USA & Mexico Luxury Holidays

New York is a simply unmatched short break destination with its exhilarating mix of world famous sights and cutting edge culture. Wander the bohemian neighbourhoods of SoHo and Greenwich Village or enjoy a hit show on Broadway. Home to Hollywood itself, the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles is both vibrant and glamorous. Visit downtown to discover a lively cultural scene, or Beverly on Westside to indulge in the swankiest shops and restaurants. A heady mix of sandy beaches, swaying palms and a multitude of attractions, Florida is sure to capture the imagination of all the family. Head for the excitement of Orlando with its world-famous theme parks or Palm Beach, the epitome of East Coast refinement, where Gatsby-era architecture rubs shoulders with glitzy designer shopping. Hawaii, the world's most isolated archipelago, sits over two thousand miles from the United States, yet is indisputably American, despite the tropical South Seas ambience. Romantic sandy coves, rain forests and tropical gardens are all part of Maui's beauty and magic. Colourful and full of contrast, Mexico offers two million square miles of pure fascination and encompasses vibrant desert landscapes, picturesque colonial pueblos, snow-capped volcanoes, steaming jungle and some of the most magical beaches in the world.

New York Times Square - A must see stop for any visitor. A jungle of restaurants, hotels, souvenir shops and theatres showing the latest Broadway shows. Central Park - Featuring its own zoo, 21 themed playgrounds, a marionette theatre, a carousel, a model boat pond and a large lake. Statue of Liberty - Reached by ferry to Liberty Island. Empire State Building - One of the world’s most famous skyscrapers with magnificent views from the observation deck. Rockefeller Centre - The Top of the Rock observation deck rivals the Empire State Building for views. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) - This Manhattan gallery contains the world’s finest collection of 20th century art. Guggenheim Museum - An important contemporary gallery. 5th Avenue - One of New York’s premier shopping streets and a traditional route for many celebratory parades. Yankee Stadium - Get an insiders glance at the history of the Bronx Bombers on a tour of this infamous baseball stadium. Brooklyn Botanic Garden - Features over 12,000 plant varieties on 52 acres, a renowned bonsai museum and a Japanese garden. Little Italy - Walk beneath fire escapes beside cobblestone streets and be tempted by the sights, sounds and smells of Italian cuisine and culture. Los Angeles Universal Studios - A full day of entertainment including park rides, shows, a working movie studio, shops, restaurants and cinemas. Hollywood - See the Walk of Fame and Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Rodeo Drive - Expensive boutiques and designer labels aplenty. Beverly Hills - A high end shopping paradise and home of the rich and famous. Venice Beach - Well known for its artists, street performers and unique atmosphere. Sunset Boulevard - This icon of Hollywood celebrity culture is probably best known for Sunset Strip, the centre of nightlife in LA. J. Paul Getty Museum - For spectacular views of the LA basin, the Pacific Ocean and the beautiful buildings and rose gardens, not to mention the extensive art collection. Santa Catalina Island - Retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city just off the coast of LA. The Grammy Museum - Located in downtown LA, a real must for music lovers. Florida Discovery Cove, Orlando - Not a traditional theme park, Discovery Cove is a recreation of a Caribbean Island, where guests have the once-in-a-lifetime experience of swimming with the resident bottlenose dolphins. Kennedy Space Centre - Located just east of Orlando, this family-friendly space complex offers guests an opportunity to experience the past, present and future of space exploration. Universal Islands of Adventure - Universal's newest theme park has cranked up the dare-factor with more wild 'Thrill Rides'. Perfect for teens, 'tweens' and the young at heart. Worth Avenue, Palm Beach - Palm Beach County boasts world-renowned shopping, including the elegant boutiques, jewellery stores and art galleries of Worth Avenue. Hawaii Kilauea Volcano - One of the most active volcanoes on the world. Molokini - Offering the clearest waters in the Pacific teeming with beautiful fish, perfect for snorkelling. Waimea Canyon - On Kauai, known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. Pearl Harbour, Oahu - Visit the USS Arizona memorial. Haleakala Crater - Located in Maui’s Haleakala National Park. Views from the island’s highest point are spectacular at sunrise. Hulopoe Bay, Lanai - Spot spinner dolphins. Keahiakawelo - The Garden of the Gods on Lanai. Visit the barren lunar landscape and rock towers. Waikiki Beach, Oahu - An excellent place to learn to surf. Golf - More than 80 courses on 6 idyllic islands, each with a backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. Whale Watching - Each winter watch the humpback whales frolic in the warm Hawaiian waters. Mexico Mexico City - Brimming with museums and tributes to Mexico’s famous painters Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Chichen Itza - An archaeological site where the grandeur of Mayan culture can be appreciated. Teotihuacan - Aztec pyramids just outside Mexico City. Baja California coast - Witness the annual whale migration from January to March. The world’s second largest reef - Located off the Riviera Maya coast. There are an array of water sports and breathtaking adventures including scuba diving to enjoy. Temazcal - A traditional Mayan experience promoting spiritual and physical wellbeing, similar to a North American Indian sweat lodge. Golf on the Riviera Maya and Los Cabos - Many private and public courses available. Museums - Considered some of the best in Latin America.

