Double-Decker Bus Tours, Algonquin Hotel?
 

Anyone recommend (for or against) a double decker tourist bus in NYC?

Also, anyone have any Algonquin Hotel advice/experience?

I will be in NYC next week. Any ideas for monday night or wednesday (day)?

Thanks in advance.-
-Bobby

New York is a walking town - so I'm not a fan of the bus tours - esp next week when it could be too cold (it's close to 70 today but is supposed to snow over the weekend and I wouldn;t want to sit outdoors on top of a bus in rain, sleet or snow).

I would concentrate on doing/seeing the things that you really want - rather than insulate your self by just looking out of a window and listening to an often incorrect commentary.

Have never stayed at the Algonquin but it gets generally good reviews. A very traditional hotel.

Can't really give you any ideas until we know what your interests are - and if you've ever been to NYC at all.

Love the Double Decker Bus tour because it gives you such a fantastic view of the city and an overall view of the city.

Also, it gives you an idea geographically of Manhattan. Because of the many skyscrapers, you can easily get disoriented.

Highly recommend; I've done it at least 10 times.

The Algonquin is a great old New York Hotel.

I also highly recommend the bus tours- I have been to NYC 15+ times for business and for leisure and think the bus is a great way to see the city. You can get off and tour around a neighborhood and get back on the next bus that is coming around.

I took the bus tour one time. Found it to be relaxing and fun. The tour guide was personable and funny. It was a pleasant day out and I'm sure that makes a difference.

If you really want to explore the city, you can do it more easily (and considerably cheaper) by using regular city buses and the subway. I personally consider the double-decker buses a complete rip-off. Virtually every major tourist sight in NYC is well-covered by public transit, and when it's a choice between a $7 daily pass or a $26+ double-decker bus ticket, well, you do the math.

I admit that I"m a New Yorker and not a tourist, but i don't even do these tours when I travel. Yet I can't deny that a lot of people enjoy them. C'est la vie. But this is my opinion.

THe Algonquin is a pretty good hotel these days, but as others have said, it's pretty traditional. But it's an unbeatable location, and I have always liked it.

Monday night can be quiet with few shows on Broadway running, so it's a good night to go out for a very nice dinner. But make reservations now if you want to go to a nice place.

Doug, explain to me how you sightsee using the subway.

I've worked in NYC for years and my parents live right outside the city so I do know Manhattan.

For first time visitors there isn't any better way to 'see' Manhattan.

Also, at $49 for two days, it isn't a bad deal.

I think it is sort of irresponsible of you as a Fodors editor to say they are a ripoff.

Look, I respect the opinion of people who like the double-deckers, but I happen to disagree. I've used them in places where transit wasn't very good to some of the tourist areas (such as Sydney), but I'd never even consider using one in a transit-friendly city like London or Paris or New York. That's not irresponsible, it's just what I think. I post here as a Forum user and a New Yorker, and my suggestions should be taken more than any other poster. The great thing about these forums is the wide range of opinions and points of view. People like me think the buses are a rip-off, while you think they are good. Bob_Dobbs can now consider the options and decide. Hopefully, he'll have input from others as well.

You sightsee by subway by taking it to a far-flung area of the city, getting out, and walking around at ground-level, where you can actually live the experience instead of seeing it from the top of a bus. Mytraveler said that NYC is a walking town, and I couldn't agree more.

But no matter how you stir it, $49 for 2 days travel by touristy, cloistered double-decker bus is neither an authentic experience nor an affordable one. Buy a Metro card and spend the extra $42 on an excellent lunch at one of NYC's fine restaurants.

Sorry, I garbled my reply. I meant to say that my suggestions and opinions should be taken no more seriously than any other poster.

IMHO I think the double-decker buses are an excellent way for first time visitors to see the city. The few times I've taken them (with friends who hadn't been to NY before) - I've always reflected on how different it is to enjoy building architecture and street views from that perspective.

It's also a good casual introduction to each area of the city and a way to oversee it easily in a very relaxed manner. The buses have been enjoyed by all my friends who have taken them and they always comment that it was a great way to get an overview of the city.

I totally agree that it's a fair and warm weather thing to do - it can be very chilly upstairs on the bus and I certainly wouldn't recommend taking them if you have to stay downstairs - in that case definately take the city buses (of course then you're on your own with commentary and knowing where you are).

Definately too, the guides vary greatly in their knowledge and personality and can, if good, add a great deal to the tour.

Doug, posting as just Doug Stallings is one thing but I think posting as a Fodors Editor gives your opinion much more weight.

If that makes any sense.

Where do I make reservations for one of these double decker tour buses?

I'm with Doug on this bus issue. And perhaps it does have something to do with being a native New Yorker (well actually grew up in the suburbs from 12 to college) but have lived in Manhattan since then.

There's just so much lost when you insulate yourself from everything/everyone on the bus.

And I'm not jus taling about New York. I signed on for one of those all day bus tours the first time I went to Paris and left after about 2 hours. To me it was just a waste of time I could actually be doing something (versus sitting and hearing "On the right is the Louvre", or "now we're passing the Pont Neuf.

I don;t want to pass anything - I want to go and walk across it or look inside it - or consider and maybe not do something and go on to the next thing NOW.

As for getting oriented - the city bus is at least as good. But first - and it amazes me that everyone doesn;t do this - is to study a map of the city. Before I go anywhere I have a general map in my head with the main streets, neighborhoods and sights in approximate positions. It seems to be to be basic prepr for the trip - helping you know what you want to see and how long it will take from one place to another.

Of course you can see a lot with public transportation, but sometime it is nice for a tourist to hear some commentary on what they are looking at and not have to worry about how to get From point A to point B. Friends of ours went to NYC for the first time and never would have ventured into Brooklyn or Harlem if they hadn't been on the hop on/hop off tour.

The Algonquin is a fine traditional hotel, be sure to have a drink in the hotel bar. If you need a diner type restaurant the Red Flame is just a few doors down.