice-skating rinks, a wildlife sanctuary, and grassy areas used for myriad sporting pursuits, as well as playgrounds for children, the park is a popular oasis for migrating birds, and thus is popular with bird watchers. It's a patch of green that helps keep in check the pollution, which is the bi-product of development.

As they say, ‘save best for the last', Manhattan presents Times Square, by night, with the neon signs all lit up, it's a sight that can only be experienced and not described, it's one of the busiest intersections in Manhattan, and has been made legendary through cinema as much as it has through its new year celebrations. Take a Manhattan vacation and you might just end up feeling like a citizen of the world.