New York Jan | Chinese New Year Spectacular - Held at Radio City Music Hall Mar | Saint Patrick’s Day Parade - 5th Avenue hosts the largest street parade in the city Mar - Apr | Easter Parade - This traditional parade dates back to the civil war period and features colourful costumes and Easter bonnets Jun | New York City Pride - Around 250,000 marchers follow the lavender strip down 5th Avenue Jul | Macy’s Fourth of July Firework Spectacular Sep | Brooklyn Carnival - An all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza, the Brooklyn carnival is North America’s largest parade Oct | Columbus Day Parade - Great costumes, plenty of food and lots of music make this the world’s largest celebration of Italian-American heritage Dec | Rockefeller Centre Tree Lighting - A ceremony marking the start of the Christmas season Dec | Times Square New Year’s Eve celebrations - Wrap up warm and join the New Year celebrations, culminating in the drop of the crystal ball at midnight Los Angeles The Greater Los Angeles Area has a wealth of annual festivals representing different ethnic and cultural groups. Major sporting events, music and arts festivals take place throughout the year. Florida Nov | Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival Dec | Art Basel, Miami - International Art Fair Feb | Miami International Boatshow Feb | Miami Film Festival Mar/Apr | Sony Ericsson Open, Miami - Tennis tournament May | 2008 Air and Sea Show - World class military and civilian air performances, water activities and entertainment Oct | Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show - The largest boat show in the world Hawaii Mar | Kona Stampede Rodeo, The Big Island - Action packed cowboy fun for all the family every year Jun | Annual Waikii Music Festival, Oahu - Various performances and music from all over the world Jul-Aug | Honolulu Family Festival, Oahu - Featuring live entertainment and local artistes Aug | BayFest, Oahu - The island’s largest music festival, with carnival rides and games Aug | Family Performing Arts Cultural Festival - A month long event featuring different aspects of the Hawaiian culture Aug | Made in Hawaii Festival, Oahu - Celebrating all things Hawaiian Sep | Aloha Festivals - On various islands Sep| Okinawan Festival, Oahu - One of Hawaii’s most popular cultural events celebrating Okinawan food, history, music and dance Oct | Maui Country Fair - An authentic fair including much live music, dancing, entertainment and food Nov | World Invitational Hula Festival, Waikiki, Oahu Mexico Jan | Three Kings’ Day - Recalls the arrival of the three wise men to Bethlehem. A day of traditional gift giving for children Feb | Candlemas Day - Candlelit processions and dancing to mark the end of Christmas Feb | Carnival - Celebrations begin five days before Ash Wednesday and are marked by parades, parties and dancing in the streets Mar | Holy Week - Begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday and includes re-enactments of the events leading to Christ’s crucifixion Sep | Independence Day - Mexico celebrates its independence from Spain in 1810 Nov | Day of the Dead - Commemorates departed loved ones Dec | Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe - Millions of pilgrims converge on the Mexico City Basilica of the patron saint to pay tribute

