New York (city)

From Wikitravel

New York City (also simply referred to as "New York") is an urban metropolis located within the Mid-Atlantic region on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States of America. The New York Metropolitan Area extends across parts of four American states - primarily lower New York (including parts of Long Island) and north-eastern New Jersey, but also parts of south-western Connecticut and northern Pennsylvania. The focus of interest for most travellers and observers, however, are the areas located immediately in and around the island of Manhattan (see below, Districts). New York city is the USA's largest city, sprawling across a vast metropolitan area that has a population of 22 million (as of 2002, ranked 5th in the world, after Tokyo, Sao Paulo, Mexico City and Seoul).

New York City represents one of the great global centers of international finance, politics, communications, music, fashion, and culture, and is among the world's most important and influential cities, home to a nearly unrivaled collection of world-class museums, galleries, performance venues, media outlets, corporations, and the hundreds of international consulates associated with the United Nations, the main headquarters of which are hosted by the city.

Within New York City's huge population are immigrants (and their descendants) from over 180 countries, making New York one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. Travellers worldwide and elsewhere in the United States are likewise attracted to New York City for its culture, energy, cosmopolitanism, and by their own hope of making it big (or, at least, living it big) in the "Big Apple", the "city that never sleeps".

Table of contents

1 Districts 2 Understand 2.1 Orientation 2.2 People 2.3 Economy 3 Get in 3.1 By air 3.2 By train 3.3 By bus 3.3.1 Super cheap buses 3.4 By car 4 Get around 4.1 Walk 4.2 MetroCard 4.3 Subway 4.4 Buses 4.5 Ferries 4.6 Taxi 4.7 Car 5 See 5.1 Landmarks 5.2 Museums and Galleries 5.3 Factories 5.4 Presidential places 6 Do 6.1 Tours 7 Eat 8 Drink 9 Sleep 9.1 Hostels 9.2 Budget 9.3 Moderate 9.4 Deluxe 10 Buy 11 Cope 11.1 Information 11.2 Babysitting 12 Contact 13 External links

Districts

New York City is divided and subdivided by its residents into various districts and quarters, as well as into several official governmental divisions. New York City proper (the core area of interest to the traveler and outside observers) consists of five boroughs, which are actually five separate New York state counties - each borough has an independent local government within the city and a unique culture (each could be a large city in its own right!) Within each borough individual neighborhoods - some only a few blocks in size - have "personalities" lauded in music and film. Where you live, work and play in New York says something to New Yorkers about who you are.

The five New York boroughs are:

• Manhattan - located on the famous island between the Hudson and East Rivers; includes many diverse and unique neighborhoods and is the most-visited area of New York City
• Brooklyn - the largest borough, located south and east of Manhattan across the East River
• Queens - located to the east of Manhattan, across the East River, and north of Brooklyn
• The Bronx - located immediately north of Manhattan Island
• Staten Island - a large inhabited island situated within New York harbour, south of Manhattan

New York City, however also extends culturally across the Hudson River into north-eastern New Jersey, popularly known to New Yorkers as the "Jersey Shore".

Understand

Orientation

When most people think of New York, they think of the island of Manhattan and, in fact, Manhattan is generally referred to as "the city", while the other four boroughs are typically called "the Outer Boroughs". The island of Manhattan is long and narrow, positioned squarely within the harbour of New York and separated from the Outer Boroughs by the Hudson River (to the west) and the East River (actually a tidal strait between Manhattan and Long Island).

People

New York is a tough city with very cold winters, hot summers and people full of attitude - "Yeah how YOU doing??! Not good? Oh well fuhggedaboudit!". It is also a city of opportunity, culture and creativity like no other in the U.S. or in the world. New Yorkers think of themselves as the best and toughest. It offers the best of everything. Sometimes it offers the worst of everything too and you should be prepared for both.

Economy

New York City serves as an enormous engine for the global economy, and is home to more Fortune 500 companies than anywhere else in the country. Its estimated gross metropolitan product of US$488.8 billion in 2003 was the largest of any city in the United States and the sixth largest if compared to any U.S. state. If it were a nation, the city would have the 16th highest gross domestic product in the world, exceeding that of Russia ($433 billion).

Get in

By air

New York City is served by several airports, both international and domestic:

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) [1] (http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/jfkframe.HTM) is located to the east of the city. From the airport, the newly opened JFK AirTrain [2] (http://www.panynj.gov/airtrain/) runs to Howard Beach Station to connect with the A subway and to Jamaica Station to connect with the E and J/Z subways, the Long Island Rail Road and buses. The JFK AirTrain costs $5.

If you take the JFK AirTrain to Jamaica station, you may connect to Long Island Rail Road trains to Long Island, or also to Penn Station. You may also get trains to Brooklyn along Nostrand Ave, or to Hunterspoint Ave in Queens. This last option may be useful if your destination is either in downtown Queens or on the east side of Manhattan. The Hunterspoint and Brooklyn trains will not be as frequent as the Penn Station trains. You may also take trains to Ronkonkoma, where you can get shuttles to Islip airport. This is most useful for catching flights on discount carrier Southwest.

When going toward the airport from the city, it is important to board A trains marked Far Rockaway. If you catch a Lefferts A, you will need to transfer to a Rockaway train. Subways serving the Howard Beach station operate 24 hours a day, so you will always be able to take a train, even if you have an early departure, however at nights, the train will run local, meaning that it makes every stop. This will take longer than during the day when the A runs express.

For JFK, if you really want to slum it and avoid the $5 AirTrain ticket, you can take normal $2 buses to Lefferts Ave station where you can catch an A, or to New Lots Ave where you can catch either a 2 or a 3. If you do not already have a metro card, you will not be able to transfer into the subway system for free though.

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) [3] (http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/ewrframe.HTM) is located to the west of the city in the state of New Jersey. From Newark Airport, take the AirTrain to the Newark Airport Train Station to connect to a NJ Transit or Amtrak train running along the Northeast Corridor line to Penn Station. To get to Penn Station via NJ Transit costs $11.55 in total. Amtrak will be $20 to $30.

From EWR, you may also take a NJTransit bus to Newark Penn Station. From there, you may take a PATH subway train to World Trade Center station in lower Manhattan. The combined fare for this bus and the PATH (about $2) will be significantly less than the EWR AirTrain with NJTransit (about $11), but will take longer, and of course, involve the transfer. You should also keep in mind where you are going. If you are staying at the New Yorker, which is right next to New York Penn Station, it would make sense to take the EWR AirTrain and a NJTransit train that will take you right to Penn Station. If you are staying at the Millenium, then it is right across from the WTC station, so it might make sense to take the NJTransit bus and the PATH, instead of slugging from PennStation to WTC on the subway. If you want to use the PATH to get midtown to 6th Ave stops, I´m pretty sure you will need to change trains in Journal Square or something like that. Check the sites.

