http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18677
The smell of pot from across the hall and the scrum for breakfast (think British Bulldogs with bagels) can be put up with too.

I stayed there as part of my travels:
writeronthestorm.wordpress.com]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18677 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18637 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18637 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18570
www.bikeforums.net is a good source of info. See info on avoiding bike theft. Hint: get a strong U lock and take the seat post with you.

Consider buying a folding bicycle in NYC and returning with it. bfold.com, nycewheels.com and others have folding bikes. Strida would be a good bicycle for touring NYC. Dahon make very nice general purpose folding bikes. Folding bikes can usually be brought on the subway and trains. A bit iffy on crowded buses.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18570 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18046 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18046 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17847
1. Lay out a blanket in Central Park (picnic optional) and soak up the atmosphere. The huge expanse of grass at the Great Lawn is a favourite spot and great for games too.

2. Visit Belvedere Castle in the middle of Central Park at 79th Street. It is the highest point of the park with great views, a visitor centre, walking tours and free educational programs.

3. Attend Saturday morning story time for children of all ages in Central Park at the Hans Christian Anderson Memorial (mid-park from East 73rd entrance. Check for times at www.centralparknyc.org).

4. Visit one of the spectacular toy shops: Toys-R-Us in Times Square or FAO Schwartz (the corner of Fifth Avenue and Central Park South) which has a giant electronic keyboard built into the floor upstairs that children can play with their feet. You can easily spend an hour or more exploring and trying out the display toys without buying a thing.

5. Take the Staten Island ferry. Day or night this is one of the best free (or paid for) boat rides in the world. It takes about half an hour each way. You can get straight off and back on again or spend time on the dockside at Staten Island looking at the distant Manhattan skyline. The ride gives spectacular views of the downtown skyline and the Statue of Liberty, all lit-up to magical effect at night.

6. If it’s a quiet stroll you’re after and you find yourself in Brooklyn, take a walk along the Brooklyn Seafront for a great view of Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. (And if you do want to spend a few dollars there is a great ice-cream parlour there too.)

7. Stand in the middle of Times Square for ten minutes and don’t forget to look up.

8. Stand just about anywhere and play how many yellow cabs can you count in a minute?
And if it’s summer…

9. Summerstage (held at Rumsey Playfield near 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue) and Shakespeare in the Park (at the open-air Delacorte Theater near the W81st Street entrance to the park) are two of the most popular summertime programs and both are free. Top-shelf acts and great performances.

10. Fancy a dip? There are 14 miles of public beaches in four of NY’s boroughs: Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. Contact General Parks and Recreation Department Information at www.nycparks.completeinet.net for more info.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17847 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17605 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17605 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17159 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17159 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17154
People who have vacant apartments rent them by the night through craigslist. I also got a 3 month sublet a few years back through the same site.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17154 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17038 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17038 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17037 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17037 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16986 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16986 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16985
To save $20 admission go after 4pm (up to 8pm) on Fridays when it's free - although it gets busy, it's a great way of seeing some of the best displays of modern art you can ever see.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16985 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16984
A Greeter meets you at your hotel and you get an hour's walking tour of your chosen neighbourhood, and it is all free. You even get a subway pass for the day. We had a great time. Check the websites for details.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16984 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16980 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16980 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16974
You board at Chelsea Piers (on the Hudson near West 23rd). The two-hour cruise goes to the Statue of Liberty and returns, with champagne served by the crew.

The sunset cruise is particularly beautiful because you see the sunset to the west over New Jersey and to the east looms the skyline of lower Manhattan which is lit up brilliantly by the time you turn around and head back.

Unfortunately the cruise only runs from the end of April through the end of October. Cost is around $50, champagne included. We will never forget it!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16974 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16969
No worries about muggers - forget those scenes from Death Wish - you'll always have the company of other runners, even in the snow.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16969 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16967
You tell them your budget and the preferred area(s) and they send you a list of the options they have available. We stayed at the apartment of a very friendly lady at Upper East Side.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16967 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16964
Sometimes the work is fantastic and sometimes it is not so good - but the low ticket price makes it worth the risk. Their biannual festival, Avant-Garde-Arama is an experience worth the risk.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16964 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16963
Worth checking it out if you are coming to NYC on a budget.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16963 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16962 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16962