New York New York is one of the top three destinations sold in our USA department. Your trainer will be conducting a session today to highlight some key points to give you a good basis from which to develop your knowledge. You can supplement this by working through the modules on the GM Academy and our online brochure. Geography and Location New York is the largest city in the State of New York and is situated on the Eastern Seaboard of the USA. It uses Eastern Standard Time, which is 5 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time.
* New York City Travelling from the UK, direct flights take between 7 hours 40 minutes and 8 hours depending on the Journeys returning from USA usually take approximately 45-60 minutes less because of tailwinds etc. Passengers should be on their guard and only board public transport at signed pick-up points or, in the case of pre-arranged private transfers they should go to the driver holding their name up on a
board. They should not give their names to potential drivers this is more for financial security than risk of bodily harm although one should be aware of both. Un-licensed taxi drivers looking to make a fast buck or claiming to be from the agency booked with, passengers should NOT proffer their name until the driver has mentioned it first. It costs approximately $220.000 US to get a taxi license in the USA, so some people are just trying to make a living and beat the system. You may not be in physical danger but you have no safeguard over the fares they may charge will probably be exorbitant. E.g. Wrong- A driver approaches a passenger and asks You waiting for your transfer? Passenger Yes Driver What is your name? Passenger Mr Edwards Driver Yes Mr. Edwards, I am your driver, this way please Better- Driver, You waiting for your transfer Passenger Yes, who are you collecting? The real driver would have a name. The map above shows you the location of the three New York airports in relation to Manhattan Island. JFK International is located 15miles (24km) southeast of Central Manhattan in Brooklyn Borough. Newark Liberty International is 2 miles South east of Newark in the state of New Jersey and 16miles (26km) South West of Manhattan. La Guardia airport is 8 miles (13km) East of Manhattan. Passengers may ask which airport is best and it really is all down to personal preference, if their ultimate destination is Manhattan as the two main airports are more or less equidistant from there. Passengers going to Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island will find JFK more convenient and of course
passengers heading for New Jersey or up state New York may find Newark is best for their needs. La Guardia is only used for internal flights and some limited international services to Canada, Bermuda, The Bahamas and Mexico City. Most of our UK passengers therefore would only use it to get a more convenient connection within the states with say US Airways or Delta. Some passengers may be interested to know that BA now has their own dedicated terminal at JFK which has been refurbished and has a pleasant atmosphere. They are the only non-us carrier to have their own terminal. Partner airlines such as Qantas use it also. Transport from JFK For convenience a licensed and metered yellow-cab is the best do-it-yourself method. There is currently a set fare between JFK and any Manhattan location, which is currently $55.00 plus tolls (and tip). This fare is set by the Mayor s office and is reviewed annually. There are ranks at each terminal which are co-coordinated by uniformed staff who will hand out a contract of terms and conditions etc. This clarifies the fare and states for example, that the taxi driver will be English speaking, not smoke in the cab or play music. Some drivers may ask you to pay for the tolls as and when they are reached, others have fast track passes which auto register as they pass a scanner. They get billed for them monthly so they will just add the toll to the charge at the end of the trip. Either method is acceptable so passengers should not be alarmed if asked to pay. In most circumstances only 1 bridge or tunnel will be crossed. Currently tolls are between $3.50 and $6.00 dependant on the bridge. The return journey to JFK is not a set rate and will depend on the pick-up point. However they are metered and unless you encounter particularly heavy traffic will be very similar to the set fare. An average journey in either direction takes 40-60 minutes. Private Shuttles: Several companies offer shuttles to Manhattan, including: New York Airport Service Express Bus: Available from 6:30 a.m. - 11:10 p.m., these shuttles leave every 15-30 minutes. Fare is $13 ($15) if you want to be dropped off at your midtown hotel), but you can save by buying roundtrip tickets online; as they are $22 (you can also buy discounted one way tickets online). One free child under 12 is included in the fare. You can choose to disembark at Grand Central, Port Authority or Penn Station, in addition to hotels between 31st Street and 60th Street. The ride takes about an hour. Return schedules and more information are available on their website, www.nyairportservice.com.