There is a difference between NJTransit trains and Amtrak Trains serving the EWR airport station. You may not use tickets for one carrier to board the other. Amtrak trains are much more expensive than the NJTransit trains. Both northbound trains will stop at Newark Penn Station and New York Penn Station. The Amtrak trains will be less frequent also, however the upholstery on them will be much more luxurious than the NJTransit trains, however the NJTransit trains are quite serviceable, even if the carriages are not new and updated. The Amtrak services are useful from EWR if you are going more intercity to other parts of the metropolitan area - such as to Philadelphia, Princeton, or Poughkeepsie.

LaGuardia Airport (LGA) [4] (http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/lgaframe.HTM) is a smaller, older airport providing many of the domestic services for the city including the shuttles to Boston and Washington DC.

From LGA, the M60 connects with Astoria N trains (and whatever other letter also serves the Astoria line--see the Wikipedia article on New York subway lines), and crosses Manhattan using 125th St. It will connect with the Lexington, Central Park West, and Broadway lines. This is a useful service if you are staying in Harlem, or even the Columbia University area, as it goes south on Broadway (west side) for a little bit, at least until 110th St. This is a $2 service. Be warned that these buses do not accept dollar bills. You will need to use coins if you do not already have a Metrocard. The M60 stops at the shuttle terminal also.

All airports. It would be wise to allow a minimum of 90 minutes for trips between midtown and the airports. Also the lack of elevators will make bringing luggage up and down subway stairs difficult. Taxis and suburban shared ride vans are available. Use the phones provided near baggage claim, or go to the taxi dispatcher. See taxis below.

Bus services are availible to the major airports from Midtown and Downtown. Grand Central Station services do not stop right in front of Grand Central Station, but around 41st or 40th st. Prices are competitive with the AirTrain services and there is at least one departure an hour through the day. The driver will help you with your bags. These may be helpful for you if you don´t wish to negotiate stations and transfers.

If leaving for an early flight with a 2-hour check in, you may need to take a taxi. Check the running hours of the buses.

More detail on the airports and travel from the Port Authority. Port Authority info (http://www.panynj.gov/)

By train

Amtrak (http://www.amtrak.com) - New York Penn Station, located at 32nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues, is the largest hub in Amtrak's east-coast system, with dozens of arrivals and departures daily. Amtrak's Acela (http://www.acela.com) express train provides regular fast commuter service between major points on the east coast from Washington, DC up to Boston. Other lines provide less frequent service to points as far away as California (a 3-day sleeper trip) and Canada. (Service on the non-Acela lines can be a little haphazard, to say the least!) Beware that popular trains leaving near rush hours can fill up quickly: it's a good idea to make reservations online (http://reservations.amtrak.com) and pick up your ticket at one of the electronic kiosks.

Services to California will require a change of trains in Chicago.

If you have any sleeper ticket or a first class acela ticket, you may use Amtrak´s Metropolitan Lounge. Business First customers on Continental Airlines flights departing from EWR may also use Amtrak´s Metropolitan Lounge, but this may have changed. This does not apply to plain domestic first class flights offered by Continental, only their Business First services transatlantic, to Hawaii and Guam, and to Tokyo and Hong Kong. The Metroplitan lounge has a much nicer bathroom than the other Penn Station facilities. It also has drinks, newspapers, and seating. It is located on the side of the station with the big security desk. You may not use the Metropolitan Lounge with a coach ticket or an Acela business ticket.

You may walk up to Amtrak QuikTrack machines at Penn Station and purchase your northeast corridor tickets without a credit card and without waiting in line for a ticket agent. You may also book tickets online at their website and pick up the tickets at these machines. Because Acela has lowered prices, demand has increased, and it is always a good idea to try booking ahead if you know when you want to leave. The first class acela tickets include a meal served at your seat for Washington and Boston services.

MTA Metro North (http://www.mta.info/mnr/index.html) - New York State's Metropolitan Transit Authority provides commuter rail service connecting Connecticut (as far north as New Haven) with multiple destinations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx.

MTA Long Island Rail Road (http://www.mta.info/lirr/index.html) - New York State's Metropolitan Transit Authority provides commuter rail service connecting Long Island with multiple destinations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.

New Jersey Transit (http://www.njtransit.com) - Buses and trains covering New Jersey. You can get to Philadelphia via commuter rail connecting to Philadelphia SEPTA Public transit in Trenton.

PATH (http://www.panynj.gov/path/index.html) (Port Authority Trans-Hudson) - A subway type system connecting Newark and various points on the New Jersey shore of the Hudson River with New York City. Two lines pass under the Hudson and enter the city, one terminating at a temporary World Trade Center site station in downtown, the other at 33rd Street in midtown.

By bus

Greyhound (http://www.greyhound.com)/Peter Pan (http://www.peterpanbus.com) is the largest and oldest private bus company in the US, and operates its east-coast hub out of Manhattan's Port Authority Bus Terminal (http://www.panynj.gov/tbt/pabframe.HTM). The terminal operates on a 24-hour schedule, with regular departures to practically every city in the country. Big cities like Boston, DC, Chicago and LA will have multiple departures daily -- smaller cities may only have one or two, so be sure to check the schedules in advance! Remember that distances in the USA are large and you could be on the bus a long time - a very long time.

The Port Authority Bus Terminal also hosts a dozen or so smaller bus companies, which generally offer service along the Boston-to-DC regional axis. A full list of carriers is available at http://www.panynj.gov/tbt/busline.HTM

Super cheap buses

A cheaper group of bus companies known as the "Chinatown Bus" go to Boston, Washington, Philadelphia and a few other destinations, usually picking up and dropping off passengers in ethnic Chinese neighborhoods. If you are going to Boston, the buses no longer drop you off on the street, but at the Boston South Station bus terminal, which is pretty close to Chinatown anyway, however it is sheltered. Prices have increased and are no longer $10. See the wikipedia article on chinatown buses. Some of these bus companies are:

• The Fung Wah Bus (http://www.fungwahbus.com/), granddaddy of all Chinatown buses, which arrives every hour until 10:00pm from Boston at the corner of Canal and Bowery streets.
• The Vahmoose Bus (http://www.vahmoose.com/) from Washington DC.
• The Today's Bus (http://www.todaysbus.com/) from Washington DC, Philadelphia, Richmond and Atlanta.
• The Apex Bus (http://www.apexbus.com/) from Washington DC, Philadelphia, Richmond and Atlanta.
• The Boston Deluxe (http://www.bostondeluxe.com/), connecting New York with Boston, Philadelphia and Hartford.
• The Washington Deluxe (http://www.washingtondeluxe.com/) from Washington DC.

You may buy tickets online at sites such as the ivymedia site, and you can use a credit card, however there will be a surcharge. Make sure to print out your ticket/confirmation to present to the driver.

By car

If you are coming to New York by car, you may want to consider that traffic in Manhattan is very bad, and parking is quite expensive. You can get around New York without your car. Driving to one of the stations served by the Metro North railroad (see above) and taking the train in may be a better option. There are often secure parking areas in some of these stations. Check the MTA website for details.

Get around

Walk

For shorter distances, there is no better way of getting around New York. If you use the subway or buses, you will almost certainly need to walk to and from stations or stops. In all the areas of New York a tourist is likely to visit, all streets have wide sidewalks. For long distances, walking is also fine and a great way to see the city.

There are 20 blocks per mile along the avenues. The average person can walk roughly 1 block per minute.

Jaywalking is common. If you do not wish to jaywalk, be considerate of New Yorkers by not blocking them from crossing at an intersection while you are waiting for your signal. If you do jaywalk, driving is on the right-hand side of the road on two-way streets so remember to look left to check for on-coming traffic on your side of the road. Be aware that most streets are one way, so you may have to look right. Most New Yorkers who know which streets go which way will only look in the direction traffic is coming from rather than looking in both directions.

MetroCard

New York City has a great transit system consisting of subway and bus lines with many (but not all) lines operating 24 hours a day. A single ride on the transit system currently costs $2. The rules on transfers between different lines are complex, but the good news is that the visitor can avoid these by purchasing a daily, weekly or monthly MetroCard which allows unlimited use of the New York Subway and buses operated within the city by New York City Transit, Long Island Bus and several private bus companies. MetroCards can be purchased from either the machine or manned booth at each Subway station using cash, ATM or credit cards. For more information see http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/mta/news/public/fares/nyct.htm all the stations are served 24 hours a day, but not all the lines operate 24 hours a day. Basically, this means at night you might have to transfer, compared with not having to transfer during the day. It might also take longer due to the transfer and the trains running less frequently.

The rules on transfers are not complex. If you purchase a cash fare on a bus, you may request a transfer for another bus, with time limit. This transfer cannot be used to transfer to subway. If you purchase a cash fare for the subway, you may make unlimited subway transfers with no time limit, as long as you do not exit the system. If you purchase a pay per ride metro card, you may use it on bus or subway, with time limited transfer between either type of transfer, with time limit. If you purchase unlimited ride metro cards, you may make transers, with time limit, and have unlimited rides for the period chosen, except that you will not be able to enter the same station twice within about 18 minutes. If you really want to economize, you and your friend could get one unlimited ride metro card, and either wait 18 minutes each time you enter the system (this would not work on buses), or one person could enter at 116th st., then the other person could walk down and enter at 110th st., and you could meet on the platform before continuing on.

If you buy a monthly unlimited with a credit card and your ticket is lost or stolen, you may report it and have a pro-rated refund issued to your credit card. This is a nice layer of protection if you will be in New York for awhile.

Subway

The New York Subway has 26 lines, all of which accept MetroCards. Most lines are identified by letter or number, although a few shorter lines are referred to as shuttles and rather confusingly all share the same "S" identifier even though they are in different parts of the city. A subway map can be found at http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/maps/submap.htm

The shuttle train most frequently referred to and most useful for tourists is the train between 42nd St./7th Ave. (Times Square), and 42nd St. on the East side, at Grand Central Station (basically Madison Ave., but Lexington also, to transfer to those trains). You don´t have to use this; you may also take the 7 train between these stations, and indeed might have to, if the S is down.

Generally, you will be able to get free printed subway and bus maps from station attendants if you ask nicely.

In most places the subway runs only just below street level and is entered by stairways from the sidewalks. In the case of some stations, different sidewalk level entrances serve different platforms; the entrances display the lines and directions accessible from that entrance. If you are used to entrance barriers or gates on other subway or underground systems, you may find the entrance gates on the subway rather different. Instead of inserting your ticket into a slot in the gate, you are expected to swipe it downwards through a vertical swipe reader; this is something of an art which may take a couple of attempts to get right.

You are not required to swipe your ticket to exit the system. Unlike other systems you may not just stick it in in any direction and have it returned to you. You must swipe it in a particular way, described later, and you are responsible for the whole swipe. In other words, you need to think more, or have more awareness than in other systems where you just stick it in. Be aware that New Yorkers will become impatient if you are taking too long or have a bad attitude about sticking it in and it not working. You must keep going, and not stop and stand there complaining about it not working.

Unlike some other systems (for example, Toronto), if you make a mistake and go in the wrong direction, you will not always be able to cross over to the other side at the next station without exiting the system. It depends on the station. You will have to ask someone if you don´t know, or get off and experience it for yourself.

Large portions of the system, particularly in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx run above ground. In fact, New York used to have even more elevated portions and tore some of them down. For these stations, you will have to climb up stairs or escalators. Some stations will have elevators. The enter Staten Island line runs above ground.

Subways can be broadly divided into express and local services. Express trains will not stop at all stops. A cool feature of the system is watching New Yorkers rushing to cross over from the local to the express. This does not work at 34th st., which was deliberately designed to prevent this. The express and local trains will be indicated on the maps.

Uptown and downtown trains refer to north and south in Manhattan. Crosstown only refers to the L train which runs across 14th St. in Manhattan to Brooklyn, and to the G train which connects Brooklyn and Queens, but does not go to manhattan. Every other train will go through manhattan, and will be referred to as manhattan bound, or queens bound. In some cases, you might be in Brooklyn and you might take a Queens bound N train, via Manhattan. This info might be out of date if the designations have changed.

Subway cars are air-conditioned, but the rest of the system including the stations and platforms are not. As a result, with a New York summer temperatures outside and the air conditioned cars adding to the heat load in the stations and tunnels, waiting for a train can become a somewhat unpleasant experience on a hot day.

The subway may look scary but its crime rate has plummeted since the 80's and early 90's. It's still good to use common sense though, so avoid using the subway late at night, and try to get in a car where the conductor or operator is in, and when waiting in the station, stay behind the yellow line on the platform.

The subway per-se does not operate on Staten Island. However the surface Staten Island Railway is run by New York City Transit and uses subway type cars and accepts MetroCards. A map of the Staten Island Railway can be found at http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/maps/simap.htm

A very useful dynamic map that, among other things, allows you to find the closest subway to any given address in New York City is available at http://www.cmap.nypirg.org/netmaps/Straps/Straphangers.asp complements of the Straphangers Campaign, a New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) that advocates for rider and commuter rights.

Note that the New York Subway is not the only 'subway' or 'underground' style rail system in New York City. The PATH system operates two lines from the New Jersey side of the Hudson River, as described in the Getting In section. The line terminating at 33rd Street has several stations in Manhattan's west side (23rd Street, 14th Street, 9th Street, and Christopher Street) and can be used for within city journeys, but is typically a commuter subway system. The PATH is $1.50 per way, but fare reductions are available to those who purchase multi-ride PATH QuickCards. Most PATH stations now accept Pay-Per-Ride but not Unlimited Ride MetroCards.

If you are paying cash fares and need to go for example from the Penn Station area to Christopher St., then it is cheaper to take the PATH instead of the Broadway 7th ave 1 or 9 trains, as it will be $1.25 instead of $2.00. PATH trains will probably not be able to go all the places a typical tourist will want to go in New York, but it is useful to be knowledgeable of their services.

