These colorful, compact guidebooks from Thomas Cook Publishing are essential for planning the perfect trip. All of the guides are divided into five sections -- Background, First Steps, What to See, Getting away from it all, and Directory -- and each section is color coded for ease of reference.

Features include:
-- Clear maps and destination facts.
-- Vacation hints and tips.
-- A-Z of essential information.
-- Walks and tours with places off the beaten track.
-- Advice on shopping, eating out, sports, and nightlife.

Full details, including maps, of Manhattan (uptown to downtown), the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Queens, and Staten Island. A listing of accommodations, and places to eat serving mouth-watering cuisines of the world. Special pages focus on the unique flavor of America's most vibrant city: Wall Street, Manhattan architecture, Broadway and off-Broadway, West Side Story, spotting life, and fast food.