IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE Indulge in rest, relaxation and retail therapy on a Yuletide Big Apple break

Revel in wintertime shopping, dining and skating in New York

BEST FOR ROMANCE THE REDBURY

A cosy, welcoming sanctuary in Manhattan’s bustling NoMad neighbourhood, the Redbury is the perfect place to shelter from New York’s snow flurries. Velvet drapes and crimson lamps adorn the lobby, and the 259 recently renovated guestrooms have interiors that recall the allure of Tin Pan Alley, the legendary home of rock and pop music that lies just a few streets away. The hotel also serves some of the best Italian dining in town: enjoy a thin-crust Macellaio (made with pork cheeks, mozzarella and Grana Padano) at the Marta pizzeria; robust espressos at Caffè Marchio; or visit Vini e Fritti for cocktails and antipasti. lucy halfhead

The Redbury, from about £150 a room a night (www.the redbury.com).

BEST FOR GLAMOUR DREAM DOWNTOWN

Housed in the former annex of the National Maritime Union of America, Dream Downtown is a hip 12-storey hotel, complete with a glass-bottomed pool deck where guests can take a dip while DJs spin tunes, and a penthouse bar, PH-D, which offers a magnificent panorama of the Hudson River. Elsewhere there’s an on-site hair salon and a famously well-connected concierge should you wish to book into any of the fashionable restaurants in the nearby Meatpacking District and Chelsea. At the end of the day, kick off your dancing shoes in your spacious room, with large porthole windows and, for some, Juliet balconies with magical skyline views. lh

Dream Downtown, from about £250 a room a night (www.dream hotels.com).