Super Shuttle: Available 24 hours a day, this shuttle provides door-to-door service for your party. Fares are $15 - $19, depending on destination. No reservations are required to get from the airport to your destination, but they are required for your return trip to the airport. Consult their website, www.supershuttle.com. or when in the US call 1-800-258-3826 for more information. There is also a public bus service that runs from JFK to Manhattan for only $1.00, however it will involving changing at least once and is not ideal when traveling with suitcases etc. plus it will take an excessive amount of time. There is no also a rail link between JFK and Manhattan called AirTrain. Budget travelers who don't mind carrying their own luggage will find the new AirTrain JFK a welcome addition to New York City's extensive public transit offerings. For $7 and in just an hour, visitors can make it between JFK and Manhattan. Pros Affordable ($7 verses $45 cab fare) Efficient -- 35 minutes between JFK & Penn Station (using LIRR) Cons You have to carry your own luggage Not always a great value for families and groups You can visit their website at www.panynj.gov/airtrain/ Newark Taxis: Metered fare (plus tolls) to any Manhattan location, approximately $40-55. Taxis are available outside of every terminal and there is typically a taxi stand where you will be directed to a taxi. For destinations outside of Manhattan, consult the fare guide on www.panynj.gov/aviation/ewrtaxiframe.html. There is an additional charge for luggage over 24
inches if the driver handles the bags, and rates are based per car, not per passenger (up to four passengers). Private Shuttles: Several companies offer shuttles to Manhattan, including: Newark Liberty Airport Express: Available from 4:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m., these shuttles leave every 15-30 minutes for midtown Manhattan and every 2 hours to downtown Manhattan (from 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.). One-way fare is $13, but you can save by buying roundtrip tickets, as they are $22. One free child under 16 is included in the fare. You can choose to disembark at Grand Central, Port Authority or Penn Station, in addition to midtown hotels. The ride takes about ah hour. Return schedules and more information are available on their website. www.coachusa.com Super Shuttle: Available 24 hours a day, this shuttle provides door-to-door service for your party. Fares are $15 - $19, depending on destination. No reservations are required to get from the airport to your destination, but they are required for your return trip to the airport. Consult their website www.supershuttle.com or when in the states call 1-800- 258-3826 for more information. Transport from La Guardia As La Guardia is not a 24hour airport taxis only operate during flight hours. They are of course metered but do not have a set fare to Manhattan. The journey takes 20-30 mins and will cost between $20 and $30 depending on your drop off point.
AirRide website: www.panynj.gov provides information on ground transportation and parking. Public transport is available on the MTA; bus M60, which intersects with all subway lines as it crosses to the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The bus operates daily 0450 0100 and a single fare is US$2, plus an additional US$2 for the subway (journey time approximately 1 hour). An express bus service, with departures from La Guardia International every 30 minutes daily 0700 2300, is provided by New York Airport Service. Their website is www.nyairportservice.com. They travel to the Port Authority Bus Terminal or Grand Central Station (journey time 40 50 minutes). A single fare is US$12. Other shuttle services are also available. The Delta Water Shuttle operates a ferry service from the Marine Air Terminal to 34th Street on the East River or to Pier 11 on Wall Street in downtown Manhattan (journey time 30 45 minutes, cost US$15). Services operate Monday to Friday 0745 1830. Metered taxis to Manhattan cost around US$20 30, plus tolls and tips. Gold medal can pre-arrange a selection of different transfers to ensure our clients have a hassle free experience on arrival or departure from New York. These include shared transportation in a coach or minibus, private transfers by minibus for your party, private transfers by car and by limousine. You can find the current prices on Wizard. Remember to check the maximum occupancy on the private transfers. For a group of say 6 people a luxurious limousine transfer works out at about 25.00 per person. Whilst this is more than a taxi, it is a fantastic start or end to a New York experience. Car hire Of course we can easily arrange car hire for any of the airports but unless passengers are going up-state or one of the suburbs, this is not really practical mainly because of the cost of parking. Half an hour in a public car park is around $5.00 and even more in a hotel garage. Travelling in town will be cheaper and less stressful by public transport. Weather
The charts above show weather statistics for Central Park New York. It is worth pointing out a few things that may not be obvious from the graph. Firstly you can see that the precipitation is fairly similar year round. However in December, January and February, this can consist of mainly snow. In the summer months the rainfall will usually be extremely heavy for short periods. As regards the temperature, there will be slight variation between Central Park and the waterside areas, which will be slightly cooler in summer and winter. Also it is worth advising clients that although the temperatures for the summer months may read invitingly, there is very high humidity and many locals escape the city, as it can be quite unbearable.
