The winter months (November to March) can be cold in New York with temperatures around freezing. In the summer the daily temperature climbs to around 85F. Spring and Autumn are the most pleasant times to visit New York with April temperatures at around 61F and 69F in October.
HEALTH:
No special precautions are required for visiting the USA. There are excellent hospitals in New York, although travellers should take out travel insurance because health treatment in the USA is expensive.
CURRENCY:
The USA currency is the US$.
VISAS:
All visitors except Canadians need a valid passport and a visa to visit the USA. Contact your US Embassy or Consulate for details.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES:
The imperial system is used in the USA, ie. pounds and ounces, miles and feet.
ELECTRICITY:
110 volts, 50 cycles.
COMMUNICATIONS:
There are excellent TV and radio stations, newspapers and magazines in New York.
TRANSPORT:
AIRLINES:
New York is served by three airports - John F.Kennedy International Airport (JFK), La Guardia Airport (LGA), and Newark International Airport (ERW). The first two are in Queens; Newark is in New Jersey.
Travel times to the airports (assuming normal traffic flow) from Manhattan by car average one hour to the two international airports, Kennedy and Newark, and 30 to 40 minutes to La Guardia. Taxis to and from Midtown average $30 for Kennedy, $20 for La Guardia, and $40 for Newark. Expect to pay around $15 between JFK and La Guardia; $60 between JFK and Newark.
The Gray Line Air shuttle offers van and bus service from all three airports to anywhere in Midtown (between 33rd and 59th streets). From Midtown the pick-up spots are several hotels. Prices: JFK $13, La Guardia $10, Newark $15. No credit cards are accepted. Call 757 6840 for details.
The Carey bus company picks up passengers from various hotels and stops in midtown. Buses to the two Long Islands airports run every 20 minutes from the hotels (from 5:45 a.m. to 10:45 p.m.) and every 30 minutes from the stations (6 a.m. to 1 a.m.). The cost is $9.50 to Kennedy and $7.50 to La Guardia. Call 718 632 0500 for more information. Carey airport pick-up points are:
125 PARK AVE (just south of Grand Central Station)
PORT AUTHORITY (between Eighth and Ninth avenues, at 42nd St)
HILTON HOTEL (53rd St and Sixth Ave)
SHERATON CITY SQUIRE (Seventh Ave and 51st St)
MARRIOTT MARQUIS (Broadway and 45th St)
(Carey buses also run between Kennedy and La Guardia. The price is $8.50)
Passengers headed for Newark airport can take the New Jersey Transit bus company from the Port Authority bus terminal (42nd St and Eighth Ave, 564 8484). Buses leave every 10-15 minutes 24 hours a day and cost $7.
The fastest way to get between the city and JFK is via New York Helicopter. The ten-minute ride also offers a fantastic view. Flights cost $65 to or from 34th St and the East River. Departures every half hour between 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Call well in advance to book a reservation.
CENTRAL AIRLINES TICKET OFFICE: 100 East 42nd Street (986 0888)
Handles ticketing for almost all of the vast number of airlines that operate to New York City.
RAILWAYS:
Trains:
All train travel into and out of New York is via either Penn Station (W. 34 St, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues) or Grand Central Station (E. 42nd St and Park Avenue).
AMTRAK: Penn Station (582 6875)
LONG ISLAND RAILROAD: Penn Station (718 454 5477)
METRO NORTH: Grand Central Station (532 4900)
Subway:
A token (half-price for those aged 65 and over - the price increases, to general outrage - every year or so) gets you anywhere in the city, including the outer boroughs, be it one stop or 20. Tokens (also good for buses) are purchased from subway attendants at the entrance to the platform. It is most convenient to buy more than one token at a time; consider purchasing a "10-pack." To enter the platform, drop one token into the turnstyle.
Trains run 24 hours, with reduced service at night and on weekends. For more information call 718 330 1234.
BUSES:
Surface transport via bus is a great way to see the city but it is slow, slow, slow during peak hours. The fare is the same as the subway and you can use either tokens or coins; no bills are accepted. Drivers do not provide change so be sure you have the exact amount on hand, although fellow passengers are usually quite helpful when you find yourself in a bind.
Route numbers and destinations appear on both the front (above the windshield) and side of the bus. If you need to switch from an uptown or downtown bus to a crosstown bus (or vice versa) ask the driver for a transfer when you pay your fare. Drivers are generally helpful and will let you know when you've reached your destination if you ask for directions. Call 718 330 1234 for more information on local buses.