Buses

There are many different bus lines, which provide good transport away from the subway. Bus lines are identified by letters followed by numbers. The letters indicates the borough in which the line mostly operates (M=Manhattan; Bx=Bronx; B=Brooklyn; Q=Queens; S=Staten Island). Bus maps for each borough can be found at http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/mta/maps.htm

Even in Manhattan, with its dense subway network, buses can often be the best way of making a cross-town (i.e. east to west or vice versa) journey. And outside peak hours, a ride by bus from the tip of Manhattan at Battery Park to the Midtown district is a good and cheap way of taking in the sights.

When boarding a bus with a MetroCard, insert the card into the card slot in the top of the farebox by the driver. The farebox will swallow the card, read it and return it to you. You should see the front of the metrocard and the magnetic strip will be facing you and on the right side as you stick it in the machine. It will be vertically oriented. This is different from entering the subway where you don´t stick it in as much, but slide it horizontally oriented through the swipe device, with the front toward you and the magnetic strip on the bottom.

The fareboxes also accepts coins but not paper money as the fareboxes are not equipped to read paper money and drivers do not handle money. Changes are not made, so exact fares must be paid. The fareboxes accept dollar coins, and will also add up your pennies, even though it says not to use pennies.

Ferries

Ferries provide an interesting alternative to getting around New York. The most famous ferry is the Staten Island Ferry (http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/masstran/ferries/statfery.html), running from the tip of Manhattan at Battery Park to Staten Island. The ferry carries passengers and bicycles only, runs every 15 minutes during the day, and is free. As it gives a really good view of the Statue of Liberty on its way, this is a very popular trip for visitors. Ride on the starboard (right facing forward) side of the ferry from Manhattan and the port side from Staten Island for the best views (to the west).

Most of the other ferries you will see are operated by New York Waterway (http://www.nywaterway.com/), connect the city with the New Jersey Hudson River Waterfront and are not free. Enquire as to fares before boarding.

Taxi

Real NYC taxis are yellow, have a metal seal on the hood ("medallion"), a light with a taxi number on the roof, a meter for billing, stickers on the windshield for various licenses, special taxi license plates, and a divider in the car. Start off rate is $2.50 now (2004).

At the airport or any of the bus or train terminals, use the dispatcher line, and don't get into anything else. Airport trips are flat fare and expensive compared to taking mass transit-which is terrible from the airports, even with the AirTrain at JFK. Newark Airport offers direct service into Penn Station for around $10 from the Newark Airport Train Station, schedules are available on www.njt.com . Info on fares, flat fares, group rides and rules is at http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/passenger/taxicab_rate.shtml

Any other type of car ("Livery or Black Car") may only be called by phone, for a trip and are flat rate rather than metered (ask for the fare before getting in), and are not allowed to cruise the street or airports for fares.

In some areas, hopping into livery cars is widely practiced. This is useful, especially in areas with few yellow cabs. Negotiate the fare first. They are almost all lincoln town cars, and can be very nice.

For all cabs, you pay the tolls for bridges, tunnels and highways, even if the cab has an E-ZPass to use the express toll lane. Be careful of being overcharged by cabbies for toll crossings - on some bridges (like the Queens Midtown) rates are not posted in plain view. So, a crossing which actually cost the cab driver $4 is easily passed onto the unsuspecting passenger as a $5 charge. Outside the city, other than flat fare destinations, meter rates are doubled (when going to Westchester or Nassau County).

Tipping 15 to 20% of the fare is customary, even though the Taxicab Driver Rule (http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/drivrules.pdf) 2-34 requires a driver to give the correct change to a passenger who has paid the fare but not to ask a passenger for a tip nor indicate that a tip is expected or required.

There are also bizarre van and shuttle services in different parts of the city. You will have to ask where it is going and how much it costs. Usually, you will see people lining up and some mysterious van will appear and they will board. There are services between Chinatown and Queens (you won´t have to make any transfers if it goes where you need to go!), and also there are intra-queens services. There are probably more.

When traveling with small children, car seats are not necessary. One can travel with the child in their lap. However, it is unsafe to put a seatbelt over both parent and child. The safest option is to belt just the parent.

Car

Best advice is that a car is not only unnecessary but also inadvisable; street parking is non-existent near crowded areas and tourist attractions and garage parking ranges from very expensive to prohibitively expensive. Note that a large percentage of city cab drivers are originally from the developing world and have brought their aggressive, take-no-prisoners driving style with them. Traffic can be mind-blowing for the uninitiated, especially in midtown and around rush hours. Manhattan is compact and has excellent public transportation. While this is somewhat less true of the other boroughs (particularly Queens and Staten Island, the only boroughs to be developed with auto and expressway in mind), no visitor to New York will need a car.

The major car rental agencies have offices throughout the city. Smaller agencies are also well represented.

Parking in some areas may be $20 to $25 to start, but only in really busy areas. Driving through the tunnels and across the bridges can be a great experience. Also, try driving late at night time, when you can have more of the place to yourself. The skyscrapers at night are also quite beautiful.

Buy a map

This advice is even more important for intrepid travelers to the outer boroughs, where the street patterns seem to have been designed by drunks playing pick-up-sticks. There is no north-south or east-west. In Queens, numbers identify not only avenues and streets, but also roads, places, and lanes, all of which might be near each other. Read the entire street sign. Outer borough highways are confusing and often narrowed to one lane; the potholes could trap an elephant; the signs are sometimes misleading; exits which should appear do not; signs directing a highway approach drag you through miles of colorful neighborhood (in the wrong direction) before finally letting you onto the highway with a stop sign and six inches of merge space.

It really depends on where you're from, whether you can handle driving in New York. If you're from Boston, you'll eat it up. If you're bold, you'll have a great time. If you're anxious and stressed-out you'll have a heart attack and you're better off not adding to the traffic while the paramedics come. New York has 10 million over-stressed people as it is. If you're laid-back, kiss your attitude goodbye. By the time you leave you'll have torn chunks from your upholstery in frustration and rage.

That said, there are several points of entry/exit into the city from the New Jersey side: the Lincoln Tunnel (midtown), the Holland Tunnel (downtown), and the George Washington Bridge (way uptown)--all are accessible from the New Jersey Turnpike. The Midtown Tunnel over the East River is convenient for Long Island travelers, as it becomes the Long Island Expressway. The Queensborough bridge (aka The 59th Street Bridge) also crosses the East River into Queens, is toll-free and, lands near the mouth of the Midtown Tunnel but requires some automotive manipulation to get onto the Long Island Expressway. Other routes head north and east out of the Bronx, including Interstates 87 (north to Albany) and 95 (northeast to Boston).

Having a car makes it much easier--and (arguably) cheaper--to leave New York.

When trouble does arise, save your breath for when you get home. New Yorkers will be sick of your driving horror stories. "If your car gets towed, fuggedaboutit."