Districts New York consists of 5 boroughs. These are Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, Staten Island and most famously Manhattan. Tourists in the main will really only visit Manhattan and Staten Island and possible Long Island if they are on a longer trip. Queens and The Bronx are predominately residential. The map to the left shows the island of Manhattan, which is 12miles from North to South and approximately 1.5 miles wide. The majority of European visitors will only really be interested in the sights from Central Park southwards, which is about 7 miles. Further north than that is Harlem, a relatively poor area that is best visited only on an escorted tour. Either side of Central Park are the Upper East & West Sides. These contain mainly premium priced apartment blocks, owned by the jet set, particularly those overlooking the park itself. The Jumeirah Essex House is located on the Upper West Side, but nearly our other reco9mmended properties are further south. On the East side you will find many museums and galleries including the World famous Guggenheim museum. Midtown is the name given to the Theatre and Garments districts down as far as Greenwich Village and this is where the heart of the city can be found. The vast majority of hotels are found in this locale and the most famous street in New York, Broadway. Below Midtown are Greenwich Village, Soho, Tribeca, Little Italy and China Town. The first three of these are the hip and trendy places to live. Soho and Tribeca used to be fairly run down but as the Village has become more expensive, these two have been smartened up and are become in places in their own right. The Village has a reputation for being particularly arty and is the heart of the gay community in New
Getting Around Once established in their hotel, tourists are going to want to explore and perhaps not always on foot. New York s underground rail system, known as the SUBWAY, is fast air-conditioned and cheap, and much safer than it is reputed to be, although it is still best avoided late at night. The vast network of 468 stations serves 24 routes- more than any other in the world-which are identified by letters or by numbers, and serve Manhattan, The Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens. The Staten Island Railway serves Staten Island. Believe it or not, it's possible to ride the subway 31 miles without a transfer -- on the A train beginning at 207th Street - Inwood in Manhattan and ending at Far Rockaway - Mott Ave. in Queens. There are over 31,000 turnstiles in the New York City subway and 734 information booths. Approximately 4.5 million passengers ride the subway daily, totalling 1.384 billion rides in 2003. New York subway and bus fares are $2.00 per trip. (Express buses, running from the boroughs directly into the city are $4.00 each way.) There is a one-day "Fun Pass" that entitles the bearer to unlimited rides for $7. For visitors staying for a longer time, you can buy a one week unlimited card for $25 or an unlimited 14 day card $47 or an unlimited monthly card for $81. The one-day card is valid from first use to 3 AM the following day; the 7-day or 30-day unlimited cards run out at midnight on 7th or 30th day of use. To help you make your MetroCard decision, you can find more information on the MTA web site. You can buy Metro Cards at subway stations with cash, credit or ATM/debit cards. Be aware: buses only accept exact fare in coin or tokens -- drivers cannot make change. Of course, you can also pay with a MetroCard. Senior citizens and those with qualifying disabilities can get reduced fare Metro Cards that entitle them to pay half-fare. Some Metro tips
1) Finding Subway Entrances Entrances are typically located on street corners with a staircase for descending into the station. If a station is marked with a large green ball, you can buy a MetroCard inside; if a station is marked with a red ball, you need to already have a MetroCard to enter. 2) How Free Transfers Work A MetroCard allows one free transfer within 2 hours of first swiping your card. You can transfer from Bus to Subway, Subway to Bus, Bus to Bus, or between select Subway stations. (Free Subway to Subway transfers only apply when you are required to exit the station to make your connection.) If you take the subway one way and the bus back you can get two rides for one fare, but you can't transfer between buses going in opposite directions (i.e. Madison and Fifth Avenue buses). 3) Maps in Subway Stations One of the most helpful things about New York City's subway stations is the map located near the entrances. In addition to having a map of the subway system, there is normally a neighbourhood map that shows the streets in the area in detail. It's a good idea to check out the map before you leave the subway, but it's also great to know that if you're lost near a subway station, you can always duck in and check out a map to find your way around. 4) Check the Sign before You Swipe At many Subway stations, there are separate entrances for trains running uptown and downtown. Once you swipe your card, you can't get a refund, so be sure to check the sign to make sure you're swiping your card at the right entrance. You can also ask an attendant for help if you're confused about where to enter. 5) In an Emergency Stay in the Subway Car The safest place is inside the subway car. In the event of a situation where you have to leave the subway car, you should know about blue and white lights in the subway car. Blue lights in the subway mark the spot where there is a telephone, power off switch, and fire extinguisher. Pick up the phone after switching off the power -- otherwise, power will be restored after about a minute. Five white lights in a circle or on a bar mark an exit to the street.
Taxis within the city Metered taxis are relatively inexpensive, especially if there are two or three of you, and there are literally thousands of them. They will stop anywhere that won t cause an accident, and you know if they are free if the sign above is illuminated (in theory). An average cross-town journey is between $5 and $10 plus a tip. If you ware going to anywhere other than a major landmark then you are best referring to a place by its address. The taxi-drivers visualize the grid system in their head so for example you would say Millennium UN Plaza Hotel 1st and 44 th which indicates it is in the area where 1 st Avenue meets 44th Street. Attractions and things to do Often described as the city that never sleeps there is something to do 24/7 in the Big Apple Always have your brochure handy to remind you of attraction you can sell to your clients and try to familiarize your self with what s on offer. Your trainer will run through a few key points with you.
Top Sellers: Open-top bus tour: - Excellent value and an ideal way to get a flavour of the city for a first time visitor. Highly recommended. Circle Line Cruise: - A leisurely boat trip around Manhattan Island. A great way to get a different perspective on the Manhattan skyline. Half circle cruises also available. Liberty Helicopters: - Exhilarating and thrilling and a must-do for anyone with a little more to spend. Everyone who does it says its money well spent. World Yacht Dinner Club: - An upmarket cruise around Manhattan combined with a quality meal and, if your up for it, dancing. Ideal for those celebrating a special occasion or just romantic at heart. Broadway Theatre Tickets: - Everyone wants to tell their friends they have seen a show on Broadway. Other must-sees: Times Square Statue of Liberty 5th Avenue Earn brownie points from your clients by suggesting things for them to do that are free. Macys: World s largest department store Bloomingdale s: Upmarket store. The US equivalent of Harrods Staten Island Ferry. A free ferry paid for through local taxes. A great way to see the Manhattan skyline for free and have a look at Staten Island too. Strawberry Fields: The memorial to John Lennon in Central Park Central Park
Accommodation: Refer to your brochure and for more detailed ideas see Module 3 of the NYC module on the GM Academy