Due to unprecedented mobs of tourists in NYC this holiday season the Empire State Buildings has extended opening hours until 2 am to give more tourists time to visit.

(I don;t know how many more tourists there are - but everything is even more mobbed than usual - and I'm hearing tons of foreign accents. I assume lots of extra european visitors taking advantage of the pitiful state of the dollar.)

Traffic is so bad that in midtown cabs are really not an option much of the day - so count on using the subway to get anywhere.

Incredible. At $19 + $15 for $34 total if you want to go to the 102nd floor, P.T. Barnum would be proud. Do yourself a favor and charter a helicopter instead.

I don't think you can charter a helicopter for $34. Or even $340.

For $34 you can't even get an hour in a car service.

Sounds like a much better value and doubt there is a line to wait in....

http://www.newyorkhelicopter.com/helicopter_tours.html

Yea. I'd love the phone number of that helicopter service that goes for $34 a charter!

Whether in a helicopter or at the top (or middle) of the ESB, one water tank looks like all the others.

All the more reason to abandon the Empire State Building with its cheesy attractions and long hidden lines and buy a timed ticket to Top of the Rock. I'm sure it's more crowded than usual, but it's infinitely better run, and the view is actually better (in my opinion) than that of the ESB. It just doesn't have quite the cache.

Yes, Doug, and as others have said, the Top of the Rock has something wonderful that the Empire State Building doesn't have -- a great view of the Empire State Building.

For comparison:

Eiffel Tower is 11.50EUR to top level, all elevators (increase to 12EUR by 3/15/08). That's about $17.

Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower is 135RMB to top level. US$18.

CN Tower is C$25.99 + tax to the top level. That's US$26.

Consider the history, significance, and NYC "cost of living", I say the ESB is still expensive, but not that outrageous.

Agree that Top of the Rock is a better deal since you don;t have interminable waits - and I think the views are just as good.

but - obviously MANY people want to do ESB - and I thought they might like the info.

As for comparing a view of much of Manhattan with a bunch of water towers - well, everyone has a right to their own opinion.

You can also go to the Rainbow Grill and have a drink instead of going to the Top of The Rock.

I love the Empire State Building and think it is worth the time and money.

The building itself is an art deco masterpiece both inside and out.