traveldk.com

New York has distinct seasons with average temperatures ranging from 26–38º F (-3–3º C) in the winter to 67–84º F (19–29º C) in the summer. Despite the averages New York weather is predictably unpredictable. Layers are the solution – a short-sleeved knitted shirt, long-sleeved cotton shirt, and sweater will see you through most changes, plus a warm coat for winter.

The months of March and August have the heaviest rainfall, but an umbrella and raincoat are useful all year round.

Midtown streets are often clogged with traffic, meaning that walking is not only the most pleasant, but often the fastest, way to get around. Invest in a pair of sturdy walking shoes, and break them in before you leave home to avoid developing blisters.

Dry cleaning is expensive in New York, and laundromats are scarce in midtown where most visitors stay. The practical solution is to pack dark clothing, preferably in fast-drying, drip-dry fabrics that can be rinsed out overnight.

Most visitors are more than likely to undertake a lot of walking in New York. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that those tall buildings shut out the sun; if anything, it seems intensified in the city. So come prepared with a hat and sunglasses, and don’t forget to pack the suntan lotion.

The U.S. uses a 115– 120V current, rather than the 220V current used in Europe and elsewhere. Some hair dryers are equipped with an automatic conversion switch, but most 220V appliances will need an adapter, available in airport shops and some department stores. The U.S also uses two-pin plugs, and you will therefore need a two-pin plug adapter.

Unlike most of the world, the U.S. does not use the metric system. A conversion chart or electronic pocket converter makes it simple to convert miles into kilometers for distances, ounces into litres for capacity measurements, kilograms to pounds for weight, and celcius into fahrenheit for the weather.

Subways and buses, movie houses, most major attractions, and many hotels offer discounted rates for seniors over the age of 65. But proof of age is sometimes requested, so bring along a valid photo identification to take advantage of the discounts. Most museums and sightseeing attractions also offer discounted rates for students, again on presentation of the relevant ID. The minimum age for entry into bars and clubs in the U.S is 21 and proof of age will be required on entry.

To save having to do laborious calculations in your head to convert the price of goods from dollars into pounds or euros when out shopping, bring a pocket calculator with you. Some are almost as small as a credit card, and fit easily into a wallet or pocket.

Most international flights land at John F. Kennedy Airport and some at Newark. La Guardia Airport serves domestic flights. Cab fares to the city are a fixed $45 from Kennedy Airport, $34–$50 from Newark, and $20–$30 from LaGuardia, plus $3.50 toll and tips.

Several limousine companies offer private door-to-door services by appointment, to or from the airports, rail, or ship terminals, at pre-arranged rates averaging $5-$10 more than taxi fares. Reputable services include Carmel and Tel Aviv.

Supershuttle vans operate door-to-door and are less than limousines or taxis.They pick up several passengers so allow plenty of time. Prices are $15–22 according to zip code.

Coaches from the airports to central midtown points cost $8–$13. Shared minibuses with hotel drop-offs cost $13–$19. Transportation information is available at the baggage checkout areas in all airports.

Amtrak trains from all parts of the U.S. arrive at Penn Station, 7th Avenue and 33rd Street. Long Island Railroad and New Jersey Transit commuter trains also use Penn station, and MetroNorth regional trains use Grand Central Terminal, at Lexington Avenue and 42nd Street. Cabs are widely available at all terminal entrances.

Buses are the least expensive way to travel in the U.S. Intercity bus and commuter lines arrive at the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Cabs wait at the 8th Avenue entrance.

Cruise ships arrive in New York at the spacious, modern NYC Passenger Ship Terminal. Customs and immigration officials are on duty to process passengers on overseas cruises. Cabs are found outside the terminal.

Cars are a liability in midtown, where parking spaces are nonexistent and parking expenses can run to more than $30 a day. Check in advance with your hotel over the availability and cost of parking, and, if necessary, consider using a suburban motel located near convenient transportation into Manhattan.

$100 worth of gifts ($400 for U.S. citizens), one carton of 200 cigarettes, 100 cigars, and one litre of liquor may be brought into the U.S. without without incurring customs fees. No meat, seeds, growing plants, or fresh fruit may be brought in. Prescription drugs should be clearly marked. A receipt for any cameras or laptops will pre-empt any queries when you leave.

NYC & Company, the New York Convention & Visitors Bureau, operates a Visitor Information Center with multilingual counselors and free information.

The New York Times is read nationally and internationally for its extensive foreign coverage. The city’s tabloids, the New York Post and New York Daily News , are known for their attention-grabbing headlines and a number of pages of sports coverage. Many young New Yorkers read the free weekly Village Voice and rival New York Press.