One invaluable skill to perfect in New York City, Manhattan especially, is safely and efficiently changing lanes and merging. Set up your mirrors and see if you can eliminate your blind spots. This skill alone can save you hours. Watch how effectively schools of taxi cabs can weave around double-parked vehicles for an example of what to strive towards.

When parallel parking, point your mirrors down so you can see the curb and not damage your tires, or hit some obstruction like a fire hydrant.

Check all signs carefully! If you're lucky enough to score a parking spot in Manhattan, you should be extremely suspicious. Parking meters demand constant feeding, and are hungry late into the night. Keeping rolls of quarters in the car may not be a bad idea. Many motorists simply pay garaging fees to relieve the anxiety of finding and maintaining a parking spot and avoiding the risks of parking tickets.

Travelling at off-hours makes sense to avoid rush hour traffic, but some highways and roads are surprisingly packed even so. The Cross Bronx Expressway is almost always choked with traffic. The Long Island Expressway has heavy eastbound traffic between the morning and evening rushes. The Holland and Lincoln tunnels are 10 minute waits on good days.

Driving crosstown (east-west) in Manhattan during rush hours is especially troublesome because the street lights are optimized to move traffic along the north-south roads.

See

Like most of the great world cities, New York has an abundance of great attractions.

A number of paid schemes exist to allow for reduced price and easier access:

• CityPass [5] (http://citypass.com/city/ny.html) - will get you into 6 top New York attractions within 9 days of first use for a much reduced rate. The attractions are American Museum of Natural History, Guggenheim Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises and Empire State Building Observatory. $53 adult, $41 youth aged 6-17 (reduced from regular combined admission of $105.50 and $82.50 respectively)
• New York Pass [6] (http://www.newyorkpass.com/) - $49 (children 2-12 $39) for one days' admission to over 40 attractions ($135 for one week, children $95)

Landmarks

• the Statue of Liberty
• Brooklyn Bridge, [7] (http://www.nycroads.com/crossings/brooklyn/) - You may walk across this historic bridge in either direction, or bike across it for no toll. The view is quite nice going into Manhattan. On the Brooklyn side, you can get pizza, or dine by the waterfront in the DUMBO area (Down Under Manhattan Bridge area), which is gentrifying with lofts and cool dining places. You can also take the F train to York St, hang out in the DUMBO area and then walk across the bridge back into Manhattan.
• Central Park, [8] (http://www.centralparknyc.org/) plus Central Park Summerstage for summer concerts [9] (http://www.summerstage.org/). The John Lennon Area is located on the west side of the park, around 72nd St, where you can also see the flat where Yoko Ono lives and where John Lennon died.
  • Belvedere Castle in Central Park Belvedere Castle sits on Vista Rock, the highest point in the Park, providing views in all directions. It is a popular visitors spot for photography and Park information. Mid-Park at 79th Street (212) 772-0210 Open 11:00 am to 4:00 pm Wednesday-Monday
• Times Square, centered on 42nd Street and Broadway - a place filled with video screens and LED signs.
• Cathedral St. John The Divine, [10] (http://www.stjohndivine.org/), Amsterdam Avenue between 110-112th Streets - the world's largest Gothic cathedral...a work in progress for over a century!
• Lincoln Center Broadway at 64th Street; http://www.lincolncenter.org/ The world's largest cultural complex. See theater, symphonies, ballet, opera, movies, art exhibits or just wander the architecturally beautiful buildings. Subway: 1 or 9 to 66th St. or walkable from A, C, and E trains at 59th St. The buildings are modern, and even have modern chandeliers. There are two opera companies, and the famous Julliard School of Music is also here. Across the street are a large Tower Records, a large Barnes and Noble Bookstore and a Loews movie theater.
• The Cloisters http://www.ny.com/museums/cloisters.html Located on four acres overlooking the Hudson River in northern Manhattan's Fort Tryon Park, the building incorporates elements from five medieval French cloisters--quadrangles enclosed by a roofed or vaulted passageway, or arcade--and from other monastic sites in southern France. Its gardens are a great way to spend a nice afternoon. Pay for the Cloisters or the Metropolitan Museum, and see both for one price.
• Carnegie Hall 154 West 57th Street; http://www.carnegiehall.org/intro.jsp
• Rockefeller Plaza 630 5th Avenue; The Christmas Tree, the Skating Rink, the shops and hubbub - you can't miss it. The Christmas Tree and the Skating Rink are not year round. You may take skating lessons. There are several dining establishments overlooking this area. The art deco buildings of Rockefeller Center are quite cool. Saks Fifth Avenue is across the street, and there are many other stores throughout the complex.
• St. Patrick's Cathedral Fifth Ave between 50/51st Streets. A big, grand Episcopal church is in this area as well. These churches are close to the reopened MOMA, now expanded and renovated after several years of being closed.
• The United Nations 1st Avenue at 46th Street http://www.un.org/tours/ offers a park overlooking the East River, tours, history in the making.
• SONY Wonder Technology Lab 550 Madison Avenue (212) 833- 8100. An interactive hands-on experience of cutting edge technology, sponsored by Sony.
• Radio City Music Hall 1260 Avenue of the Americas (212) 632- 3975 http://www.radiocity.com/ See the Rockettes, another show or just tour the famous landmark
• Empire State Building Fifth Avenue at 34th Street. http://www.esbnyc.com/

• Washington Square Park and it's famous Arch located in the heart of the Village
• World Financial Center http://www.worldfinancialcenter.com/ Next to the former Twin Towers; Shopping, dining, events and the Winter Garden all open to the public
• Chelsea Market http://www.chelseamarket.com/ The original Oreo cookie factory now a block-sized market selling gourmet foods, flowers, knick-knacks and offering restaurants, bars, art space and special shows. Has free wireless Internet access throughout and smells like a slice of heaven.

The AOL Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle has the Mandarin Oriental Hotel for dining, drinks, and Chihuly chandeliers. It also has a small mall with a big Borders Bookstore and some fat Botero sculptures. In the basement is a large Whole Foods Market, and there is seating for eating their salad bar and prepared food items (cheaper than eating in a restaurant). Subway: A, C, 1, 9 , B, D trains to Columbus Circle. This is also at one corner of Central Park if you want to explore that.

Museums and Galleries

New York has some of the finest museums in the world. Most of the museums accept donations for entrance fee.

