Though I seldom indulge in superlatives, I do believe one would be hard-put to find a better rental in central Manhattan.

From my initial contact with Elizabeth concerning availability until departure, there was not one single hitch. On arrival, Fuji, her assistant, was waiting on the curb to assist us with our luggage, then he showed us round the apartment in order to make sure we would know how to make it our home during our stay. He saw to it that bed linens were changed and fresh towels supplied weekly, but at our convenience, always prioritizing our time-table, not his. The day we left, he came round to assist us, once again, with our bags.

The apartment, a true gem, more than met our expectations: it is spacious, comfortable, quiet, spotlessly clean, tastefully decorated. The corridors had just been refurbished. In fact, the 5-star hotel in which it is located is a New York City landmark, emanating stylish, discreet luxury.

The apartment’s proximity to numerous bus and subway lines is a major asset. Uptown, downtown, crosstown, wherever one needs to go by public transport, a handy solution is there. Central Park is just across the street, MOMA, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall are a short walk away, as are fine restaurants, such as Per Se and Jean-Georges. Less wallet-damaging ones, however, are ubiquitous. Whole Foods, located in the Time Warner Center, along with numerous other shops, is nearby.

One last confidence: we enjoyed our stay in Elizabeth’s apartment so much we are returning this year.