| On my recent trip to New York City for the Small | | | | flights and car rentals). My favorite site is Hotwire; my |
| Business Summit I picked up a few tips for smoother | | | | brother's is Kayak. With Hotwire they will give you a |
| travel next time. If you're headed to Manhattan | | | | district or region that a hotel is in, the price, the star |
| hopefully you'll find a few things helpful here, too. | | | | rating, and ammenities (like wifi or continental |
| La Guardia Airport | | | | breakfast), but not the name or exact location. If you're |
| Unfortunately, there's not a train (subway) that goes | | | | ok with that little bit of uncertainty you can get a pretty |
| directly to the airport. Taxis are everywhere, but | | | | great hotel at a fabulous price. I needed to be in lower |
| expensive. They are a good option, however, if you're | | | | Manhattan, fairly close to the NY Stock Exchange |
| traveling with small children, handicapped, or elderly | | | | building and ended up with the World Center Hotel, |
| folks. Expect to pay $30 to $50 into Manhattan. A | | | | which was half a block from the World Trade Center |
| great website to get an estimate of cab fare is The | | | | site. So it was only about 6 blocks to walk to the Small |
| most economical option will be the bus. The one line | | | | Business Summit at 55 Broad St. |
| going out from La Guardia (as of 3/10 is the M60. Do a | | | | Lower Manhattan sidewalks are full of suits & ties |
| search for "ny bus map" to get the latest map/route | | | | walking to the Wall Street jobs. Plenty of tourists too, |
| information for the buses. | | | | but not like Times Square. If you're shopping for a hotel |
| You could take buses all the way to your destination, | | | | on your own definitely read up on reviews in a place |
| but be forewarned it's a lot of stop-and-go traffic. So if | | | | like TripAdvisor or Yelp. Even if a hotel gets a bad |
| you're prone to motion sickness this might not be a | | | | review observe how the hotel handles that bad press. |
| good option. Going into uptown or downtown | | | | A business that responds by attacking the customer |
| Manhattan you're going to be on the bus a long time. | | | | negatively affects my view of their professionalism. |
| On the way into town I decided to take the bus in | | | | If you're up for really getting into the local culture you |
| order to go past Central Park, which I'd never seen | | | | may want to contact someone through I might be up |
| before. I didn't time it, but I'm estimating it took an hour | | | | for that next time through. Just be aware it's not free |
| and a half into lower Manhattan from the airport! By | | | | accommodations, as you really should compensate |
| the end of the trip it was becoming very hard for me | | | | your host with something. But don't turn to a |
| to keep my stomach down. If you're used to bus | | | | CouchSurfing host just to save money-- that's just bad |
| travel this probably wouldn't be a problem for you | | | | form. You're motivation should be one of cultural |
| though. | | | | sharing. If you like to retreat to your hotel room alone |
| The closest subway train station to LaGuardia is the N | | | | at night then CouchSurfing isn't for you. |
| or W line picking up at Astoria (again, do a search for | | | | Tour Buses |
| "ny subway map" or something similar for the latest | | | | There are several companies in Manhattan that offer |
| information). You can either take a taxi that short | | | | bus tours around town. They are all of varying lengths, |
| distance-- about 1 to 2 miles-- or the M60 bus. As of 3 | | | | routes, and time of day. Around Times Square there |
| 10 the bus trip is $2.25, either cash or the Metro Card | | | | are many bus company staff hawking these rides so |
| (more on the Metro Card later). At a glance it looks like | | | | it's easy to get in on one without advance planning. I |
| most people take the M60 for that short hop. | | | | was able to easily pick up a night tour on a double |
| Forget about renting a car! all the rumors about New | | | | decker bus for $44. There's both open top & clear |
| York traffic are true. It's pretty much a madhouse. | | | | plexiglass top buses. In hindsight I should've went with a |
| Metro Cards | | | | completely open top bus (with a winter hat). The |
| The bus & subway system use the common Metro | | | | plexi-topped bus turned out to be so scratched and |
| Card, used by virtually all cities with public | | | | "crazed" that it was often hard to see stuff clearly. |