• American Museum of Natural History, 79th Street and Central Park West, (212) 313-7278, [11] (http://www.amnh.org/). Open daily 10am-5:45pm. Huge. Suggested admission $13 adult.
• Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, 2 East 91st Street. A branch of the Smithsonian Institution devoted to historic and contemporary design. http://ndm.si.edu/
• Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Avenue at 89th Street, 212-423-3500. Modern and contemporary international art. http://www.guggenheim.org/
• Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Pier 86, 12th Ave & 46th St, (212) 245-0072, [12] (http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/). Apr-Sep M-F 10am-5pm, Sa-Su 10am-6pm; Oct-Mar Tu-Su 10am-5pm. $16.50 adult.
• Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street, 212-535-7710, [13] (http://www.metmuseum.org/). Tu-Th, Su 9:30am-5:30pm, F-Sa 9:30am-9pm, closed M (except some holidays Mondays), Jan 1, Thanksgiving Day, Dec 25. $15 recommended for adults.
• Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (Museum at FIT), 7th Avenue at 27th St, (212) 217-5970, [14] (http://www.fitnyc.suny.edu/aspx/Content.aspx?menu=FutureGlobal:Museum). Open Tu-F noon-8pm; Sa 10am-5pm. Free.
• Museum of Modern Art, 11 West 53 St (between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Subway: E or V to Fifth Ave/53 St; B, D, or F to 47­-50 Streets/Rockefeller Center), (212) 708-9400, [15] (http://www.moma.org/). Sa-M, W-Th 10:30am–5:30pm, F 10:30am–8pm, closed every Tu and Thanksgiving Day and 25 Dec. In Nov 2004 the museum reopened after expansion and renovation. $20 adult, free for under 17s; free for all Fr 4-8pm.
• Museum of Sex, 233 Fifth Avenue at 27th Street, (212) 689-6337 http://www.museumofsex.com/
• Museum of Television & Radio 25 West 52nd Street. Founded in 1976 to preserve and collect television programs as a service to the public. The museum has expanded, and consists of two museum branches in Los Angeles and New York City. The two museums hold over 100,000 television programs that are available to the public. Its programs provide a historical, artistic, and cultural perspective to television and radio. You may use their library here for the price of admission. They have lots of old shows and a database so you can see if they have what you want. (212) 621-6800 http://www.mtr.org
• Nicholas Roerich Museum 319 W. 107th St. (212) 864-7704. http://www.roerich.org/ Open Tues-Sun 2-5.
• PS1 Contemporary Art Center 22-25 Jackson Avenue (Queens). (718) 784-2084. http://www.ps1.org/ Open noon-6pm Thursday through Monday.
• Whitney Museum of American Art 945 Madison Ave. at 75th St. (800) 944-8639. http://www.whitney.org/. Open Wed & Thur 11am-6pm; Fri 1-9pm; Sat-Sun 11am-6pm

Factories

• Steinway & Sons Pianos 1 Steinway Place (Long Island/City) 11105 Tours only available online (Not open to the public) (718) 721-2600 Actually, they've started to offer free guided tours during Fall and Spring to see the skilled crafts men at work. Phone ahead, a month in advance is recommended, to reserve a place on these popular tours, and to check the days and times.

Presidential places

• Morris-Jumel Mansion 65 Jumel Ter. 212-923-8008. Built in 1765, this is the oldest house on Manhattan Island. It served as George Washington's headquarters in 1776. Currently a museum set on a 1.5-acre park, it features a decorative-arts collection representing the colonial and Revolutionary War periods. Washington's office is among the 12 restored rooms. The mansion is accessible by the B and C subway lines (163rd Street stop) and by the M2, M3, M100, and M101 buses. Morris-Jumel Mansion (http://www.ci.nyc.cy.us/nyclink/html/housesm_morris.html)
• Elijah Miller House Washington's Headquarters Museum 140 Virginia Rd. (White Plains) 914-949-1236 or 914-941-0757. In 1776, during then last phase of the Battle of White Plains, George Washington made his headquarters in this humble building, which dates from 1738. This house was also used by General Charles Lee during the battle and served as headquarters for Generals McDougall and Gates during the latter stages of the war. The structure is a representative 18th-century middle-class farmhouse and includes original furniture and artifacts. Adjacent is Miller Hill, the only preserved battlefield in Westchester County and the site of the conclusion of the Battle of White Plains; you may visit the battlefield after touring the house. The house is noted for its hands-on and living history programs. It is located between NY 22 and the Bronx River Parkway.

Do

Tours

• Gray Line offers double-decker bus tours. The traffic congestion makes this tour a bit slow at times. But you may want to take the tour to get the lay of the land and discover what you want to visit later.
• HI Hostel offers some unique tours to people staying there (see Hostels section), such as an interesting Haarlem Gospel walking tour - a sunday morning tour of south Harlem ending with a church experience in a Harlem church. Cost is $7 and the guide is quite knowledgable. They also often have discount coupons for various activities such as Broadway shows - check at the front desk.
• Big Onion Walking Tours http://www.bigonion.com/ An inexpensive and engaging way to get a historical perspective on several neighborhoods.

Eat

New York City's restaurant scene is truly world-class, in a league with Paris, Tokyo, London and Rome. There are literally tens of thousands of restaurants, ranging from dingy $1-a-slice pizza joints to the $500-a-plate prix fixe sushi at Masa (http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/39400194).

The combination of nearly 30,000 restaurants in Manhattan alone with a business failure rate that some people estimate at 90% means that just keeping on top of what's good to eat this month can be a full-time job! A recent copy of the Zagat or Mobil guides is a good place to start, and there are plenty of online resources with ratings and discussion: Citysearch New York (http://newyork.citysearch.com/), The New York Times Dining & Wine Section (http://www.nytimes.com/top/features/travel/destinations/unitedstates/newyork/newyorkcity/guide.html), Zagat's online guide (http://www.zagat.com) (subscription required) and the ever-lively E-Gullet (http://egullet.com) New York Forum (http://forums.egullet.com/index.php?showforum=4).

• Bluesmoke (http://www.bluesmoke.com/), East 27th between Park and Lexington. Great authentic BBQ yet more stylish than typical. Also has a jazz club underneath to serve up great music. Restaurant has very large beer and whiskey selection. Fun and tasty.
• Live Bait, 23rd Street where Madison ends, near 5th & Broadway. Great and cheap oysters, clams and other seafood, raw and cooked as well as southern fare like jambalaya. Not afraid of the tabasco here. One of the few places that serves Abita Springs beer from Louisiana.
• Scopa, 79 Madison Ave @ 28th Street. Modern Italian. Large restaurant, good for groups. Nice lounge/bar area that always has the game on.
• Penelope, Lexington at East 30th Street. Cafe/restaurant/bakery with a cozy, inviting atmosphere. Homestyle food and casual but friendly service. Inexpensive. Wine and beer served. Long lines for weekend brunch.
• Minado (http://www.minado.com/) 6 E. 32nd Street between Madison and Fifth Aves. (212) 725-1333. If you like sushi and Japanese food in the slightest, you will love Minado. It has over 100 feet of all-you-can-eat very fresh and tasty sushi and other items like crab legs, udon, salads of all varieties and a big dessert bar as well.
• Ocha 250 West 46th Street betwenn 8th and 9th Avenues. (212) 581 3198. Japanese restaurant with good sushi
• Tao (http://www.taorestaurant.com/) E. 58th between Park and Madison Aves. Trendy Asian cuisine; Reservations, proper attire required. Beautiful decor, people.
• T Salon (http://www.tsalon.com/) 11 East 20th Street at Broadway/Fifth Ave just south of the Flatiron Building. Tea house and cafe; excellent teas and tasty nibbles. A quiet oasis in a hectic city.
• Red Bamboo (http://redbamboo-nyc.com/) 140 W. 4th St. - 1 block SW of Washington Square Park. Excellent vegetarian soul food, organic wines.
• Lemongrass Grill (http://www.lemongrassgrill.com) 74-76 7th Ave South. Good thai food at good prices. Fast service.