New York Hot corned beef on rye - From a New York deli. Bagels - Buy one right out of the oven from one of the city’s bakeries. Steak - From a juicy porterhouse to a New York steak strip. ‘Street food’ - From hot dogs and pretzels to roasted chestnuts, peanuts and burritos. Los Angeles California Black Bottom Pie - A traditional pie made with creamy chocolate and airy rum layers. Fish chowder - Made with fresh catch from the fishermen of Bodega Bay. Florida Florida oranges - Famous, as are its grapefruits, limes and key limes which are used to make the famed Key Lime Pie. Stone Crab - Containing sweet meat, the claws are steamed or boiled, cracked and chilled. Try a Florida Punch - With dark rum, cognac, grapefruit juice and orange juice. Hawaii Aloha shirt - A brightly coloured shirt. Muumuu - A long cotton dress that hangs loosely from the shoulder. Lomi Lomi Salmon - Salted salmon mixed with tomatoes, onions and pepper. Kalua Pig - Pork wrapped in banana leaves and steamed inside an imu (ground boiler). Pipi Kaula - Hawaiian style beef jerky. Mahi Mahi - Or ‘dolphin fish’. Served as steak, in a sandwich or in almost raw thin strips. Mexico Tequila, Mezcal and Pulque - All produced from the agave plant. Añejo (aged) is the best. Fiery salsas and mole sauces - Used to accompany many traditional Mexican dishes. Pottery - Including collectible blue and white Talavera tiles and ceramics. Silver - Found throughout the country. Textiles - Including shawls and hand-crafted straw hats.

CLIMATE New York The most temperate months are from September to November, May and June. Winters can be very cold with snow, summers hot and humid. Los Angeles Summers are hot, while the winter months are mild with wetter weather. Florida Consistently warm, semi-tropical climate. Summers are very hot and often humid with showers most likely. Winter is the prime season, although the summer months are a lot warmer morning and night with longer daytime hours. Hawaii Year-round the Hawaiian Islands enjoy the finest climate in the world. Rain showers are usually light and infrequent, though heavy rainfall or tropical storms can occur from time to time. There are only moderate changes in the year round temperature which averages 25°C-30°C. Mexico Enjoyable year-round, but October to May is generally the most pleasant time to visit. Humidity is at its highest from July to September, with occasional showers more likely to occur on the Gulf Coast. CAPITAL USA - Washington DC Hawaii - Honolulu Mexico - Mexico City TIME DIFFERENCE New York - GMT -5 hours in winter / GMT -4 hours in summer Los Angeles - GMT -8 hours (GMT -7 hours from first Sunday in April to Saturday before last Sunday in October) Florida - GMT -5 hours in winter / GMT -4 hours in summer Hawaii - GMT - 10 hrs. Daylight Saving Time is not observed Mexico - GMT -6 hours (-7 in Los Cabos) CURRENCY New York/ Los Angeles/Florida/Hawaii - US Dollar Mexico - Mexican Peso FLYING TIME New York - 7 hours 30 mins Los Angeles - 11 hours 10 mins Florida - MIAMI: 9 hours 30 mins / ORLANDO: 9 hours 10 mins Hawaii - 17 - 19 hours, including stopover, dependent on route taken Mexico - 11 hours 15 minutes to Mexico City, with onward flights of 1 hour 25 mins to 2 hours

USA & Mexico Luxury Holiday Accommodation

• Rosewood Mayakoba
• The Ritz-Carlton, Orlando
• The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach
• The Peninsula Beverly Hills
• Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
• The Ritz-Carlton, Central Park
• Hayman Island

USA & Mexico Luxury Holiday Special Offers