| transportation. The card is a tough, but thin, plastic card | | | | There are also hop-on/hop-off buses where they let |
| with an embedded magnetic strip, much like a credit | | | | the people off every so often for photo opps and |
| card but significantly thinner. It can be bent (which is | | | | quick shopping. My bus was a continuous tour, but did |
| bad!) so don't put it in a pocket where it'll get ruined. At | | | | stop once on the Brooklyn side of the East River for a |
| LaGuardia you can only buy the card at the main | | | | fabulous photo opportunity of Manhattan. A big-bus |
| terminal, so if you're coming in on Delta or US Air you'll | | | | tour is a nice way to spend a couple hours. |
| have to take the airport bus to the main terminal, even | | | | Google Maps |
| though M60 picks up right in front of the Delta terminal. | | | | I am a big fan of Google Maps, especially the Street |
| Metro Cards can be bought at automated vending | | | | View option. I used it to look around all over the place |
| machines that can take both cash and credit cards, or | | | | in New York before I got there. The one issue that it |
| one of the magazine stands. Even though I was only | | | | really helped with was scoping out bus stops around |
| going to be in NY for 3 days I decided to get the | | | | the point where I intended to switch from the M60 bus |
| seven day unlimited card in anticipation of using it | | | | to the 1 bus. With Street View I could see exactly |
| extensively on the subway during my stay. Not | | | | where my get off stop was and the next pick up |
| wanting the rest of the card to go to waste on my | | | | shelter, a mere walk across the street. |
| way out on the last day I gave the card to a random | | | | Google Maps also helped with detailed direction from |
| airport employee. With a bit of a surprised look they | | | | La Guardia to my hotel, and later from the hotel to a |
| said "Thanks!" | | | | theatre I was thinking about doing a show at. The |
| One thing I learned the hard way is that you're | | | | Street View would also be a good option to see an |
| restricted to swipe your card no sooner than 18 | | | | accurate picture of the hotel you're thinking of-- as well |
| minutes apart. So if you make a mistake and enter the | | | | as the neighborhood it's in. Just don't look at the hotel's |
| subway on the wrong side of the street you'll have to | | | | front door, rotate your view around to see what's next |
| wait 18 minutes before swiping in anywhere else in the | | | | door or across the street. |
| system. Not sure for the reason on that rule, but it | | | | Airport Security |
| really stinks. | | | | Airport security is tight everywhere-- as it should be. If |
| The NY Subway | | | | you haven't flown in awhile (especially since 9/11/01) be |
| It's dirty. I was half expecting to see a rat scurry | | | | prepared for some very long wait times in security |
| through the tracks as I was waiting for a train. Avoid | | | | lines. Plan to be at any US airport at least 1 and a half |
| touching anything if you can help it. I shudder to thing of | | | | hours before your departure. The TSA will have a full |
| having to get out and walk if the subway broke down! | | | | list of prohibited items and procedures. Do a search for |
| Some of the train cars are newer and pretty nice, but | | | | "tsa flight rules" to get the latest on what not to bring. |
| with the older ones it's apparent they're nearing the | | | | The one prohibited item that was new to me, as read |
| end of their lines. The newer cars have a nice digital | | | | on a La Guardia security sign, is snowglobes. If you |
| (LED?) display overhead of all the upcoming stops and | | | | really want to bring one home wait to buy it inside the |
| highlighting the next one coming up. The New York | | | | airport, past the security point. |
| subway system is huge and very complicated. Don't | | | | Hope these few tips on traveling to New York, and |
| be afraid to ask the attendants at the "help desk" if | | | | Manhattan in particular, help with your travel planning |
| you're headed in the right direction, especially | | | | down the line. Being my first time to the city I learned a |
| considering the 18 minute penalty rule if you swipe into | | | | lot for my own future travel planning. One thing I'll |
| the wrong gate. | | | | probably do next time is give myself an extra day for |
| NY Hotels | | | | more sightseeing after my business obligations. |
| Nowdays it's so easy to book your accomodations | | | | Have fun in New York City! |
| through one of the online travel discounters (as well as | | | | |