New York sightseeing

kingofvillan

In relation to my previous thread would it be necessary to book many of these tours and shows and what not in advance of me going or is it quite easy to simply get your tickets over there?

Eoin

I was over there earlier on in the year, and found most things could either be booked at the tourist office (I think it was on 8th Avenue), or paid for on the spot. Having said that, I did not do any of the helicopter rides etc, which may require an earlier booking, but I doubt it.

They have a few competing operators, so there are always tickets going for most of the sight seeing things (boat trips etc).

Having said that, it probably wasn't peak time for tourism, so that could be why it was easier to get tickets. Also Broadway shows are hard enough to get tickets for, and they aren't cheap either. You may get a matinee show for less, but you will probably have to queue for a couple of hours. I have a few bookmarks I can post if you want.

kingofvillan

I welcome any helping hand because im real desparate to make this a great holiday cus idont go on many!:(

robbie1876

A quick word of warning: You don't exist in New York if you don't have a credit card. If you don't have one, get one.

As regards tours, I went on one of the boat tours and it was fantastic. We booked it from the hotel (on the credit card). I found the concierge in the hotel (The Pennsylvania Hotel) was exceptionally helpful when we were enquiring about things to do. However, it is pot luck with them, I wouldn't rely on it.

segadreamcast

If I'm on it, it's automatically a great holiday.

Eoin

Here are a couple of links - 10 minutes googling (is that a real word yet?) and you will find loads more.

The boat trip is cool, there are ones that go all the way around Manhattan, or if you are pressed for time there is one that goes from the West side down to the statue of Liberty and back. When I was there, you couldn't go up the statue, so we chose a boat trip that didn't stop anywhere to disembark...

The Empire state building is good and you pay at the door, but you need about 3 hours to do it, due to the huge queues.

http://www.thingstodo-newyork.com/brochure/content.jsp?FIELD=Must_See

http://www.newyork.com/attraction/attraction.html?cat=attraction

The city is so huge that you really do have to plan what you want to do - I think you could go there for a month, and not be bored. (you would however be quite broke).

If you head down to Grand Central station (a sight seeing event in itself), you will get loads of brochures on stuff to do.

And for the love of God, remember the tipping at bars!

Dr. Loon

Originally posted by robbie1876
A quick word of warning: You don't exist in New York if you don't have a credit card. If you don't have one, get one.

I didn't have a credit card either time I was there... and I did all the sightseeing - Circle Line, bus tour, Empire State etc... went to Phantom Of The Opera, and got drunk alot. All without a credit card.

Eoin

I didn't have a credit card either time I was there... and I did all the sightseeing - Circle Line, bus tour, Empire State etc... went to Phantom Of The Opera, and got drunk alot. All without a credit card.

absolutely - a credit card may be handy if you don't the cash upfront to bring with you, but cash is always good.

If you are buying stuff in the less mainstream shops (PC stuff, digital cameras etc) with cash you can negotiate to have the sales tax knocked off, as they won't put the cash through the books.

On the sales tax - remember that nothing is sold without the sales tax, and it is a pain in the ring when you go to the checkout to find you have to fork out nearly 10% extra (8.5 % to the best of my recollection)

kingofvillan, are there any particular things you have in mind to do?

midget lord

you dont need a credit card, dont mind that.

one thing to bear in mind is the tipping system that they have over there. You are expected to leave at least 10% in places where you are served, i.e restaurants (excluding fast foods) & bars. Every drink you buy you should leave something for the barperson and in return every 4th round is free, i.e buy 3, get one free.

FX Meister

Biggest lie I have ever heard. And in a lot of shops you have to show you passport or driving license with your credit card.

Originally posted by robbie1876
A quick word of warning: You don't exist in New York if you don't have a credit card. If you don't have one, get one.

As regards tours, I went on one of the boat tours and it was fantastic. We booked it from the hotel (on the credit card). I found the concierge in the hotel (The Pennsylvania Hotel) was exceptionally helpful when we were enquiring about things to do. However, it is pot luck with them, I wouldn't rely on it.

Eoin

Originally posted by FX Meister
Biggest lie I have ever heard. And in a lot of shops you have to show you passport or driving license with your credit card.

Which bit was the lie?

I remember carrying around my passport, but I don't remember showing it when I bought stuff with my card, I bought it out just for ID purposes in bars.

robbie1876

My bad, I didn't phrase it very well. For tours, shopping etc you don't need a credit card obviously. But I had a nightmare with the 2 hotels I stayed in the first time I was in New York because I did not have a credit card.

What I found in both of these hotels is that if you pay cash for the room, they don't register you on the system. I had people who were calling my hotel for business and were being told that I didn't exist. And of course, you couldn't use the hotel phones in the room without a credit card.

I transferred out of the first hotel and to the second, and the first thing they asked was 'where's your credit card'. When I said it wasn't with me, they basically said you can't confirm your reservation without it.

That was the sort of hassle I was getting the first time round. Second time I had the credit card and had no hassle.

zervi2003

I was there in March.

A credit card, as with travelling all over the world, is very handy, but by no means essential. I would not recommend carrying around lots of cash as with anywhere but you can use you normal ATM card there (there is a charge per transaction from your bank). Your card has to have the "Plus" on the back.

For all the attractions Statue Liberty (boat trip only as since sept 11 you cannot go up the statue), Empire state things like that you dont have to prebook them i.e you will get to see these thing but have to queue for tickets (like everyone else).

For things like Broadway etc you definately need to book in advance before you go (better prices and more seat choice!). There are websites where you can do this (use google/yahoo etc to search).

Please be aware that while hotels and concierges say "Stay with us, we can get you tickets to braodway etc...." they usually charge a bomb and add on extra to the ticket.

I went to Washington D.C for the day. Wasnt too expensive.
Booked tickets the day before in Penn Station. Then got the train the next morning at 8. The journey took 3 hours there. Went sight seeing, lunch, saw JFK grave, Lincoln memorial, White House, Capitol Hill, Pentagon etc. Took the train back at 7 in the evening. Was a nice day. Washington is quite small so you can walk most of it (no really I was supprised how small it was!).

I think Boston is about the same time to get there.

What to see in NY really? Let me see:
Main attractions:
Central Park,
Empire State,
Statue of Liberty (Ellis Island),
UN Building (this was really interesting),
Ground Zero (Hey, you know you are going to have a look!)
Shops of course,
5th Avenue,
Rockafeller Centre,
Times Square (you can have something to eat there) I was suprised how small that was too!,
Central Station

Those are the main ones i can think of.

Great city. Get a comfy pair of walking shoes!

midget lord

oh, oh, oh i forgot about that. you simply have to get a horse and carraige around central park.