Go Slow: A Wellness Tour of New York

Just off shopping-heaven Fifth Avenue, “The Palace” feels like a particularly palatial apartment building: discreet and polished, a place to put your feet up. Here, you can spend lazy mornings reading the papers at historic, wood-paneled brunch spot Villard and sip coffee in the dappled light of its regal courtyard in the summer. There are two buildings – the Towers and the Palace – with chic apartment-style rooms in the former, expensively furnished crashpads in the latter and squishy sofas in both that entice you to dial down the pace. Our tip? In the Palace, try to bag a view of the ornate, Gothic Revival turrets of St. Patrick’s Cathedral next door, to achieve a true state of near-religious serenity. Staff are incredibly switched on and able to make magic happen: the Towers’ front desk, in particular, feels like having a top-notch personal assistant, taking all the stress out of your city break, so you can focus on seeing New York in style.

The fuzzy feeling of transatlantic jet-lag that descends when crossing east to west is infamous and real. Luckily, there’s an NYC trend for spa treatments specifically designed to ease the effects of long-haul travel. This 50-minute massage will knead out plane-induced knots and settle suitcase-dragging scores, leaving you refreshed and ready to explore. Oh, and there’s a glass of champagne thrown in to toast your arrival to the city. Cheers.

One way to connect with fellow travelers and escape the urban crush is on a cycling tour – this one takes you across the iconic George Washington Bridge to the town of Nyack in upstate New York, along the left bank of the Hudson River. As well as experiencing a New York State of mind, you’ll cycle the Palisades Interstate Park – where New Yorkers come to hike, bike and fish – and tuck into an organic picnic in the tranquil, forested Tallman Mountain State Park.

You may know Central Park as the place where Manhattanites grab a breather during their work day. But did you know it has the power to inspire? Indeed, the park was created to stimulate the mind and designed to include diverse landscapes and undulating paths to help New Yorkers escape Manhattan’s “grid,” with quirky public art, architectural curiosities and monuments to stumble upon, too. All of which you’ll discover on this tour with a passionate local guide, who’ll introduce you to the concept of “creative visualization,” and help you tap into its mind-calming magic.