Is the New York Pass worth it?
Sep 2nd, 2009, 06:38 AM
#1
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Is the New York Pass worth it?
Hi all
I am travelling with my mom, her 2 sisters, and my 2 cousins to NYC in October. We are trying to be selective with what we see, and we decided on probably 3 things for sure. A show, the Met, and Empire State building. We are going for only 4 days (counting travel time) so we are limited in what we see (especially since many of these people are there for the shopping!). I figured we'd join one of those hop-on hop-off buses. However, someone told me about the NY Pass (http://www.newyorkpass.com/benefits.asp) and I am wondering what people think - is it worth it in light of what I have said here.
Thoughts? Appreciate your help!
K
I am travelling with my mom, her 2 sisters, and my 2 cousins to NYC in October. We are trying to be selective with what we see, and we decided on probably 3 things for sure. A show, the Met, and Empire State building. We are going for only 4 days (counting travel time) so we are limited in what we see (especially since many of these people are there for the shopping!). I figured we'd join one of those hop-on hop-off buses. However, someone told me about the NY Pass (http://www.newyorkpass.com/benefits.asp) and I am wondering what people think - is it worth it in light of what I have said here.
Thoughts? Appreciate your help!
K
Sep 2nd, 2009, 08:23 AM
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Whether a a pass is "worth it" is very easy to determine.
1) list the attractions you would go to, for which the pass will grant you entry.
2) add up the admission prices for these attractions.
3) if the total of (2) is more than the cost of the pass, then the pass is "worth it." If the cost is about the same, you may decide to buy it anyway in order to save waiting time.
You shold have no problem doing the above steps on your own, and you'll get the best answer in a matter of minutes.
1) list the attractions you would go to, for which the pass will grant you entry.
2) add up the admission prices for these attractions.
3) if the total of (2) is more than the cost of the pass, then the pass is "worth it." If the cost is about the same, you may decide to buy it anyway in order to save waiting time.
You shold have no problem doing the above steps on your own, and you'll get the best answer in a matter of minutes.
Sep 2nd, 2009, 08:28 AM
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Unless you plan to see several other attractions included in the pass, then the simple answer is no. It's not worth it for you for this trip.
Just a helpful tip: Please please please avoid the Empire State Building. With only 4 days in town, you will end up spending about 4 hours (minimum) on this little sightseeing excursion and get a pretty bad experience to boot. Go to Top of the Rock. Minimum waiting time, better views, and you can basically go whenever you want and have a nice time.
You don't have to listen to me, but I've told people many times that the ESB is just not a worthwhile experience anymore. Sadly, it's just a tourist trip. You can do TOTR in an hour beginning to end (if you want). You can even do it twice in one day.
Hop-On Hop Off buses are also a waste of time and money. If you really want to ride around the streets of NYC in a bus, then ok. But with a limited amount of time, I'd urge, plead with you to get a guidebook, do some research, and be selective about what you see and do. Use the subway/bus to get around and just go to the places you want to see. Walking is always the best way to see things in NYC unless you have mobility problems. If that's the case, then the bus can be a decent trade-off, even though it's a really bad deal.
Have fun.
Just a helpful tip: Please please please avoid the Empire State Building. With only 4 days in town, you will end up spending about 4 hours (minimum) on this little sightseeing excursion and get a pretty bad experience to boot. Go to Top of the Rock. Minimum waiting time, better views, and you can basically go whenever you want and have a nice time.
You don't have to listen to me, but I've told people many times that the ESB is just not a worthwhile experience anymore. Sadly, it's just a tourist trip. You can do TOTR in an hour beginning to end (if you want). You can even do it twice in one day.
Hop-On Hop Off buses are also a waste of time and money. If you really want to ride around the streets of NYC in a bus, then ok. But with a limited amount of time, I'd urge, plead with you to get a guidebook, do some research, and be selective about what you see and do. Use the subway/bus to get around and just go to the places you want to see. Walking is always the best way to see things in NYC unless you have mobility problems. If that's the case, then the bus can be a decent trade-off, even though it's a really bad deal.
Have fun.
Sep 2nd, 2009, 11:08 AM
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PLUS the Metropolitan Museum's admission is "suggested admission $20 adults, $15 seniors" which means you pay what you wish anyway. If you are on a budget, you can pay $10, $5, $1, or even $.01 and you can go in.
Sep 2nd, 2009, 04:56 PM
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Ditto what Doug said.
Not only are the hop on/off buses expenses - they run only about very 30 minutes and sometimes are so crowded you can;t get on. Regular city bus/subway go everywhere, run every 4 or 5 minutes - and are the best means of transportation besides walking.
Not only are the hop on/off buses expenses - they run only about very 30 minutes and sometimes are so crowded you can;t get on. Regular city bus/subway go everywhere, run every 4 or 5 minutes - and are the best means of transportation besides walking.
Sep 3rd, 2009, 01:24 AM
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Listen to the NY folks - they are spot on.
NYC traffic is heavy mid-day so all buses will crawl;
subway travel is much faster. NY'ers will help you if you
are feeling intimadated.
Also, to save time you should buy your theatre tix beforehand.
Consult broadwaybox.com, theatermania, playbill & purchase
before your arrive.
NYC traffic is heavy mid-day so all buses will crawl;
subway travel is much faster. NY'ers will help you if you
are feeling intimadated.
