uga1015

I am looking at a private 5 hour towncar tour 79.00 pp or the circle line cruise 3 hour 29.00 pp Does anyone know which is best? Or should we go on our own?

stoweflake

When are you thinking of coming to NY? The cruise might be a bit damp and cold for the next two months. Not sure why you would need a private town car either. There are walking tours of various areas see bigonion tours. You could pick an area check out out a few museums, go on a horse ride through central park, go downtown to walk around the chelsea, soho, or village area, walk up fifth avenue, and of course see a show on broadway.

uga1015

We are coming April 12. So you think a walking tour is the best choice? Can we see as much? We do not mind walking at all. Definitely doing a show and central park. We are staying midtown.

djkbooks

If the weather is pleasant, the best way to enjoy the architecture, sights, neighborhoods, is from a seat on the hop on/hop off double deckers. You can get a two day pass and do uptown one day and downtown the other. Highly recommend, but only if the weather is nice.

Also, in addition, highly recommend the Circle Line "Harbor Lights" cruise. Leaves in the daylight, goes VERY close to the Statue of Liberty, magnificent views of the skyline and bridges. Turns around near the Chrysler building and returns in the dark, when the lights have been turned on all over, and goes by the Statue of Liberty again. Positively magical, especially if there is a pretty sunset the day you go.

The extra hour of the three hour cruise makes for a very relaxing cruise, but it's a bit boring unless you really want a view of the stadium.

Don't recommend the town car tour. You really can't enjoy the tall buildings from the windows. On the double deckers, you can lean back and look all the way up and there are 360 degree views all over.

If you're interested in a walking tour, highly recommend the food tours - Greenwich Village and Chelsea Market. If you have time for only one - Greenwich Village (you can tour Chelsea Market on your own). Reservations essential.

doug_stallings

New York is best seen on foot, but if you really don't want to walk, you can take one of the double-decker bus tours for less than $30 per person, though you can easily get to all the top destinations by subway for just $7 per day if you buy a Fun Pass, which is what I'd recommend. You can't just depend on your feet; you really need some other transportation, but you could take cabs everywhere and still pay much less than $79 per person.

If you are saying you'll be her for just a single day either before or after a cruise, then find out what interests you and seek it out. You can't possibly see everything, so set some goals.

The Circle Line is ok, but it's kind of boring and if you jsut have a day, that's not where I'd send you.

nytraveler

If the weaather is reasonably warm a boat tour is a good way to get a unique perspective on NYC - esp if you gt a view of the Statue of LIbety.

I would NEVER do either a car or bus tour. New York is a walking city - and you need to get out into the streets and actually do/see things - not just watch them move by as if you were watching a movie. (There is very little point in seeing the outside of the Met, the guggenheim, the building Top of the Rock is in - a braodway theater. IMHO either is just a complete waste of time and money.

(I always wonder what the tour buses are doing in my residential neighborhood - where I see them all the time. Looking at Citibank branches? One of dozens of Duane Reades or Starbucks? Or just staring at New Yorkers going about their daily errands? I see people snapping away with their cameras - but can;t imagine what they think they're seeing.)