It is good to see the pink segment of the travel market being recognised by such an established travel company, and this series is long overdue.

It has six titles (the others being Amsterdam, London, Miami, Paris and San Francisco) and it is claimed to be the first totally gay travel series.

What that means, of course, is that a lot of the stuff in this guide - like the what to see sections - are just like any straight guide. The top sights, for instance, include the Empire State Building, Grand Central Station and Central Park, with the added detail that gay men sunbathe at Sheep's Meadow.

If you want to live out your Village People fantasies, Simon Gage, former editor of Boyz, advises that the Vanderbilt YMCA is relatively upmarket, the West Side one gayer and the McBurney handier. But elsewhere it is not always clear whether the recommended hotel is positively gay or just gay friendly.

His section on top clubs and bars will be possibly the most thumbed, although Gage points out that former Mayor Giuliani's "cleaning up" of town has put paid to some of the huge dance clubs and what was once the wildest nightlife in the world has been brought to its knees (excuse the pun). As things change so fast, Gage recommends checking in HX or Next, two of the free gay mags in town.

Chelsea is the undisputed Boyztown NYC - "somewhere to cruise, have lunch, buy some gay nonsense and maybe go to the gym". But the guide gives it only one page and a map, which looks a bit mean.

However, all the entries- shops, clubs, hotels - are given full addresses, times, travel directions and prices where applicable.