Foreign and out-of-town newspapers may be found at branches of Barnes & Noble bookstore, and many Sunday papers are carried at the Universal News Stand. If you can’t find what you want, Hotalings News Agency, a wholesaler, may be able to help.

The Friday New York Times arts section, Time Out New York , the New Yorker , and New York Magazine are all comprehensive weekly sources of current happenings in the city, readily available at any newsstand.

Besides listings in the entertainment magazines, Museums New York is a quarterly publication ($4.95) available at most newsstands, with write-ups of current museum and gallery exhibitions. The Art Now Gallery Guide , free in most galleries, details current offerings around the city.

Most stores and sightseeing attractions are open daily (see Shopping Tips); banks close on weekends, although ATMs are always available (see Automated Teller Machines (ATMs)); post offices close on Sundays with the exception of the General Post Office (see Post Office Hours). Many museums close on Mondays and major holidays – check with individual venues for their specific times.

A tip of at least 15 percent is usual for meals, taxis, and personal services such as haircuts or massages. Bellboys at hotels usually receive $1 per bag, and bartenders $1 per drink. Many diners find it easiest to calculate a tip by simply doubling the tax (8.625 percent) on a restaurant bill.

Be sure to factor in taxes when you calculate costs in New York. Sales tax is an extra 8.625 percent on every purchase. Hotel taxes add 17.845 percent to the bill, plus an extra $2 per night occupancy tax.

Visitors might like to try an afternoon with a Big Apple Greeter. A volunteer New York guide from this not-for-profit organisation will take small groups or couples on a 2–4 hour tour of any New York neighborhood of your choice or give you an insider’s view of the city.

Above Greenwich Village, Manhattan is laid out on a straight grid plan, with the avenues running to the north and south, and the streets crossing east to west. All are one-way, alternating the direction with each block, except for Park Avenue, which runs both ways. 5th Avenue is the dividing line between the East and West sides.

To locate the nearest cross street for avenue addresses in Manhattan, drop the last digit of the street number, divide by 2 and add these key numbers:

• 1st Avenue; 3
• 2nd Avenue; 3
• 3rd Avenue; 10
• 8th Avenue; 9
• Lexington Avenue; 22
• Madison Avenue; 27

For further address formulas, check the Yellow Pages.

Traffic lights show red for stop, yellow for caution, and green for go for vehicles, and spell out “walk” and “don’t walk” for pedestrians. The “don’t walk” sign blinks when the lights are about to change; given the aggressive traffic, it’s wise not to attempt to beat the light.

Subways run north and south up and down the city on Lexington Avenue, 6th Avenue, 7th Avenue/ Broadway, and 8th Avenue. The N, R, E, F and W trains to Queens run east to west, crossing Manhattan. A free copy of the current subway map is available at any station booth.

Manhattan buses run on every north-south artery except on Park and West End avenues. The most useful crosstown buses run on 96th, 86th, 79th, 67th, 57th, 49/50th, 42nd, 34th, 23rd, and 14th streets. Route numbers are posted on a lighted strip above the front windshield. Free maps are available on most buses.

Metrocards are sold in subways and in shops displaying the sign and are good for subways and buses. Each ride deducts one $2 fare from the card; transfers within two hours are free on buses or subways. Weekly passes for unlimited travel cost $21.

Manhattan yellow taxis can be hailed anywhere you spy one. Lights atop the cab go on when the car is available, or to show that the driver is off-duty. Hotel cab stands are good places to look for a cab.

Rentals offices are found throughout the city; drivers must be over 25, and have a valid license and major credit card. Weekends are heavily booked, so phone in advance.

Street parking is not available midtown and is scarce elsewhere. Some avenues have curb meters allowing 15- to 60-minute stays; overstaying means a ticket or having your car towed away, both of which are extremely expensive. Side streets have “alternate side” regulations banning cars, during certain hours and on alternate days, from parking on alternate sides of the street.

The best way to see New York is on foot with a knowledgeable guide. Top leaders include: Big Onion Walking Tours (history oriented), Joyce Gold History Tours, and the 92nd Street Y (Jewish oriented).

The Municipal Art Society, dedicated to preservation and excellence in urban design, offers enlightening “Discover New York" tours highlighting the city’s buildings and neighborhoods, led by architectural historians.

Circle Line offers two- or three-hour cruises around Manhattan, as well as Harbor Lights evening cruises and one-hour sails from South Street Seaport. New York Waterways has 90-minute harbor trips.

