POCKET GUIDE TO New york Where New York Begins DOWNLOAD FREE FLIGHT & HOTEL APP HERE The New York Guide Welcome to your very own pocket guide to New York. Whether you’re using your mobile, tablet, or laptop you can consult this guide and start discovering the brilliant best of the Big Apple. From essentials like taking transport from the airport and changing your holiday spending money into US Dollars to experiencing the staggering heights of landmarks like the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, we’ve done all the research so you can focus on enjoying your trip! Take a look at the Broadway Shows, step inside the bars and nightclubs, and get a taste of the restaurants you should sample. This guide provides everything you need to know to witness the bright lights and big city atmosphere of New York City. Let the exploration (and the fun) begin! CONTINUE TO GUIDE MAIN MENU BASICS NEW YORK FOR YOU TOURIST GUIDE BY ATTRACTIONS BOROUGH MAIN MENU SELECT AN OPTION TV & MOVIE BROADWAY FOOD TOURS BABIES ENTHUSIASTS CULTURE SOUND FASHIONISTAS VULTURES HOUNDS PARTY CONTRIBUTORS ANIMALS MAIN MENU Basics You’re in New York City… the Big Apple… the City That Never Sleeps. Just like the Sinatra song, you will want to be a part of it. You can do that, but there are a few things you should know first. In this section we’ll tell you about the kind of weather you can expect, the currency to take and how to get out and about around the city. Pack your holiday gear, load your wallet and get ready to climb aboard. Follow our tips for international travellers and let the New York City adventure begin! WEATHER MONEY TRANSPORT AIRPORT & TRAVELLER TRANSFERS TIPS BASICS WEATHER Autumn In autumn the average high temperature is around 15.5°C to 21.1°C (60°F to 70°F) and the leaves begin to fall. The nights are cooler and the daytime temperature is perfect for exploring the city. During autumn, the city enjoys an average of 7.5 hours per day of sunlight. Winter Naturally, New York grows cold in winter, but it is also fairly dry. The temperatures range from between -5°C and 3°C (23°F and 37.4°F) and the city enjoys roughly 5.5 hours of daylight, rising closer to 6 hours in January and February. Snow in the city is not uncommon. Spring Say goodbye to the colder temperatures of wintertime New York as spring ushers in milder temperatures of between 5°C and 15°C (41°F and 59°F). The light starts to hold for an average of 8 hours per day, increasing to as many as 10 as spring rolls on. Summer Weather-wise temperatures hover between 20°C and 29°C (68°F and 84°F), with average daily highs hitting between 24°C and 27°C (75.2°F to 80.6°F). In June and July the days are long, with approximately 11 hours of sunlight, and August also boasts around 10 hours. Rainfall is minimal in this warm season. BASICS MONEY The US Dollar is the currency used in NYC. You may find the rate for buying dollars is better once you arrive. It’s possible to change money at an ATM, bank or currency exchange office. Tipping between 10% - 20% is customary when you eat out in NYC, while tipping a dollar to your bar tender is also standard. Note that surcharges and taxes may apply for taxi services. BASICS Transport New York is well connected. You can be too, since this section offers information on the different modes of transport in the city, from public mass transit transport to private services. The main transportation network is the Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA). It provides subway, bus and railroad transportation. Taxis Subways Buses Trams Bicycle TRANSPORT TAXIS An official NYC yellow taxi cab calculates fares based on distance and time, plus tips and tolls, and uses a meter. Taxis charge $0.50 per 1/5 of a mile (or per 60 seconds in slow or non-moving traffic). Travel between 4.00 pm and 8.00 pm adds $1.00 to your fare on weekdays (except holidays), and travel between 8.00 pm and 6.00 am a smaller surcharge of $0.50 regardless of the day. Private car services are also available in New York City. Dial 7 Car and Limo Service, Carmel Super Save, Ozo Car Service and Allstate Car and Limo Service are all good options. TRANSPORT SUBWAYS A ride on the NYC subway costs $2.75 with a MetroCard, whereas a Single Ride ticket will cost you $3.00. You can buy Unlimited MetroCards for either 7 or 30 days, which save you money if you are staying for at least a week, enabling unlimited bus and subway travel (with the exception