It's cheap and covers some amazing scenery in a comfy environment, even the Amtrak food and drink is cheap. I accidentally booked a hotel in Canada, forgetting when I set it up to check which side of the falls I was on. Check it out at: writeronthestorm.wordpress.com

from Penn station to Niagara Falls

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Rather than use the subway, we used the local buses. They take longer and there are some problems if you try to go cross town. However, you do get to see more of the city as you travel around. Also with a Metrocard they are effectively free.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

The Circle Line is wonderful for a tour around Manhattan Island. It should not be missed. But much more exciting was our cruise on the Schooner Adirondack. There are some four sailings a day and we chose the sunset one.

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!

www.sail-nyc.com/html/schooner_adirondack.html

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Amtrak and VIA Rail passes make train travel in the USA and Canada a bargain for those on a tight budget. The range of passes covers different regions or the whole country for periods of up to a month.

www.usa-by-rail.com

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

It goes past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Nice and cool on deck in the summer.

Keep walking south all along Broadway until you come to the bull sculpture by Wall Street. Follow the street around to the left and you'll come to the ferry terminal.

Alternatively catch the subway to South Ferry.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

A 24/7 van service that takes passengers from JFK (as well as Newark Liberty and La Guardia) to their hotel. The cost from JFK to Manhattan is $17-$20 depending on where in Manhattan you need to go to. I think they also go to the other boroughs as well.

Reserve a seat in the shuttle at the Ground Transportation Desk once you exit customs. I have never had to wait more than 30 minutes for the shuttle to arrive and the shuttle is fast, even though you have to share the van with other passengers who are going to other destinations in the same area.

Worth saving the money of getting your own cab as you get to see the city during the ride.

Ground Transportation Desk (once you exist customs)

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Get a rickshaw ride round Times Square. If you've never been to Times Square before you'll come out of the subway and be overwhelmed by it all. We found this a great way to soak it all up and it was definitely one of the funniest experiences we had in NY. We managed to get a 15-minute tour for $20, which I thought was a bargain (about £6 each between two people). You're bound to get a cool guy or girl with a story to tell who will give you a individual and real tour of the city - they live there after all. A lovely Israeli guy picked us up. Revel in being a proper tourist for a bit, being ferried round in the open air. You won't feel overly secure dodging in and out of the Times Square traffic but that was all part of it. If you don't take it too seriously, like a gondola ride in Venice, you will love it, laugh a lot and be glad you did it.

Just hail one down. Preferably choose the best looking one because you will have a view of their arse the whole time.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

$24 buys unlimited travel on the subway AND the buses for a week.

They can be bought at any subway station;
www.mta.nyc.ny.us/metrocard/mcgtreng.htm

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Some people are a little nervous of the subway, thanks to the terrible reputation it previously had for crime and vandalism. Thankfully, times have changed, and the subway is not only a cheap and efficient way to get around the city, it's a great way to experience the 'real' New York.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Buy a day ticket for the hop-on-hop-off sightseeing bus. I would seriously recommend the downtown tour for your first day-there is a tour guide on each bus if you’re interested in the history of the places, and if not, you can sit back and enjoy the views or try to follow your route on a map to get your bearings! You can get on and off at any stop-which are at all the main downtown attractions, buses are quite frequent and the tour guides are very friendly-pleased to answer any questions or help you figure out which stop you need!

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

To get a great experience of NY, jump on the Staten Island Ferry. It gives you a great view of the downtown skyline, Brooklyn and the Statue of Liberty. Also, it's free, runs every few minutes, and real New Yorkers will be alongside you. Once you get to Staten Island, get right back on a return ferry and enjoy the fab experience again.

To get a similar view, you could take the Statue of Liberty Ferry, which is not cheap and usually has a long queue. Only take that if you want to tour the Statue of Liberty, which is usually full of kids and queues.

Battery Park, which is very downtown; the end of Manhattan. The park and ferry terminal are very well sign posted.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

The Oyster Bar in Central Station is a very stylish restaurant with fantastic clam chowder, and oysters available to buy individually. If you have time to kill at the station this is the place.

Off the food court in Central Station

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

You get a virtually free trip past Central Park and up the East side riverside park. Get off at Grants Tomb then walk West for a good selection of restaurants. Back on the subway or on to the Cloisters.

Central Park South is a good place to board.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Shared rides are a great way of avoiding public transport when you have baggage, and are relatively inexpensive (US $ 15-19 one way) when compared to taxis. There will usually be a wait of between 15-30 minutes and the ride time into the city is influenced by how many people are sharing the ride. The transport is provided by a six-seater van with space in the back for luggage. Payment up front (before departure) in cash is required, and tipping is optional, though encouraged. You will be dropped at the exact address specified, be it a hotel or residence.

Ask at the transport desk (located in the luggage retrieval area at Newark & Laguardia, not certain about JFK) or book on-line through www.supershuttle.com/.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Rather than pay expensive taxi or bus fares from the airport, simply get the free shuttle bus from outside the terminal to Howard Beach JKF Airport station on the 'A' line subway train. Then take the subway straight to Manhattan. Cost? $2.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Enjoy feeling part of the New York scene, especially early evening on a weekday, overlooking the beautifully elegant concourse of Grand Central Station and watching the world go by. Ideal for people watchers!

Grand Central Station - on the balcony. Not sure of the name - Metrazour??

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

A minibus service with a desk in the airport to and from central points in Manhattan and also right to your hotel as long as it is reasonably central. You pay a very reasonable fixed price and share your transport with others of course - also an interesting way of getting a little tour of the city as you drop off fellow passengers. As a lone female unaccustomed to independant travel in the US and worried about dealing with a yellow cab driver, this was a godsend for me! Ideal for individuals, but obviously not for anybody who is in a hurry!

JFK Airport Arrivals

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Helicopter trips. We took The Big Apple Tour a 10-12 minute one which was fantastic. It is essential to book as they were very busy and they also check ID carefully. We went down to the Statue of Liberty and back. Fantastic views. Well worth doing.

Liberty Helicopters, Downtown Manhatten Heliport, Pier 6 and the East River, New York, NY 10004 www.libertyhelicopters.com

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

From JFK to Manhattan a cab is by far the easiest and costs $50 with a tip. At $5 the subway is by far the cheapest. But after an eight-hour flight, an hour in immigration and a five-hour time difference the shuttle to the station and then a 40-minute trip into town, plus maybe a change or two, can be gruelling. Best bet is probably an express bus, which goes every 15-30 minutes and costs $15. If you're going to Brooklyn or Queens it might make more sense to get a cab.

From Newark get the train to Penn station, which runs every 15 minutes and costs $14. A cab will set you back $60 with toll and tip and not get you back any quicker.

Above all, never expect to hail a cab in Manhattan from 3pm to 5pm - they are changing shifts. Their lights are off and nobody's going home.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

If there more than 3 of you and luggage, 1 taxi is not enough. 2 costs $100 dollars each way. Limos? $111 dollars including tip and they were there even when we were 4 hours late! Outstanding

Internet trawl; book in advance, cost deducted the day you travel

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends