Live it up in New York

AFTER six years living in New York City, ex-pat Geoffrey Cavey has worked out just what price one a night of Sex and the City living costs.

AFTER six years living in New York City, ex-pat Geoffrey Cavey has worked out just what price one a night of Sex and the City living costs.

Name: Geoffrey Cavey

Occupation: Investment banker

Time in town: Six years

Must see: Mix with New York's young social elite while watching the city's amazing skyline views from any of the rooftop bars around town, but be wary of the prices. I recommend 230 Fifth, where nearly every well-known NYC skyscraper is staring down at you; the Roof Garden Cafe at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Plunge at the Gansevoort Hotel, 15 storeys above the meatpacking district, and full of models.

Chic eats: N on 33 Crosby St, between Broome and Grand streets. This is my first-date bar and never fails to impress. The entrance is inconspicuous but it opens up into a wonderful eclectic environment.

Try to stay at: Gansevoort Hotel. It's in the heart of the trendy meat-packing district so you're surrounded by cool bars, restaurants and a good-looking crowd. Go up to the rooftop bar, swim in the outdoor pool and treat yourself to sushi at Ono before wandering into the many bars and clubs in the area to party the night away.

Getting around: Yellow cabs are plentiful, reasonably priced and an easy way to get about. Manhattan isn't a big island so it's easy to get around on foot. If you want to travel like a New Yorker, hit the subway. It's cheap and gets you all over the city.

Don't spend money on: A horse-drawn carriage ride around Central Park. It's overpriced and hardly romantic spending 30 minutes looking at (and smelling) a horse's rear end.

Splash out on: Nothing is cheap in New York so you'll be splashing out every time you open your wallet. What price can one put on a night of Sex and the City living? About $395.

Look like a local: Tourists are always looking up and blocking the sidewalks.

Wish I had known: That the simplest way to work out how much to tip a waiter was to double the New York state tax.

YOUR SAY: What's your bite of the Big Apple?