Also, to save time you should buy your theatre tix beforehand.
Consult broadwaybox.com, theatermania, playbill & purchase
before your arrive.
Sep 3rd, 2009, 04:53 AM
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Well, I don't want people to think you won't get the stink eye if you pay just $1 at the Metropolitan Museum or the Museum of Natural History (and at the latter you always have to pay full price for special exhibits and the planetarium). But you can do it. If someone is on a really tight budget, then I don't see anything wrong with that. But if you can afford to pay, I think you should.
As a New Yorker I feel empowered to pay less than the full rate at these museums because I support them directly as a tax-payer. As a tourist, you have more of a moral obligation to pay for your experience, but only if you can afford to do so.
As a New Yorker I feel empowered to pay less than the full rate at these museums because I support them directly as a tax-payer. As a tourist, you have more of a moral obligation to pay for your experience, but only if you can afford to do so.
Sep 3rd, 2009, 05:34 AM
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Buy either a one day or weekly metro pass. 1 day costs $8.25
and a 7 day $27.00. Senior fare is $13.25 for the weekly, no senior discount on the daily card. You may need to show a Social Security card. This permits you unlimited bus and subway rides. You buy the card in any subway station.
A regular ride is $2.25 and you can not travel more than once on the subway, you can however transfer to a bus using this fare.
Daily or weekly Metropass is in my opinion a much more economical and convenient way of traveling than the hop on and off buses.
Enjoy NYC
and a 7 day $27.00. Senior fare is $13.25 for the weekly, no senior discount on the daily card. You may need to show a Social Security card. This permits you unlimited bus and subway rides. You buy the card in any subway station.
A regular ride is $2.25 and you can not travel more than once on the subway, you can however transfer to a bus using this fare.
Daily or weekly Metropass is in my opinion a much more economical and convenient way of traveling than the hop on and off buses.
Enjoy NYC
Sep 3rd, 2009, 05:37 AM
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Just a ditto re those hopon/off buses - why pay those exorbitant prices when it is easy enough to get around town with a Metro card at a fraction of the cost - and more efficiently. Subways are the quickest way around town and buses run frequently - no half hour waits for a hop on bus that may not have room for you. And: you do not have that encapsulated feeling of riding the tour bus - looking out at the city - rather than being IN it. And: when purchasing your admission at the Met - you will get absolutely no reaction from the cashier regardless of how much you offer for admission. She/he are just doing their jobs in getting the admission buttons to visitors.
Sep 3rd, 2009, 06:01 AM
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"A regular ride is $2.25 and you can not travel more than once on the subway, you can however transfer to a bus using this fare."
To clarify: After you scan your MetroCard on either a bus or a subway turnstile, you have 2 hours to use a "free transfer"--subway to bus, OR bus to subway, OR uptown/downtown bus to crosstown bus, OR crosstown bus to uptown/downtown bus. You can not travel more than once on the subway, meaning leave the subway station through the turnstile and then go through another turnstile into another subway within the two hours, all on the same fare. You CAN stay within the subway system and change to another subway line at transfer stations, never leaving through a turnstile, as much as you like on one fare.
To clarify: After you scan your MetroCard on either a bus or a subway turnstile, you have 2 hours to use a "free transfer"--subway to bus, OR bus to subway, OR uptown/downtown bus to crosstown bus, OR crosstown bus to uptown/downtown bus. You can not travel more than once on the subway, meaning leave the subway station through the turnstile and then go through another turnstile into another subway within the two hours, all on the same fare. You CAN stay within the subway system and change to another subway line at transfer stations, never leaving through a turnstile, as much as you like on one fare.
Sep 3rd, 2009, 12:49 PM
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New York pass for events, New York shopping deluxe card for shopping (http://www.luxuryshoppingdeluxecard.com). Both are valuable. It depends on time you have.
You will feel frustrated if you don't see State of Lliberty (crown is opened), top of the Rock, guggenheim, Moma to name a few.
You will feel frustrated if you don't see State of Lliberty (crown is opened), top of the Rock, guggenheim, Moma to name a few.
Sep 3rd, 2009, 04:57 PM
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I don;t agree on the Guggenheim - and I'm really a museum lover and live right across the park from it. It;s interesting on the outside - but IMHO there are much more worthwhile places inside (New York Historical Society, Museum of the City of New York, main branch of the Public Library etc).
Sep 3rd, 2009, 05:14 PM
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I agree about the Guggenheim. The problem with the Guggenheim is that, for its size, it doesn't have much exhibit space. It has a relatively small permanent collection. The majority of the museum--the famous spiraling ramp gallery--is 1-3 temporary exhibits which may not be of interest to the average visitor. Check carefully what works are actually on exhibit before choosing to visit.
Sep 21st, 2009, 05:06 AM
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I lived for a while in NY as a student. I know everything about seeing NY on a budget. Top of the rock, the Empire State Building are both good and both worth the money and I did not wait long at either. Another touristy thing that was worth the money was the Circle Line tour around Manhattan. Really enjoyed that. For a show, I tried my best to pay less. The most expensive show ticket I had was through the TKTS booth, but then again the most successful cheap shows I got through the university and student discount. I also ushered at a show and got to see it for free.
Anneke
Anneke
