New York

[Deedee]

We are going to New York for the first time January and tbh we are totally confused as to which are the best passes to buy, has anyone got any tips?

 

[willeve]

Have a look at the Smart Destinations site, we found that best value for money, as you can include the open-top bus as an option.

 

[Deedee]

Thank you

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

Last time we were there (2011) we bought the NY Pass. We paid online then picked it up from Planet Hollywood.

We liked this pass as we paid for a set number of days, then you go to as many attractions as possible in those days. It even covered us for the Alexander McQueen exhibition at the Met that year (we did get there 45 mins before opening so we didn't have to queue for hours!) and even got sent to the front of the line.

It covers all the major attractions, plus you can book tours with it. We did the Central Park TV/movie tour, which was really interesting

 

[Deedee]

some one else has told us about the NY pass it sounds good

 

[WSussex]

Check out attraction tickets direct they have all sorts of different deals - it all depends what you want to see, we also booked helicopter tour and dinner and dance on the world yacht thru them - highly recommend!

Sx

 

[iHEARTflorida]

Passes for what?

I usually don't like things like NY City Passes.

The best way to explore NYC is on foot. Most sights are free, and you don't need a pass for. A combination of the subway and walking is the best way to get around.

January will be cold, and you probably don't walk to sit on a red double decker bus!

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

Passes for what?

I usually don't like things like NY City Passes.

The best way to explore NYC is on foot. Most sights are free, and you don't need a pass for. A combination of the subway and walking is the best way to get around.

January will be cold, and you probably don't walk to sit on a red double decker bus!

I've been to New York three times and always explore on foot/by subway. However, if you want to visit attractions such as the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock and any of the tours (by no means only bus tours but Radio City, NBC Studios, Ellis Island, Madison Square Gardens amongst many others) it can be useful to use a ticket such as the NY Pass. These attractions are not free to enter. As far as I recall, we could also hire bicycles and other unusual things, all within the price.

When we visited in the snow we were grateful for the heating provided by indoor attractions; similarly in July we appreciated the air conditioning.

Of course, it is up to individuals to decide whether they will get value for money out of it. We certainly did because we were always on the go!

 

[stevechase]

I've been to New York three times and always explore on foot/by subway. However, if you want to visit attractions such as the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock and any of the tours (by no means only bus tours but Radio City, NBC Studios, Ellis Island, Madison Square Gardens amongst many others) it can be useful to use a ticket such as the NY Pass. These attractions are not free to enter. As far as I recall, we could also hire bicycles and other unusual things, all within the price.

When we visited in the snow we were grateful for the heating provided by indoor attractions; similarly in July we appreciated the air conditioning.

Of course, it is up to individuals to decide whether they will get value for money out of it. We certainly did because we were always on the go!

Got to agree, we been three times, most recent last July and the most enthralling way round is to just walk. Everything you see looks familiarit truely is one place thar exceeds expectations.

Bryant park, mp3 in your ears lying on the main green looking up at the blue sky. A wonderful couple of hours.

Hope you have a fantastic time

Steve

 

[disneyholic family]

it is COLD in january....really really...
on the up side, cold weather keeps criminals off the streets (when we lived there, we felt the safest in the dead of winter)..

it's of course harder to walk around in the winter, but if you really bundle up, you can do it...i used to walk to work in the winter (from 72nd and the park to rockefeller center)...it's doable....bring a warm coat, gloves, hat, scarf, boots and you're good to go...

new york is a walking town....you get the most out of it if you stay above ground......
by the way, when you say "we" are going to new york - who's 'we'?
young? old? somewhere in between?

 

[mikkithemouse]

Hiya, so excited for you! Love New York. We went in february and the weather was quite varible. The open top bus was good, but be prepared it gets cold up there lol!

Times square is great but we got hassled a lot there by guys trying to sell comedy club tickets.

A place we really enjoyed was the new York police department museum, only cost a few dollars but it was an interesting few hours.

 

[WiganTony]

We looked into buying the various passes when we went to NY in 2011 (and are going again this July), but didn't really feel as if we would get sufficient value from them.

That said, the Smart Destinations website will also let you customise passes so that you only pay for the attractions you want, and they tend to be valid over a longer time period (for 30 days rings a bell). We did buy these when we visited Boston (we visited the Science Museum, Aquarium, Prudential Skywalk and had a DUKW Tour) which saved us some money and also let us skip the queues at the Aquarium and Science Museum.

NY is quite easy to walk around being on a grid system, so it is quite difficult to get lost. We did buy a 72 hour all-loops bus pass which we made good use of - we got to see most of Manhatten plus Brooklyn, Harlem, and also saw the city by night, and felt that this was good value (although it is possible to travel around for much less using the Subway, but then you don't get to see the sights!!)

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

We looked into buying the various passes when we went to NY in 2011 (and are going again this July), but didn't really feel as if we would get sufficient value from them.

That said, the Smart Destinations website will also let you customise passes so that you only pay for the attractions you want, and they tend to be valid over a longer time period (for 30 days rings a bell). We did buy these when we visited Boston (we visited the Science Museum, Aquarium, Prudential Skywalk and had a DUKW Tour) which saved us some money and also let us skip the queues at the Aquarium and Science Museum.

NY is quite easy to walk around being on a grid system, so it is quite difficult to get lost. We did buy a 72 hour all-loops bus pass which we made good use of - we got to see most of Manhatten plus Brooklyn, Harlem, and also saw the city by night, and felt that this was good value (although it is possible to travel around for much less using the Subway, but then you don't get to see the sights!!)

If you buy a metro card you have the option to use the regular buses or the subway as much as you like. Buses are slower, but as Tony said, you see a lot more of the city on a bus!

When I take my students in April we will buy metro cards to travel around as quickly as possible in our limited time, although we have lots of walking opportunities planned too

 

[tennisfan]

Passes for what?

I usually don't like things like NY City Passes.

The best way to explore NYC is on foot. Most sights are free, and you don't need a pass for. A combination of the subway and walking is the best way to get around.

January will be cold, and you probably don't walk to sit on a red double decker bus!

We used the NYC city pass when we went and it saved us a fortune and we walked loads. It costs to to into things such as Empire State building, Top of the Rock. We got really good use out of the pass and saved on meals with it so it was worth it.

Having said that I have looked at the pass now and some venues are now not included so wouldnt pay full price for it. We paid $70 for a 3 day one and got our moneys worth.

OP look out for US holidays as they tend to do the NY Ciry pass on offer, also have a look at what is covered by it and work out if you will save

 

[Deedee]

it is COLD in january....really really...
on the up side, cold weather keeps criminals off the streets (when we lived there, we felt the safest in the dead of winter)..

it's of course harder to walk around in the winter, but if you really bundle up, you can do it...i used to walk to work in the winter (from 72nd and the park to rockefeller center)...it's doable....bring a warm coat, gloves, hat, scarf, boots and you're good to go...

new york is a walking town....you get the most out of it if you stay above ground......
by the way, when you say "we" are going to new york - who's 'we'?
young? old? somewhere in between?

there are 3 of us me hubby and the daughter who will be 23. That sounds good about the criminals lol We are staying at the New Yorker hotel so i think its quite central to get about