Gray Line offers two-to ten-hour double-decker and motorcoach Manhattan sightseeing trips with multilingual guides, plus Brooklyn tours and Harlem gospel tours. An all-day tour costs $60 including a bonus Statue of Liberty boat ticket and one-day subway/bus pass

Among the insider’s offerings are Lincoln Center (see Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts), the Metropolitan Opera, Radio City Music Hall, NBC Studios, Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Grand Central Terminal, Gracie Mansion (see Gracie Mansion and Carl Schurz Park), and the New York Public Library.

See the glories of Central Park with Urban Park Rangers or volunteer guides from the Park Conservancy. Free programs are held most weekends and some Wednesdays.

A leisurely, two-hour spin around Central Park takes in all the important sights, with a break for refreshments. Tours cost $35 with bike rental.

The New York Botanical Garden (718 817 8700) holds various tours.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers 20 different guided tours daily in several languages, covering the highlights of the museum as well as specific galleries; tours are included with the price of admission. The Guggenheim Museum (see Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum) offers family tours of museum highlights, also free with the price of admission.

Most stores operate 10am–7pm Mon–Sat, until 8pm Thu, and 11am or noon to 6pm or 7pm Sun. Many stay open on holidays but all close for Christmas and Easter.

MasterCard and Visa are accepted everywhere; American Express and Discover in most places.

Department stores have the widest selections (see New York Stores), Madison Avenue has the designer names (see Madison Avenue Boutiques), and SoHo the best trendy fashions (see SoHo Boutiques). For discounts, try Orchard Street, Century 21, and Daffy’s.

For designer fashion go to Barneys, traditional styles Brooks Brothers or Paul Stuart, and Thomas Pink for hipper designs; John Varvatos is sporty.

Barnes & Noble carries a huge range; Murder, Ink specializes in mysteries; Books of Wonder is the place to go for children’s books; and the Strand has a wide range of used books.

Among the city’s gastronomic palaces, Zabar’s is the best known, but Dean & DeLuca, the Gourmet Garage, Citarella, and Agata & Valentina have their devotees.

Manhattan Art & Antiques and Chelsea Antiques carry a little of everything. For American folk, try Susan Parrish or For American folk, try Susan Parrish or Kelter– Malce, for Stickley furniture Gallery 352, and for antique-looking furniture, try Uproar Home.

F. A. O. Schwarz is amazing and Toys ‘R’ Us are amazing but less overwhelming is the Children’s General Store. Beautiful clothes are at Bonpoint, cool choices at Space Kiddets, and affordable outfits at Children’s Place.

Megastores Tower and Virgin will satisfy all tastes. Opera lovers should head for the Metropolitan Opera, vintage collectors the House of Oldies, and for house music Vinylmania.

Tickets for Broadway and off-Broadway shows are sold at a 25 to 50 percent discount (plus a small service charge) on the day of the show at TKTS booths. Payment is in cash or travelers’ checks only. Queues get very long very quickly so it is advisable to arrive early.

Watch your favorite show for free – if you can get in a request early enough. For more information, call the individual networks. Same-day tickets are sometimes available at the Tourist Information Center or from the NBC lobby desk.

There are regular free drama performances and concerts in Central Park in July and August. Contact Summerstage (212 360 2777) . Free masterclasses and excellent concerts are also held by faculty and talented students at the Julliard School (212 799 5000) .

Metropolitan Opera performances, New York Philharmonic concerts, Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, and outdoor performances at Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park – all free – are among the reasons why New Yorkers love summer. Contact NYC & Company (212 484 1222) for a current schedule.

The best transit deal is the $7 Fun Pass, a Metrocard that allows unlimited subway and bus rides from the first ride until 3am the next morning. If you are staying in the city longer, a $20 Metrocard includes two free rides, and a $21 card will buy you unlimited rides for one full week.

Pre-theater prix fixe dinners are good value, but lunch menus are usually even better. During Restaurant Week, for two weeks in January and again in June, New York’s best restaurants offer three-course lunches priced according to the year: $20.02, $20.03, and dinners for $35. The promotion is very popular, so book ahead through www.opentable.com

You can save money by using your bank card at ATMs (Automated Teller Machines). Many accept Plus or Cirrus network cards and will debit your account and pay you in dollars. The transaction fees are less than those at Currency Exchanges, and you get the wholesale exchange rate used between banks (see Banking and Communications).

CityPass will buy you admission to six top attractions for $53 ($41 for ages 6–17), half the price. You can buy it at participating sites, including the Empire State Building, the Guggenheim Museum, the American Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Modern Art, Circle Line sightseeing cruises, and the Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum.

