New York help
Jul 17th, 2004, 08:41 AM
#21
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Paige,
I just did the Gray line tour 3 weeks ago. Both the uptown loop and the downtown loop take about 3 hours without hopping off, depending on the traffic. I did the downtown loop before noon and the uptown loop in the afternoon, when the traffic was worse. Someone might find it a waste of time sitting in a traffic jam, but I didn't mind. Just make sure you put some sun block on, because you ARE going to get burned without it on the upper deck ! I did, pretty badly, and the sun wasn't even shining all the time. The downtown loop leaves from Times square (when you buy the tickets they'll tell you where), but the uptown loop leaves from the 8th ave, on the 47th or 48 st. You will find it there easily though.
You don't have to reserve/buy tickets in advance, there are plenty of buses for everybody. You can find Grey line ticket agents on the streets in Times square (they wear red vests and blue shirts, or the other way round) and buy your ticket from them. They take credit cards also. There is even a tourist info center somewhere near your hotel, (if I remember correctly) where you can also buy tickets.
I would recommend that you take the Gray line tours and the Staten island ferry first, and then decide if you want to take the Circle Line tour also. The first two are pretty comprehensive, so you might feel that you have already done enough sightseeing and do other things instead. This doesn't mean that the Circle line isn't worth it (it is great), but I usually do either the Grey line or the Circle line during one trip, and it's always enough. Hope this helps !!
Ps; Bad tour guides were not an issue with me, I just concentrated on the great scenery !
I just did the Gray line tour 3 weeks ago. Both the uptown loop and the downtown loop take about 3 hours without hopping off, depending on the traffic. I did the downtown loop before noon and the uptown loop in the afternoon, when the traffic was worse. Someone might find it a waste of time sitting in a traffic jam, but I didn't mind. Just make sure you put some sun block on, because you ARE going to get burned without it on the upper deck ! I did, pretty badly, and the sun wasn't even shining all the time. The downtown loop leaves from Times square (when you buy the tickets they'll tell you where), but the uptown loop leaves from the 8th ave, on the 47th or 48 st. You will find it there easily though.
You don't have to reserve/buy tickets in advance, there are plenty of buses for everybody. You can find Grey line ticket agents on the streets in Times square (they wear red vests and blue shirts, or the other way round) and buy your ticket from them. They take credit cards also. There is even a tourist info center somewhere near your hotel, (if I remember correctly) where you can also buy tickets.
I would recommend that you take the Gray line tours and the Staten island ferry first, and then decide if you want to take the Circle Line tour also. The first two are pretty comprehensive, so you might feel that you have already done enough sightseeing and do other things instead. This doesn't mean that the Circle line isn't worth it (it is great), but I usually do either the Grey line or the Circle line during one trip, and it's always enough. Hope this helps !!
Ps; Bad tour guides were not an issue with me, I just concentrated on the great scenery !
Jul 17th, 2004, 10:44 AM
#22
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Paige:
The Staten Island ferry is a very large commuter ferry that has a rush hour in the morning from S.I. to Manhattan than is over by 9 am (and a rush hour from Manhattan to S.I. from about 4 - 6 pm). If you take a ferry around 8:30 or 9 am from Manhattan, by the time you get to Staten Island (about 25 minutes later), the morning rush hour will be over. Also, the ferry runs on the eastern side of Ellis and Liberty Islands - so, in the morning, the sun will be shining on these islands and won't be in your eyes when you're trying to take a photo.
About the Tenement Museum, I assume you've been to www.tenement.org. I would recommend the Tenement Museum on the day you take the S.I. ferry, just because both the museum and the ferry terminal are in Lower Manhattan. Also, when you're on Orchard Street - the neighborhood of the museum - you may want to factor in some time to stroll around this ancestor of outlet malls. See www.lowereastsideny.com.
Finally, about food at 10 pm - remember, this is the city that never sleeps. Trust me, something - several somethings - will be open when you get your hotel.
The Staten Island ferry is a very large commuter ferry that has a rush hour in the morning from S.I. to Manhattan than is over by 9 am (and a rush hour from Manhattan to S.I. from about 4 - 6 pm). If you take a ferry around 8:30 or 9 am from Manhattan, by the time you get to Staten Island (about 25 minutes later), the morning rush hour will be over. Also, the ferry runs on the eastern side of Ellis and Liberty Islands - so, in the morning, the sun will be shining on these islands and won't be in your eyes when you're trying to take a photo.
About the Tenement Museum, I assume you've been to www.tenement.org. I would recommend the Tenement Museum on the day you take the S.I. ferry, just because both the museum and the ferry terminal are in Lower Manhattan. Also, when you're on Orchard Street - the neighborhood of the museum - you may want to factor in some time to stroll around this ancestor of outlet malls. See www.lowereastsideny.com.
Finally, about food at 10 pm - remember, this is the city that never sleeps. Trust me, something - several somethings - will be open when you get your hotel.
Jul 18th, 2004, 07:24 AM
#23
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As always I can count on my fodorites for great suggestions and advice. I'll check out the websites for the tenement museum and the lower east side that Dave63 recommended. Sounds like great advice to do the Grey Line tours the first day, take Staten Island Ferry early on 2nd day the do tenement museum and some strolling around that area.
Do I need to get Empire State Building tickets in advance?
Do I need to get Empire State Building tickets in advance?
Jul 18th, 2004, 07:48 AM
#24
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Question for Dave 63. I checked the tenement museum website. They list two public tours that are offered daily (others appear to be only Sat & Sun). Do you have a recommendation on the Garment District or Surviving the Depression tour?
Jul 19th, 2004, 03:35 AM
#25
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Paige:
I have toured the Tenement Museum, so I know it's a unique and distinctly New York City experience; however, I can't recall if I have been on either of these particular tours. I would simply decide which families (read: immigrant groups) you would be most interested in learning more about, and pick that tour. You will learn a lot about immigrant America in either case.
I have toured the Tenement Museum, so I know it's a unique and distinctly New York City experience; however, I can't recall if I have been on either of these particular tours. I would simply decide which families (read: immigrant groups) you would be most interested in learning more about, and pick that tour. You will learn a lot about immigrant America in either case.
