jsouth
Jsouth
join:2000-12-12
Wichita, KS
| [Info] trip to New York City
I am going to be coming to New York City in July. I am going on the Grey Line Bus tour and I have to meet the bus in Times square. I'd like to know how is driving there? How bad is traffic and the roads? I expect to arrive in town around 6:30-7Pm. I have drive in LA, San Francisco, Denver etc so I have some experience in big cities. What areas should I avoid at all costs? (ie high crime areas etc)
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The Dv8or
DSLReports Forums -- The Mouse House 2.0
Premium
join:2001-08-09
Danbury, CT
clubs:
| Driving in Times Sq is as bad as it gets. It's really not meant to be a place to drive to. Park your car where you're staying and leave it there. The subway may be unventilated and WAY overcrowded, but it does go to a lot of places.
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You're so vain... I bet you think this post is about you. |
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Maccawolf
Premium
join:2001-02-20
Hillsdale, NJ
1 edit | reply to jsouth
So you've driven in other big cities? That does NOTHING to prepare you for ATTEMPTING to drive in NY. It's not a learned trait, it's inherited. Either you can do it, or you can't. Most people can't and IMHO, should stop trying. 
I agree with Dv8or. PARK YOU CAR and take mass transit or walk!
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"The most affectionate creature in the world is a WET dog"---- Ambrose Bierce |
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The Dv8or
DSLReports Forums -- The Mouse House 2.0
Premium
join:2001-08-09
Danbury, CT
clubs: | Bloomy agrees. |
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jsouth
Jsouth
join:2000-12-12
Wichita, KS | reply to jsouth
What about going to Manhattan? If I stay in a hotel there the bus will pick me up.
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Bush bashing is old. How about more solutions instead? |
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NPire
join:2001-05-01
New York, NY
| reply to jsouth
Driving aside, be prepared to really get hammered on parking and tolls. You might want to consider planning for that in advance:
»www.nycgarages.com/
I would not recommend trying to drive between attractions during an NYC visit. If you are bringing a car, plan to leave it somewhere near your hotel for the duration of your stay. Public transit is easier and most often faster than trying to drive (and park) around Manhattan. |
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jsouth
Jsouth
join:2000-12-12
Wichita, KS | That's what I'm doing. I'm using Grey Line tours. The only thing is Grey Line only picks up at the Manhattan Hotels.
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NY Tel
Premium
join:2004-04-09
Smithtown, NY
 ·VOIPo
3 edits | said by jsouth  :That's what I'm doing. I'm using Grey Line tours. The only thing is Grey Line only picks up at the Manhattan Hotels. The posters above are all regular New Yorkers and have made some very good suggestions and it usually goes this way:
I have a home on Long Island and an apartment in New York City by Central Park. I drive there weekly and while it can sometimes be a challenge, New York City is way safer than Downtown LA (can you spell Figueroa Street....) any day of the year.
If you can get a hotel that has a valet parking arrangement, you could get away parking somewhere for between 25 to 30 dollars a day but as others have said above, use the Subways and buses etc. to get around. You can buy a day pass which allows you unlimited transportation around Manhattan.
Really, you can walk to most places if need be unless you are trying to walk from Central Park to Wall Street in a half hour( can't be done).
Stay in a Manhattan hotel as you want to be in the heart of town. Do not stay in Brooklyn, Queens, New Jersey. They are all fine and safe but a friggin hassle to get back and forth from especially when you want to enjoy the ambiance of the city during all hours.
The City is a special place and very fun and active all the time. Here's a link to a web cam in Times Square a block or 2 north of the actual place where the ball drops. Go to Cam 2 and cam 4 to see what a typical street scene looks like in NYC. Look at it any time of day and you'll see thousands of people there.
»www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/tim···pe=large
Take it from someone who was born and raised in NYC, it is a great place to visit and live.
Enjoy, park, take the subway etc. and have a great time.
By the way please feel free to ask here publicly or send me a PM when it comes to choosing a hotel. There are some where Freddy Krueger is the desk clerk so we want to help you avoid those pitfalls.
Areas to avoid: Central Park at Night or when not in a crowd.
NOTE: These views expressed herein are those of "me" and do not necessarily represent everyone's viewpoint. |
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Frank
is chilling
Premium
join:2000-11-03
somewhere
 ·Verizon FIOS
| reply to jsouth
a few tips:
1) If you're from out of town then stay in a manhattan hotel.