of Express, PATH and AirTrain). A Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard needs to be loaded with credit. Major stations include the Howard Beach station and the Sutphin Boulevard station, since both offer connections to JFK Airport. There are also stops at some of the city’s main attractions such as Times Square and other famous places like Wall Street. TRANSPORT BUSES When you get on the bus make sure you have the correct change: $2.75, with MetroCard, or $3.00 for a Single Ride ticket (this ticket is only sold at vending machines). If you pay with MetroCard, insert the card into the fare box and it will automatically deduct the fare. If you’ve paid with coins on buses with intersecting routes, you can ask the driver for a transfer card and transfer free between the routes. MetroCard also enables free transfer between local buses and the subway. The time valid for the transfer is two hours from when you paid your fare. TRANSPORT TRAMS The Roosevelt Island Tram is an aerial tram that connects Roosevelt Island with the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The Manhattan station is on 60th Street and Second Avenue. From Sunday to Thursday it runs from 6.00 am to 2.20 am, and on Friday and Saturday from 6.00 am to 3.30 am. The fare is the same as the New York City subway at $2.75 per ride. The tram uses the same MetroCard system as the MTA, and children under 44 inches (3’6”) can ride for free if they’re with a fare-paying adult. The operators recommend purchasing MetroCards from staffed MTA booths at any subway station. TRANSPORT BICYCLE Cycling is allowed on all main and local streets, but not on the pavement, and you must ride your bike in marked paths and lanes where available. Make sure your bike has a front light, a tail light and a bell. It’s a legal requirement to stop at red lights and stop signs, just like you would in the car. The city has a bike sharing system, Citi Bike, which allows you to collect up and deposit bikes at various docking points around New York. One of the best places to cycle is Central Park, and you can also hire bikes here from Central Park Cycle Hire. Why not go on a tour? BASICS Airports and Airport Transfers In this section we provide you with information about New York’s major airports and how you can transfer from them to New York City once your flight has landed (or reach them for the return journey). Bus, subway, taxi or private car — we’ve got it covered for you! John F. Kennedy (JFK) La Guardia (LGA) Newark (EWR) AIRPORTS & TRANSFERS John F. Kennedy (JFK) It’s hard to imagine that John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) was once a golf course, and original plans suggested it would only cover 1,000 acres. Work began on the site in April 1942 and today the airport stands at 4,930 acres — 880 acres of this is occupied by the Central Terminal. JFK has been accommodating international flights since July 1948. Situated 15 miles from mid Manhattan in Queens, the airport was originally called the Idlewild Airport. In memory of the late 35th President of the United States, it was renamed the John F. Kennedy International Airport in 1963. It is now as charismatic as JFK himself, with six terminals accommodating flights for more than 80 airlines — and a whopping 125 gates serving the terminals. Terminals feature an array of places to eat and drink, whether you’re looking for a casual coffee to perk yourself up for early morning travel, or something more filling for an evening flight. There’s even a caviar house in Terminal 4! The terminals also feature stylish shops like Mont Blanc so you can pen elegant postcards from your destination, or Swarovski so you can pick up the finest jewellery. 30 minutes of free Wi-Fi access is available in the terminals too. Getting to and from the airport is easy, with connections to the bus system, subway and Long Island Rail Road system available at the Jamaica and Howard Beach stops. Flying to or from JFK International Airport is an experience. Taxis Subway / Bus Train / Airtrain JFK TAXIS You can take a yellow taxi from JFK International Airport and, depending on the destination and time of day, you may have to pay a surcharge. A trip from the airport to Manhattan is generally charged at a $52 flat rate, plus tolls and tips (tipping is important in New York!). If the peak travel surcharge applies it costs $1 between 4.00 pm and 8.00 pm, and $0.50 between 8.00 pm and 6.00 am.