White sales on linens are held in January and August, coat sales are featured during the November Veteran’s Day and February George Washington’s Birthday holidays. Bathing suits go on sale after the 4th of July and everything is on sale after Christmas.

Unregulated cars whose drivers solicit passengers at airports or in front of hotels have no safety regulations and no metered limits on what they can charge you. Be patient, and stand in line for a licensed yellow cab instead. (More on tips on taxi know-how.)

The “lost our lease” or “going out of business” signs you might see in shops – particularly along 5th Avenue or on Broadway – have been up there for years. The signs are intended to lure unwary customers into stores with, typically, overpriced electronics.

Just as in most large cities around the world, New York has its share of pickpockets hoping to take advantage of distracted visitors. Be especially alert in crowds and when getting on and off crowded buses and subway trains. Even better, use hidden travel wallets to keep your money secure at all times. Leave your valuable jewelry at home or back at the hotel, and never stop to count your money on the street.

You may be more than happy to pay the extra price for tickets to sold-out sporting events or shows, but be aware of the risk you run; sometimes the tickets peddled by scalpers turn out to be counterfeit, and you could wind up with no money and no seat.

You’ll see these card games on the street, especially around Broadway. Sometimes it seems as though a player has won big, but be warned – the winner is usually an assistant. You will only win these games if the dealer wants you to.

Most workers have no choice and have to ride the subway at its busiest hours. But you do not need to get caught in the crush; avoid the rush hours between 7am and 9am, and between 4.30pm and 6.30pm, and you’ll have a much pleasanter ride. (More information on subway routes.)

Unfortunately there is no regulation on what hotels can charge for telephone calls made by their guests. Read carefully the card that explains your hotel’s phone surcharges, since they can be hefty, even if you use a credit card. You can save money by patronizing the telephone booth in the lobby or sometimes by buying a phone card (see Telephones).

Hotels notoriously overcharge for their breakfasts, counting on the fact that their guests will find it easier and pleasanter to stay in. But you can save more than half – and often have a better breakfast – just by seeking out a coffee shop down the block.

One tip that might help you to avoid luggage hassles: Discourage break-ins by making it harder for thieves; use tape to seal your bags shut and make any tampering obvious. You can also put your travel itinerary inside any bags, so that if they go astray, the airline will be able to track you down.

Hospital Audiences, Inc, publishes Access for All ($5), a guide to available resources at all New York’s cultural institutions. The Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities provides services to residents and also has information on city facilities.

New York city law requires that all facilities built after 1987 provide entrances and accessible restroom facilities for the disabled. All city buses now have steps that can be lowered to allow wheelchair access, and most street corners also have curb cuts for wheelchairs.

Hands On is an organization devoted to the hearing-impaired, and publishes a calendar of information on museum and backstage tours, performances, films, and other events available with sign language interpretation.

All Broadway shows have free amplification devices for the hearing-impaired, and sign language interpretation can be arranged with the Theater Access Project or Hands On.

Lighthouse International is an organization devoted to enabling the vision-impaired to cope through rehabilitation and education. It offers tips for travelers, and also lends receivers so that you can hear the new talking traffic signs at 59th Street and Lexington Avenue.

Department stores are equipped with diaper changing stations (see New York Stores); because space is so tight in New York, other facilities tend to be scarce. Most restaurants do have highchairs these days, but it is always wise to call and check what facilities they have for children before you set out.

The Babysitter’s Guild, established over 60 years ago, is a reliable source for babysitting. Staff can accommodate 16 different languages and rates are $15 per hour, for a four-hour minimum, plus $4.50 for transportation ($7 after midnight).

The Legal Aid Society offers free advice and referrals; Legal Services for New York City , a non-profit referral service, also offers assistance to those with legal problems.

Help is at hand in the city for various eventualities.

Most New York banks are open from Monday through Friday, 9am–4pm, though individual branches may have longer opening hours. Only larger banks are equipped to exchange foreign currency. Be prepared to show a passport or other photo identification when changing currency.

People’s Foreign Exchange offers currency exchange with no commission charge. Travelex Currency Services charge a fee.

ATM machines can be found at almost all banks and are open 24 hours a day. They accept most common bank cards and credit cards, although they usually charge a small service fee.

Cash advances can be obtained from ATM machines using MasterCard and Visa cards; Banks accepting Cirrus (see Automated Teller Machines (ATMs)) take MasterCard; Plus card banks (see Automated Teller Machines (ATMs)) accept Visa. American Express members can also withdraw cash with their credit card at American Express offices.