• Veniero's (http://www.venierospastry.com/) 342 E. 11th Street between 1st and 2nd Aves. (212) 674-7070. A fun little Italian pasty shop.

Drink

The only thing about New York City that changes faster than the subway map or the restaurants is the bar scene. While some established watering holes have been around for decades or centuries, the hot spot of the moment may well have opened last week and could likely close just as quickly. The best way to find a decent bar is to ask the advice of a native dweller with trustworthy taste, but barring that a copy of Time Out New York (http://www.timeoutny.com/), the Voice (http://villagevoice.com/) some other nightlife guide will help you find a den of iniquity tailored to your personal needs.

A few old favorites worthy of note:

• McSorleys Old Ale House (http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7087703) 15 East 7th St. Between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. Manhattan's oldest continuously operating bar, McSorleys is famous for three things: sawdust-strewn floors, surly service, and serving only two varieties of beer (McSorleys and McSorleys Dark). Long ago the hub of the East Village's Irish community, now a local landmark where the staff and old regulars rub shoulders (sometimes grudgingly) with the local hipster population.

• Revival East 15th Street between Irving Pl and 3rd Ave just east of Union Square. Hidden two-story bar with an outdoor patio you can smoke at. Popular with film students from nearby NY Film Academy and Burningman adventurers. You'll always meet interesting people here.

• Push Cafe 294 3rd Ave just south of 23rd Street on the west side of the street. Good booze with frequent specials, good coffee, good eats and live jazz on Monday nights. A good place to meet and greet for a first date.

• KGB (http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/11273372) In a space that was once the New York headquarters of the Communist Party USA, and is still decorated with Soviet-era agitprop memorabilia, KGB alternates between being a quiet, atmosphere-drenched local hangout bar, a site for regular poetry readings and other performances, and on some saturday nights a boisterous boho pickup scene.

• White Horse Tavern (http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7117620) On November 3rd, 1953, the poet Dylan Thomas stopped in here for a drink... and stayed for seventeen more drinks, precipitating his death the next day. Although made famous by its posthumous customer, the White Horse has been serving up non-fatal portions of beer and pub food since 1880.

• Nassau Bar 118 Nassau St. For those in search of thinly clad barmaids and decent priced happy hour drink specials in the Financial District.

Sleep

Hostels

A locator for hostels in New York: http://www.hostels.com/en/findabed.php?ChosenCity=New%20York&ChosenCountry=USA

Typical price for a bed in a shared room (usually 6-8 other adventurous travellers from all over the world) is $30-40 night in Manhattan.

• Chelsea Intl Hostel 251 West 20th Street between 7th/8th Avenues. Small, clean, centrally-located. Internet access, 24-hour reception http://www.chelseahostel.com/ Subway: 1 or 9 to 23rd St or 18th St., A, C, E trains to 23rd St. You may also walk from 6th Ave. trains at 23rd St.
• Hostelling Intl NY 891 Amsterdam Avenue @ 103rd Street. 212-932-2300 One of the largest hostels in NYC. Close to the subway. Internet. 24-hour reception. http://www.hinewyork.org/ Subway: 1 or 9 trains to 103 St. You may also walk further from C trains at 103 St.
• Vanderbilt YMCA 224 E. 47th Street, walking distance from Grand Central Terminal and near the United Nations. Twin private room: $35 http://www.ymcanyc.org/sub.php?p=about&sp=vanderbilt/vanderbiltinfo Subway: 4, 5, 6, 7 trains to 42 St., B, D, Q trains to 47-50 sts., and I think there are other trains also.

Budget

• Comfort Inn Manhattan New York City Hotel, 42 West 35th Street, (212) 947-0200. In the heart of the Big Apple, close to Fashion District, Macy's, the Fifth Avenue shopping area, and standing tall amidst the Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden and Pennsylvania Station, the Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Times Square and the Theatre District, Radio City Music Hall and Javits Convention Center. http://ci-manhattan.chidirect.com/
• Madison Hotel (http://www.madison-hotel.com/), 21 East 27th at Madison Ave, (212) 532-7373. Super budget hotel.
• Gershwin Hotel (http://www.gershwinhotel.com/), 7 East 27th Street at 5th Avenue, (212) 545-8000. Cheap fun place to rest. Rates start at $99/night. Internet kiosks available. Between Times Square and Union Square - great location near Madison Square Park.
• Super 8 Times Square, 59 West 46th Street, (212) 719-2300. Cheap, clean, plain. This isn't the regular Super 8, it's an older hotel that was recently renovated. The location is excellent, just a short walk from Times Square. The price is low by Manhattan standards. $100 (or less). http://www.the.super8.com/newyork14143
• Grand Union Hotel (http://grandunionhotelnewyork.com/) 34 East 32 Street. Rates from $90; Midtown south location; European style, family operated.
• Hotel Pennsylvania (http://www.hotelpenn.com/), 7th Avenue between 32nd/33rd, (800) 223-8585 or (212) 736-5000. Large hotel, landmark, near all the action - Madison Square Garden, Penn Station, Macy's, Times Square. As low as $99/nite. There is a $4 charge for each piece of luggage stored and be warned, cleanliness is not a high point.
• Hotel 17 (http://www.hotel17ny.com/) E 17th Street between 2nd & 3rd Avenues. East Village favorite with hipsters, europeans, bargain-hunters. (212) 475-2845 $60-$80 for shared bath rooms, $90-$100 for private bath rooms.
• Larchmont Hotel (http://www.larchmonthotel.com/) in the West Village - 27 W. 11th Street (212) 989-9333 Weekday singles starting at $70 up to $125 for weekend Queen (winter rates). Continental breakfast included.
• East Village Bed & Coffee (http://www.bedandcoffee.com/) 110 Avenue C between 7th & 8th Streets (212) 533-4175. Single: $45 - Double: $90 tax included. Small, eclectic rooms in a hip neighborhood with plenty of vibrant young nightlife nearby. Small garden out back for nice weather.

• You can save money by staying at a New Jersey Hotel. If you are close to a PATH station http://www.pathrail.com the fare is cheap ($1.50 one way) and the trip is short. The PATH train takes you to lower or middle Manhattan with good connections to the NY Subway.

• Coolhouse (http://www.coolhouse.us/) B&B in Jersey City, NJ has rates as cheap as $40/night and up to $85/night. International focus, affiliated with an NYC language school.