2) Try to avoid buying stuff in times square, some souvenier shops are cheap but electronics shops are ripoffs. Restaurants are OK but dont eat at a chain restaurant if you're coming all the way to nyc as a tourist when you can try so many local nyc restaurants.
3) The grey line only operates until 5:30pm, If you want to go to some famous places that grey line probably doesnt go to (ie: katz deli, etc.) then use the subway. I'd recommend buying a week pass if you're staying for a week or a daily pass ($7) if you're only going to venture out for a few nights.
4) Most Bars close at 4am, Clubs, close later.
5) Bring ALOT of money and be prepared for price shock as things in nyc are usually much more expensive than other cities in the US. Ie: $12 for a pastrami on rye sandwhich at katz deli (but damned well worth it)
6) Some people will disagree with me but unless being accompanied by a tourguide or someone who knows the area, try to avoid going north of central park at night. Most likely you will get lost or mugged or both if you get off at the wrong subway stop (ie: harlem, washington heights, some parts of the bronx) and cabs will not be readily available.
7) Although nyc is considered the city that never sleeps, most places close at normal hours at night in terms of retail stores, tourist attractions, etc. The only exception to this are grocery stores (bodegas), pharmacies, 24 hour restaurants and most fast food places. Times Square has alot of stuff open pretty late (like until midnight-ish).
8) Jaywalking or not paying attention to traffic and traffic signals when you're walking across a crosswalk will probably get you run-over.
9) Driving a car in nyc is pointless, it will take you three times as long to get anywhere due to traffic and finding parking as it would if you were to take a subway. If you're flying into nyc try to take the airtrain via the LIRR (long island rail road) to manhattan it's faster and cheaper ($12) than taking a cab ($35 last i checked) and having to wait for traffic. You can also take the airtrain via the subway and save a few bucks but it's not worth it at all because the long island railroad has few stops and is much faster.
10) If someone shady you dont know approaches you in the subway or on the street then ignore them and act like you dont hear them. This is the default action of most new yorkers. Most likely they are either someone who wants money or someone who is planning on stealing your money.
11) If you want to see a famous broadway play or musical (if you're into that sort of thing) typically you can buy tickets at the tkts booth in times square. My drama teacher in high school told me that you can usually get a decent seat for a decent price if you buy a ticket the night that you're going (unless of course it's sold out then you're screwed) because it's better for them to sell a cheap ticket than to have an empty seat.
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At first I thought everyone on the highway was drunk but then I realized I was driving in Florida |
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PCInTech
In another place and time.
Premium
join:2004-06-07
Massena, NY
clubs:
·VoicePulse
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to jsouth
All of the advice you have been given is right on the money! Do NOT even THINK about driving yourself around NYC! Only a moron would do that. Park your car at your hotel, and take public transit everywhere. It's the ONLY way to get around. The City is a wonderland of beauty and culture. Take it all in! New York City people are the most interesting and friendliest on the Planet. As in any large, World-Class City, use common sense. If someone, or some place doesn't feel right, avoid. Aside from that, most New Yorkers are friendly, helpful, and kind people. Enjoy your visit, and you will have memories that will last a lifetime. |
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sheik28
Premium
join:2000-10-15
New York, NY
| reply to jsouth
The tour buses run late. THEY DO NOT STOP AT 5:30 They run a little later. The departure times listed are only for the start, I believe you can hop back on if you're downtown but the times the bus gets to that particular stop vary. I have seen the buses running at 10 or 11 pm.
Gray Line runs a night route: HERE
City Sights has a tour as well HERE
The ESB goes until 2 am with the last ride up at 1:15 am. Empire State Building
Top of The rock goes until midnight. 30 Rock
Just go with the flow, you'll be fine.
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There is no such thing as a stupid question, and yes, the camel types. |
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jsouth
Jsouth
join:2000-12-12
Wichita, KS
| reply to jsouth
I will be coming up from Philly and my map shows going through the Holland tunnel, and then this:
4:59 PM 1602.7 At exit 1, keep STRAIGHT onto Ramp 76 yds RT-9A / West St
4:59 PM 1602.8 Bear LEFT (West) onto Laight St 0.2 mi
4:59 PM 1603.0 Turn LEFT (South) onto SR-9A [West St] 0.4 mi
5:00 PM 1603.3 Turn LEFT (East) onto Chambers St 0.4 mi
5:01 PM 1603.7 Arrive New York
Is this route busy? Or should I choose an alternate? I have a good GPS too.
