Virgin claims to be the leader when it comes to New York breaks. It is true they have a big selection of downtown accommodation to choose from, but their prices are not always the best. I shopped around this spring for a week end break. United got me a better deal than Virgin. The city break was much as expected - plenty of variety. My tip though, do't go there in July or August. It stifling!  

Everyone who visits Paris for the first time probably has the same list of major attractions to hit: The Louvre, Notre Dame, The Eiffel Tower, etc. In the last few years the Plage de Paris has taken over top billing. Mediterranean style beaches have appeared on the banks of the Seine, where one can laze on the beach, sunbathe, kids can play as if on the Cote d Azur. Hotels.com is listing loads of last minute city hotel offers for Paris. August is the month when Parisians are out of town...so you have a lot more easy to explore,  even cross the busy streets. 

The very best time to visit Rome is when you actually can get around the city. Would someone please tell me when that is? I have visited Rome many timers over the past years and have yet to get around without very crowded pavements by [mostly] tourists from the Far East. Very frustrating, but the pull of the city is probably too great to resists a future visit. 

This year the weather pattern all over Europe has been simply too extreme. Temperatures in Vienna exceeded 44C in early August. Things are much better now. Good time to visit to a typicalViennese institution ; one of the the many  "Heuriger " is in Grinzing. I recommend you try this informal home from home very inexpensive eating with local delicacies. Anyone can tell you how to get there by tram, bus or by car.