Moderate

• 70 Park Avenue Hotel, 70 Park Avenue. +1 212 973 2400. http://70parkave.com

• Hotel Thirty Thirty (http://www.thirtythirty-nyc.com/) 30 East 30th Street between Madison and Park Ave. Rates $110+ Stylish but affordable in Murray Hill/Flatiron on a quiet street.
• Hotel Chelsea (http://www.hotelchelsea.com/newmain.html) where rockstars go to die ;-) 222 West 23rd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. 212 243 3700 $150-350 per night. Free wi-fi internet in lobby.
• Ramada Inn East Side (http://www.new-york-hotels-deals.com/Ramada_Inn_East_Side.html) 161 Lexington at 30th street. 212-545-1800 . Off the tourist beaten track (quieter) but still convenient to everything. Located near Gramercy Park, Union Square, 5th Ave Shops, the Flatiron district. Shuttles to/from airports.
• Carlton Hotel (http://www.carltonhotelny.com/) on Madison at East 29th Street; (800) 542-1502; Rates start at $150/night; currently undergoing renovation to be completed summer 2004. Beautiful old building, excellent service.
• La Quinta Koreatown (http://www.wguides.com/city/33/32_28264.cfm) 17 W. 32nd Street near 5th Ave. Heart of Korea Town. Near Empire State Building 800-567-7720 / 212-736-1600
• Ameritania Hotel (http://www.new-york-hotels-deals.com/Ameritania_Hotel.html) Broadway @ 54th Street - near Times Square.
• Millennium Broadway (http://www.millenniumbroadway.com/) 145 W. 44th Street in the heart of the Theater District between Broadway and 6th Ave. Rates start at about $160 +
• Chelsea Grand Hotel (http://www.chelseagrandhotel.com) W. 25th Street between 7th & 6th Aves. (866) 837-4258 New hotel as of December 2003, features high speed internet in rooms and complimentary fitness center on-site. Great location - close to everything! Introductory rates start at $118.
• Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan Hotel (http://fourpoints-manhattan.interstatehotelsresorts.com/) 160 West 25th Street. (212) 627-1888. Central to all major attractions in the Manhattan area, as well as major corporations, schools and hospitals. Its great location makes this 158-room hotel an ideal place for both the business and leisure traveller.

• On the pricier side of moderate, browse a website for B&Bs (http://www.innsmart.com/newyork/eastern/html/nyc.html) in New York City.

• City Connections Realty (http://www.cityconnectionsrealty.com/) rents local apartments at daily, weekly and monthly rates oh and they don't repay your deposit, so BEWARE. They have a small selection of apartments, some in the Gramercy Park area, some in Chelsea (their offices are at 71 W. 23rd St, Suite 1001). There is a broker's fee in addition to the apartment rental cost.

Deluxe

• Roger Williams Hotel (http://www.rogerwilliamshotel.com/), 131 Madison Avenue at 31st Street. More upscale, champagne with check-in. (888) 448-7788
• Library Hotel (http://www.libraryhotel.com/), On 41st Street just East of Madison Ave. Luxury boutique hotel one block from Grand Central Terminal & Main Public Library. Heart of midtown business district. T1 to rooms, afternoon tea, wine/cheese hour, $295-770/nite, complimentary health club usage, continental breakfast included, poetry garden, reading den/business lounge
• Le Marquis New York (http://www.lemarquisny.com) 12 East 31st Street (212) 889-6363 Deluxe rooms on the edge of Koreatown; Rates $250-500 though ask for deals; In-room high-speed internet; Health club, sauna and day spa.
• Bryant Park Hotel (http://www.bryantparkhotel.com/) W. 40th Street between 5th & 6th Aves, on Bryant Park. Nifty online registration. $245+ Distinctive black brick and gold trim building. Amenities include deep soaking tubs, cashmere blankets, Pipino toiletries, and Tibeten rugs in the rooms.
• Helmsley Park Lane 36 Central Park South (212) 371-4000 $250+ This is a fantastic hotel, with excellent views of Central Park. The staff is extremely efficient and treat you like royalty. The rooms are decorated in a very expensive fashion that verges on gaudiness, perfect for achieving that "pampered but you deserve it" feeling. If you intend to actually do work at the table in the hotel room, you'll be disappointed. The apron of the table extends down nearly to the seat of the chair, making it impossible to sit with your legs under the table. http://www.helmsleyhotels.com/hotel/67000005.asp

• The Peninsula Hotel New York (http://newyork.peninsula.com/) The Peninsula New York Hotel is ideally located on Fifth Avenue and 55th Street, in the heart of New York City's most prestigious shopping, cultural, and business neighborhood, in Mid-town Manhattan.

Try bidding for rooms on priceline. There is information on the internet where you can get free data on past successes and failures, and on how priceline is currently dividing up New York so you can bid with more information.

Buy

• Chelsea Market http://www.chelseamarket.com/ The original Oreo cookie factory now a block-sized market selling gourmet foods, flowers, knick-knacks and offering restaurants, bars, art space and special shows. Has free wireless Internet access throughout and smells like a slice of heaven.
• Gray Line offers double-decker bus tours. The traffic congestion makes this tour a bit slow at times. But you may want to take the tour to get the lay of the land and discover what you want to visit later.
• HI Hostel offers some unique tours to people staying there (see Hostels section), such as an interesting Haarlem Gospel walking tour - a sunday morning tour of south Harlem ending with a church experience in a Harlem church. Cost is $7 and the guide is quite knowledgable. They also often have discount coupons for various activities such as Broadway shows - check at the front desk.
• Big Onion Walking Tours http://www.bigonion.com/ An inexpensive and engaging way to get a historical perspective on several neighborhoods.

The AOL Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle has the Mandarin Oriental Hotel for dining, drinks, and Chihuly chandeliers. It also has a small mall with a big Borders Bookstore and some fat Botero sculptures. In the basement is a large Whole Foods Market, and there is seating for eating their salad bar and prepared food items (cheaper than eating in a restaurant). Subway: A, C, 1, 9 , B, D trains to Columbus Circle. This is also at one corner of Central Park if you want to explore that.

Cope

Information

• Citizen Service Centre, tel 311 (lines open 24/7) - New York City's official non-emergency help line, available in 171 languages - for questions (parade hours and routes, parking restrictions, transport problems) and complaints (litter, noise pollution, access)

Babysitting

• the Baby Sitters' Guild [16] (http://www.babysittersguild.com), tel +1 212 682 0227, bookings daily 9am-9pm, cash payments only - for stressed and busy parents visiting New York, round-the-clock baby-sitting is available short- or long-term from $20 per hour (4 hr minimum) and cab fare (approx. $10). Multilingual sitters are also available.

Contact

Find free wireless hotspots across the city at NYC Wireless (http://www.nycwireless.net/)

External links

• NYC & Company (http://www.nycvisit.com/home/index.cfm) -- New York City's Official Tourism Website for Tourists, Journalists, Travel Professionals, and Meeting Planners
• The Village Voice (http://www.villagevoice.com/) -- America's oldest "alternative" newsweekly, also New York's default source for music/art/dance event listing and other nightlife information.
• Gothamist (http://www.gothamist.com/) -- Gothamist is a blog/website about New York.
• Offbeat New York (http://www.OffbeatNewYork.com/) -- specializing in New York City's offbeat sites and sights.