Travelers’ checks in dollars issued by well-known organizations such as American Express or Travelex are widely accepted in the U.S. in restaurants, banks, and stores, although personal checks on a foreign bank are not. American Express offices will also cash checks for their cardholders.

Public telephones are found on many street corners, in hotel lobbies, and in restaurants and department stores. You will need 25 cents in coins to make a local three-minute call, and more if you talk longer. You can buy prepaid telephone cards at many newsstands, which conveniently eliminate the need for coins.

Many hotels now have free dataport connections for laptop Internet access. In addition, free access to the Internet is available for members of the public at the Science and Business branch of the New York Public Library

Postage for letters sent within the U.S. costs 37 cents for the first ounce, and 23 cents for additional ounces; stamps for postcards cost 21 cents. To send mail internationally, postcards cost 70 cents, and letters start at 80 cents for the first half-ounce.

All city post offices are open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday; the General Post Office stays open 24 hours a day. Most hotels sell stamps and will mail letters for their guests.

Pickpockets are on the lookout for tourists, who usually have substantial amounts of cash on them. Don’t flaunt jewelry or advertise your status by wearing a waistpack and sporting your camera around your neck. A local grocery store bag is a good, inconspicuous place for cameras.

Beware of distractions in front of you when boarding buses or subways; a pickpocket’s accomplice behind you may be after your wallet. If you buy electronics from street peddlers for next to nothing, you may find next to nothing of value inside the box when you open it.

New York’s crime rate is way down, but it makes little sense to take chances. Most city parks are delightful during the day, but after dark are not safe places to explore; nor are low-income neighborhoods very safe places for visitors to roam late at night.

Don’t advertise your empty hotel room by putting out the “please make up this room” sign. Leave the lights on if you think you will be returning late. Other than the maids, don’t admit strangers to your room; if necessary, phone the desk to verify someone who claims to be an employee of the hotel.

The D.O.C.S clinics, affiliated with the Beth Israel Medical Center, offer convenient by appointment or walk-in services for adults and children.

Emergency treatment is available 24 hours a day; if you are able, call the number on your policy first, and check which hospitals your insurance company deals with.

For dental crises, D.O.C.S has walk-in clinics. You can also contact N.Y.U. Dental Care for urgent treatment.

Most U.S. insurance is effective throughout the country, but those with foreign insurance coverage should take out comprehensive medical travel insurance before arriving in the U.S. Should you need any treatment, you will be expected to pay for it at the time of service and the bill can be an extremely steep one.

Smoking is illegal in almost all public places in New York, including subways, movie theaters, restaurants and bars. The fines are stiff, $100 and up.

Miles of ocean beaches, pools, a boardwalk with games, miniature golf, and entertainment are all part of this exceptional recreational center on Long Island’s south shore. A great day’s outing from the city.

An escapist’s dream. No cars are allowed on this tranquil island off Long Island, rimmed with 26 miles (42 km) of beach. Visitors get around on foot or bike, and shop or dine in tiny, village centers.

Celebrity-watching is a favorite sport in the sophisticated Hamptons on eastern Long Island, where society and entertainment names gather to enjoy the miles of beach and beautiful old colonial towns such as Southampton and Easthampton.

With the Atlantic Ocean beaches stretching the length of the state, the New Jersey shore is ideal for families. It offers lively boardwalks, laidback beach escapes, and Victorian towns like Spring Lake and Cape May, filled with romantic inns.

F. D. Roosevelt’s estate and presidential library, the lavish Vanderbilt mansion, a chance to preview the work of future great chefs at the Culinary Institute of America, and scenic river views are among the lures of this Hudson River valley town. By car, Rhinebeck, 10 miles (16 km) away, is a good overnight base.

This bucolic enclave of hills, streams, covered bridges, and mellow stone farmhouses offers visitors cozy, country inns, fine dining, choice antiquing, and gallery hopping. New Hope, a charming art colony, is the place to stay.

Home to one of the oldest and most elite universities in America, Princeton is also a lovely town filled with fine 18th-century homes. On campus are Nassau Hall, the 1783 U.S. Capitol, and a museum of sculpture.

Boasting Independence Hall, colonial neighborhoods, a lively riverfront, and more than 100 museums, including some noted collections of Impressionist art, Philadelphia is a great addition to a visit to New York.

The 100-acre Caramoor estate, in northern Westchester County, includes a museum of room settings brought from European palaces, and a Venetian theater that hosts an outdoor summer music festival.