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Bush bashing is old. How about more solutions instead? |
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tmpchaos
Requiescat in pace
Premium,Mod
join:2000-04-28
Hoboken, NJ
clubs:  | If it's a weekday, it will be a moderate madhouse- but that's true of any of the crossings. It would be slightly better on the weekend. |
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MsTerra
Completely Ridiculous
Premium
join:2002-08-20
Cambridge, MA
| reply to jsouth
Those time estimates are kind of amusing. Depending on the time of the day (your map is showing rush hour) those two minutes could end up taking twenty, or an hour. And when you emerge from the Holland Tunnel you've arrived in New York. 
I would buy and study a map if I were you. GPS can be a bit dodgy in the city. One time I was supposed to have a meeting with a sales rep, and she ended up not being able to make it because her Magellan couldn't direct her to my office. 
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"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul - and sings the tunes without the words - and never stops at all." Emily Dickinson
»www.myspace.com/mizterra |
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sheik28
Premium
join:2000-10-15
New York, NY
| reply to jsouth
Where will you be staying?
You could cut through Brooklyn. If you are coming up the New Jersey Turnpike you could take a few different routes. What is your ultimate destination aside from it being New York City?
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There is no such thing as a stupid question, and yes, the camel types. |
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NY Tel
Premium
join:2004-04-09
Smithtown, NY
·VOIPo
| reply to jsouth
said by jsouth :I will be coming up from Philly and my map shows going through the Holland tunnel, and then this: 4:59 PM 1602.7 At exit 1, keep STRAIGHT onto Ramp 76 yds RT-9A / West St 4:59 PM 1602.8 Bear LEFT (West) onto Laight St 0.2 mi 4:59 PM 1603.0 Turn LEFT (South) onto SR-9A [West St] 0.4 mi 5:00 PM 1603.3 Turn LEFT (East) onto Chambers St 0.4 mi 5:01 PM 1603.7 Arrive New York Is this route busy? Or should I choose an alternate? I have a good GPS too. Whoa!....dude, that is the busiest time to try driving into New York. If I were you I would leave earlier and try to arrive around 2 pm - best time before the late afternoon rush hour yet after the lunch crowd.
MsTerra is right, GPS devices sometimes freak out in NYC because of all of the tall buildings. |
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jsouth
Jsouth
join:2000-12-12
Wichita, KS
| reply to sheik28
Hopefully a hotel in Manhattan. Also my times don't show potty breaks or don't account for other things like I am stopping in Philly and Dover to sight-see. So it could be closer to 6:30-8pm. Is the traffic better then? I have my map I print plus a rand-Mcnally one.
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Bush bashing is old. How about more solutions instead? |
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NY Tel
Premium
join:2004-04-09
Smithtown, NY | 8 PM is better, 6:30 is not. What day of the week? |
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jsouth
Jsouth
join:2000-12-12
Wichita, KS
| Probably around Thursday. It would be around the 26th of July. Also what is the weather usually like? Plus when I leave I'm heading up to Boston. What time would be a good time to go and what route is the quickest out? Not that I will be in a hurry to leave but, I only have 15 days to hit every state in the northeast US. Around 5,000 round trip.  )
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Bush bashing is old. How about more solutions instead? |
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MsTerra
Completely Ridiculous
Premium
join:2002-08-20
Cambridge, MA
| said by jsouth :Probably around Thursday. It would be around the 26th of July. Also what is the weather usually like? Hotter than hell. 
Plus when I leave I'm heading up to Boston. What time would be a good time to go and what route is the quickest out? Well, the simplest route is heading on up I-95. The bus drivers usually do I-95 to I-91 to I-84 to I-90 (the Mass Pike, which will take you straight into the heart of Beantown.) A weekend (non-holiday) morning is best, as early as you can manage. NYC to Boston in four hours is possible, but you really need a straight shot with minimal traffic. Later in the day, it can take a long time to get out of the city. Friday afternoon would probably be the worst time to go.
Be sure and stop by the New England forum for advice on that leg of the trip.
Not that I will be in a hurry to leave but, I only have 15 days to hit every state in the northeast US. Around 5,000 round trip. )
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"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul - and sings the tunes without the words - and never stops at all." Emily Dickinson
»www.myspace.com/mizterra |
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