New York, New York

From the Upper West Side to Times Square to Battery Park, you’ll find yourself caught up in the bustling energy of the world’s greatest city.

Do: Watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace or cruise down the Thames. Take in a play at Shakespeare’s original theater, The Globe. Enjoy a rich museum experience at the Tate, Victoria and Albert, and The British Museum. Or, spend the day shopping at the world-famous Harrods. No trip is complete without seeing Big Ben.

Eat: See Tom Taraci’s list of Essential NYC Restaurants.

Stay: Hot spots include the Peninsula New York, located in mid-town Manhattan; The Grammercy, Ian Schraeger’s hotel, which offers a hip, upscale environment; and The Mercer Hotel, which lies in the middle of shopping and restaurant crazy, trendy Soho.

London, England

Whether laughing it up at a local pub or experiencing high society at afternoon tea, this city’s charm offers a pleasant travel experience.

Do: Take a boat trip to the Statue of Liberty and make a stop at Ellis Island to see where the first immigrants came to America. Visit the Empire State Building, stroll through Central Park and visit the Metropolitan Museum and MoMA. Shop along 5th Avenue for designer goods or get your fashion fix in the hip Soho district.

Eat: For a good glimpse into the contemporary dining scene visit Notting Grill in Notting Hill; Les Trois Garcons in trendy Shoreditch; the stunning China Tang in the Dorchester Hotel.

Stay: Hot spots include The Berkeley, Brown’s, The Dorchester which is known for its elegance and, of course, The Ritz, with its own private casino.

Rome, Italy

Rome, the Eternal City, is truly one of the most unforgettable and captivating experiences in the world.

Do: Visit the Coliseum, the Forum and Pantheon. Also stop for an espresso on the Spanish Steps and shop at the Corso Como. Make like Mastroianni and take a swim in the Trevi Fountain or at least toss in a coin. Be sure to visit the Vatican, view Michelangelo’s famous Pieta and his ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Go underneath St. Peter’s Basilica and lose yourself amongst the masterpieces and relics of saints.

Eat: Hot eateries include Il Convivio Troiani, the Troiani brothers’ reinvention of Italian cuisine; La Piazzetta, a terrific trattoria on a back street

Stay: Hotel de Russie mixes the classic and the new, with an outdoor bar scene and restaurant, and The Hassler is perhaps the grandest dame in Rome with the city’s most famous rooftop restaurant.

Shanghai, China

Shanghai, China is one of the largest urban spaces in the world and is set on the Yangtze and Huangpu rivers.

Do: Visit the Bund district and view the 19th century European-style buildings and wharves. Take a cruise on the river and visit the quaint towns along the way.

Shop on Nanjing Road and explore the nightlife in the Xintiandi district.

Eat: Hamilton House on Fuzhou Road serves the best steak in Shanghai. Franck, with Edith Piaf’s voice wafting overhead, is an homage to all things French. Pure is serious sushi from talented chef Max Levy.

Stay: The Urbn, big with the fashionable artsy crowd, has 26 Zen-like rooms and the hot restaurant Roomtwentyeight. The Hyatt Regency, Four Seasons, JW Marriott and the Westin are all great options as well.