Best NYC tour?

[Maddie2]

We will be in NYC in mid-July and would like to take one of the tours. We took the Old Towne Trolley tour in Boston a few years ago and loved it - you could get on and off the trolley as you cared to. This company does not do tours in NYC, but hoping we can find something comparable.

Hoping to find something that won't break the bank, but know that usually you get what you pay for - and as this is likely a once-in-a-family's-lifetime trip, we know it will be somewhat spendy.

Taking a bus tour that just goes past everything is not appealing. We want to be able to get off the bus(or trolley) and experience the area and then get back on the mode of transportation. It would be great if the tour included land and sea - down to Battery Park and on a boat - maybe over to either Liberty or Governor's Island.

We will only be there for 2 days - so one day to do some sort of over all tour and one day to go to a limited amount of places (museums, stores, etc).

I lived in NYC for a summer many, many years ago so I am somewhat familiar - enough to know a few areas fairly well, but definitely not enough to know much.

TIA!

 

[nordkin]

The Gray Line hop on hop off bus allows you to get off and experience the area. We have used it a couple of times and enjoyed the tours. We have run across specials on line that gave us two days for the price of one.

 

[crazyme5kids]

I can't help you with any tour bus info, but my feeling is you spend a lot of time sitting in traffic on those buses. Faster to hop on the subway to get from point A to point B, although there are many here on the Dis that enjoy using them.

Also, just so you know, the ferry to Governor's Island is free, so when you are looking at prices of different tours you can factor that into the value of it.

Edited to add: you can see the Statue of Liberty from Governor's Island too.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

We have done the Grey Line hop on/hop off before in February and thought it was fine. When we went in May though (we weren't doing bus that trip)- we saw long lines of people (20-30) waiting at the bus stops. They had to wait several times for busses to come through before there was space to get on. Definately not the easy on like Old Towne Boston was.

FYI the only way to Liberty Island is with their boats. The island was closed after Sandy, but their website says will be open again July 4. You will want to buy tickets in advance.

If you want to just get out on the water- Staten Island Ferry is free and goes right out by the Statue of Liberty. You do have to have to get off at SI, but you can turn right around for the return trip if that is all you want to do.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Honestly, and this is just my opinion, if you only have two days to spend, I would make a list of the things you really want to see and do most and skip trying to do the smaller stuff. I'd also skip the stores, to me they are a waste of time.

Again, do your research to see what things cost. Some museums are free or low cost, so the bus tour stuff, or even the city pass things wind up costing more in the long run.

 

[Maddie2]

Thanks for all of your advice. Truthfully, I was hoping to do this tour thing so that I wouldn't have to make a list and get to just a few select things - but that is what I may have to do. I am really looking forward to this trip, but do wish we had more NYC time.

We are doing an extended vacation to/through several cities and destinations and know that we just can't "do it all."

You know when people complain about how hard it is to plan a Disney vacation? Well, a Disney vacation is looking extremely easy to plan compared to this trip! DH thinks we should just "wing it" - but that is not in my DNA and in the end, I know I will be glad that I/we have things more planned out.

SO much to see and do, so little time. SO hard to choose!

Thanks for the Governor's Island info. LOVE that place! I spent some time there long ago - when it was a Coast Guard base. Fabulous views. Would love to go to Liberty Island, but GI may have to do.

 

[disykat]

We thoroughly enjoyed a walking tour we took with "real New York tours." Basically, we spent a half day going on and off the subway seeing lots of the "big sights" with 10 other people and an actor on his day job. We felt it was worth it because we were able to see a lot in a short time! It's also fun to get the feel of a place from someone who lives there. He gave us lots of suggestions for what we should do on our own too.

 

[buzzgirls&dad]

We did the Greyline bus tour last (2012) Memorial weekend which was also Fleet Week and never waited at all for any buses. It was a great way to see so much more of the city. The most crowded and time consuming thing was the 9/11 Memorial, which was understandable given the time we were there. I highly recommend the bus tour.