Bus transport to New Jersey, upstate New York, and other destinations outside the city is available from the Port Authority bus terminal, Eighth Ave and W. 43rd St (564 8484).
SHIPS:
Getting there:
Many cruise ships from all over the world dock in New York's famous harbor including luxury liners like the Queen Elizabeth II.
Getting Around:
Most visitors think of the Staten Island Ferry as a tourist destination only, but many Staten Island residents use it daily as a form of transport. And at 50 cents for the round trip between Staten Island and South Ferry, at the lower tip of Manhattan, it's one of New York's best bargains.
HOTELS
Price categories (for a double room):
Expensive: US$150 and over
Moderate: US$75 - 150
Inexpensive: under US$75
Expensive:
LOWELL HOTEL: 28 E 63rd St, New York (838-1400).
A small, exquisite hotel with personalized service. There are 8 rooms and 60 suites. Single rooms cost US$240, doubles US$300 and suites cost from US$390 - 1,200.
THE MARK: 25 E. 77th St, 10021, New York (tel 744-4300; fax 744-2749).
A superbly luxurious hotel with 180 rooms. Single rooms cost US$295, doubles US$295 and suites US$425 - 1,800.
THE MAYFAIR REGENT: 610 Park Ave, (65th St), New York 10021 (tel 288-0800; fax 737-0538).
An opulent Upper East Side hotel with 199 rooms and 119 suites. Double rooms cost US$255 - 320, singles cost US$255 and suites are from US$300 to US$750.
PIERRE HOTEL: 2 E 61st St, 10021, New York (tel 838-8000; fax 940-8109).
Just off 5th Avenue, this classic hotel is still one of the best. Suites are from US$525 - 1,650, singles are US$265 - 355 and doubles are US$295 - 385.
Moderate:
BEVERLY HOTEL: 125 E 50th St, 10022, New York (753-2700).
This hotel is situated close to the United Nations Headquarters. There are 302 rooms. Singles cost from US$129 - 149, doubles US$139 - 159 and suites are available for US$170 - 200.
HOTEL CARLTON: 22 East 29th Street, 10016, New York (tel 532-4100; fax 889-8683).
There are 380 rooms. Singles cost US$105 - 125, doubles are US$115 - 125 and suites are US$200 - 300.
CHATWAL INN ON PARK AVENUE: 429 Park Ave South, at 29th St, 10016, New York (532-4860).
A small hotel with single rooms for US$80, doubles for US$105 and suites for US$130.
Inexpensive:
RIVERSIDE TOWER HOTEL: 80 Riverside Dr, 10024, New York (877-5200).
This hotel is situated on the Hudson River, near the Lincoln Center. Single rooms are US$40 and doubles US45.
WASHINGTON SQUARE HOTEL: 103 Waverly Pl, 10011, New York (777-9515).
Situated in Greenwich Village, there are 180 rooms in this hotel. Singles cost US$60 and doubles US$60 - 70.
HOTEL WOLCOTT: 4 W 31st St, 10001, New York (tel 268-2900; fax 563-0096).
There are 288 rooms with singles at US$40 - 50 and doubles at US$50 - 70.
RESTAURANTS:
There are a huge variety of restaurants serving every kind of cuisine in New York. These are some of the best ones near the Empire State Building.
THE BACK PORCH:488 3rd Ave, at 333rd St. (685-3828).
Continental food with Sunday brunch from 12 - 3:30.
CEDARS OF LEBANON: 39 E. 30th St. (Madison and Park Aves.) (679-6755).
Middle eastern food with a wide variety of dishes. Dinner for two costs around US$50.
CHELSEA TRATTORIA ITALIANO: 108 Eighth Ave. (16th St.) (924-7786).
Excellent Italian food in a simple setting. Dinner costs around US$70 for two.
CHEZ JOSEPHINE: 4414 WEst 42nd Street (594 1925).
French food in a stylish bistro for around US$35 for two.
THE DOLPHIN: 227 Lexington Ave, (33rd and 34th sts), (689-3010).
A good American seafood restaurant. Dinner costs around US$80 for two.
DINO CASINI'S: 132 W. 32nd St (695-7995).
Continental and Italian food.
LA COLOMBE D'OR: 134th St, (Lexington and Third Aves) (689- 0666).
An excellent French restaurant with wonderful desserts. Dinner for two is around US$100.
PAMPLONA: 822 6th Ave., between 28th and 29th Sts. (683-4242).
A casual Spanish restuarant with musical entertainment most evenings.
QUATORZE: 240 W. 14th St, (Seventh and Eighth Aves.) (206-7006).
Simple but delicious bistro food for around US$75 for two.
