Has anyone done this tour? It meets on the steps of the US Custome House twice a week. Thoughts on it? Details?

Have a website with any details??
(No, haven't done it, but it sounds interesting)

Is it from here?

www.DowntownNY.com

yes

HAven't taken it, but if it is offered by an alliance set up to promote downtown business, I'd try it. As a matter of fact, thanks for turning me on to this and I have it bookmarked now to go on it on my next NYC trip. It covers some very interesting sites.

There is a free brochure you can order on that website that gives a detailed description of the tour. It is under the "free maps" section. BTW, goo dmaps and loging.restaurant free guides available too, and a map of all wireless hotpots in downtown. Very cool- thanks for the site link, GoT.

Book marking - thanks.

The events section of that site lists a wealth of free events, concerts, etc. in downtown and lower manhattan this summer...this is enough to make me book a long weekend in August.

I love that site and have been schilling it and downtown for some time now.

Lots of freebies; free guides, free attractions, free transportation etc.

Downtown is my very favorite part of the Big Apple.

A big plus is that accommodations are cheaper there and it isn't busy on the weekends.

When I was in town in November for the NYC Marathon, downtown was a nice respite from the crazy insane zoo that is Midtown.

GoT, where did you stay in downtown? I am looking at Four Points Chelsea...

I've stayed at the Best Western Seaport, Manhattan Seaport Suites (The Exchange Hotel), The Club Quarters (my favorite), and the Embassy Suites.

Where is the Four Points?

Is the M15 still a free bus that takes you to the Staten Island Ferry stop? And the M5 and the M104 were free sightseeing buses too, I thought. I can't seem to find this information anymore.

GoT-- 4 pts is in Chelsea...

but I think it is in th south part of Chelsea- maybe this is not considered downtown, but on the cusp of it??

The M15 is part of the MTA and definitely not free, but it is only $2 per trip. The M5 and M104 are also part of the MTA system, and they definitely aren't designated as sightseeing buses (although you can use them for this purpose if you wish). Remember that you need either a metrocard or 8 quarters to take any of these buses! Here is the MTA website with bus and subway routes:

http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/mta/maps.htm

Thanks Lizzie. Someone on here had mentioned that before and I knew it couldn't be right.

I think we will try to fit the free tour in on our trip at the end of the month. I'm definitely going to be reporting back.