I’ve been taking business daytrips to New York City for years. Not having a permanent office offers challenges when you need a place to catch up on emails, write a proposal or charge your devices.

Assuming you are dressed professionally, most hotel lobbies are a no-brainer. I like the Barclay Intercontinental at 111 E. 48th St. There are a lot of electrical outlets and comfy wing chairs. The Royalton at 44 W. 44th is quiet, has a cafe and a warming fireplace. My friends Constance Bassett and David Cann from Moorland Studios in Stockton, N.J., created the beautiful metal fireplace, and it’s worth checking out just for that.

A public place filled with sunshine, even in the dead of winter, can be found at the Bank of American Tower at One Bryant Park at 43rd and Avenue of the Americas. It is good place to rest; and although it doesn’t have restrooms, it’s located next to a Starbucks, which provides plenty of tables and chairs. In the winter afternoons there are old men playing chess who will move to Bryant Park across the street when it gets warmer.   

If you are looking for charging stations, there is an outdoor pocket park behind the MetLife Building at 1095 Avenue of the Americas between 42nd and 45th. There are free Verizon charging stations, plugs included. The stations are outside, so it’s not the best choice if it’s cold or raining.

Penn Station has free charging stations with wires included in the NJ Transit waiting area.

The best thing I found in Manhattan is the LinkNYC, the new communication network that offers free WiFi, free domestic phone calls, free USB charging, 911 calls, maps and information. The freestanding kiosks are replacing the 7,500 pay phones in New York, and it is all free, paid for by advertising.

— Kimberly LaGueux, director of sales