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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.

Hotels (see Best Hotels in New York, Deluxe Hotels, Mid-Range Hotels, Budget Accommodations, Boutique Hotels, Hip Hotels, Business Hotels, Neighborhood Hotels and department stores (see New York Stores) are the best places for restrooms. Most fast-food restaurants, such as McDonald’s, and coffee shops such as Starbucks, also have restrooms and although intended for patrons, these are usually available if you ask for the key.