Hello, we will be travelling to NYC and staying in the midtown area. We are pretty inexperienced with using cabs and would love some guidance by experienced travelers. I know there are a lot of apps out there; could someone please recommend their favorite apps? We are mainly concerned with safety and reliability. Thanks

New York is the easiest place in the world to catch a cab . Just walk to the curb and hold out your arm and call out "taxi".

Regular NYC public cabs do not use any apps and they cannot be called in advance. You can only pick them up on the street by stepping out in front of them and waving your arm. Only cabs with the light on top lit are empty - others have passengers. Fares are as shown on the meter (and you add a 20% tip) except to and from JFK which is a flat fare.

These are the only cabs in NYC.

There are many car services in NYC that you can get only by arranging with them in advance via email, text or phone.

For the newer ones like Uber you need to app on your smart phone. They have been around the longest. We no longer use them because:
-They have surge pricing, which can majorly increase - as in 2 or 3 times - whenever they feel like it (rain, traffic, special events in the city) and then they cost much more than cabs
-They now start charging for waiting time after 1 minute
-We have had 2 drivers demand extra money (not a tip, just more) when we got to our destination, one in a threatening way

We have not tried Lyft or other new ones - we prefer the security of a yellow cab.

There are also traditional car services that you can call, for instance for rides to the airport, etc that you can call and get fixed prices and they will come at a fixed time. We use Dial 7 and have for years with no problem. Carmel is another major. If you want this, arrange in advance and check the web site for coupons. Again you should pay a 20% tip and must pay any tolls that are part of the trip.

However, for getting around the city you are much better off using feet for shorter distances and subway (cheap, fast and they go everywhere) for longer distances. Taxis are not only much more expensive but often get stuck in traffic so they can longer than the subway.

Sorry, there are also lime green cabs which are for use in far uptown or the outer boroughs. They are not allowed to pick up passengers below 110th St.

I would not step out in front of a cab...wave from the curb.

As an alternative to a yellow cab, you can use a shared car ride through VIA. You call a car through an app on your smart phone and you need to have a credit card associated with your account. The advantages over a yellow cab: large, clean, well air-conditioned cars with very nice drivers; anywhere in Manhattan is $5 for first person in your group, $2.50 for additional person plus tax; no tipping! (more if late at night). It is a flat rate, so if you are going from midtown to Battery Park, for example, it will still be $5.00 which is a bargain. The disadvantage is that it will possibly pick you up and drop you off 1-2 short street blocks (not avenue blocks) from your destination. I have only shared rides with NYers. I'm not sure if it's caught on with tourists, but 20 - 70+ year olds are using it a lot. Consider also using the subway at times - usually very fast.

For more information:

http://support.ridewithvia.com

Another old person who prefers cabs over Uber Alles and the rest.

It can be difficult to get a cab during:

The morning rush 8:00-9:30 AM
During rainstorms
And at 4 PM when the cabs change shifts.

Bookmarking

Thanks for all your help

Another vote for VIA.

NYC yellow cabs do have an app with which you can book ahead..it is called ARRO. I've not used it.

You don't need an app to call a taxi. They circle looking for fares.

If you want to use one of the other car services, then Uber offers the most options, including Uber Pool, which is a cheaper ride-sharing type of car service. During rush hour, that service costs only $5 per person if you are going in most of Manhattan. But regular Uber offers various levels of service, some wildly expensive some not.

I simply never use Uber. I use a taxi and have no issues. You can pay with a credit card and add the tip automatically by pushing a button on the payment screen. It's about as easy as it gets.

Good advice from actual New Yorkers, I just have one tidbit to add.

Although I use Uber in my hometown all the time and prefer it to taxis, it doesn't work as well in NYC *for the most part*: in busy Midtown, for example, an Uber driver can have trouble finding exactly where you are (yes, despite the pin you drop), and when he calls you for more details, he can seem to be perpetually two blocks and a one-way street away from you, which in traffic could mean 15 minutes.

OTOH, Uber worked a treat when we left a Tribeca bar on a quiet street on a weeknight at 2 am--there wasn't a cab in sight, nor did one pass while we waited for our Uber driver, who arrived in less than ten minutes. Sure, we could have walked a few blocks to a busier street, but Uber, in that case, was easier.

So, as a mere tourist, my advice is to have an array of tools in your belt: subway, taxis, Uber, even the bus when needs must.

If you're staying in Midtown, swing a dead cat and you'll hit about 30 taxis. Catching one is as easy as blinking.

Unless it's snowing and super cold, which is why I took a bus once.

Someone above mentioned the subways as an alternative and it is often an excellent alternative. Especially during standard business hours, it is often a faster means of transportation at a fraction of the cost. It is most effective for north/south routes.

It is easy to use and safe, and should not be afraid to use them.

VIA will tell you the exact street corner and name of the building/business where you will be picked up from. i.e. SW corner of 6th Ave and 46th St in front of Europa Cafe.

I live in midtown and there are times of day when it is very difficult to find a yellow taxi. Agree with the comments that it is helpful to have a few options "under your belt." I take the train most often, although that means walking about 10 minutes to the nearest station, and the bus for going up and down 1st and 2nd Avenues.