What to see in New York in two days
#47
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
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I may go and check out the new observation floor from the new WTC, but nothing will compare to just how awesome it was to stand on the top of the South Tower when I was a kid in the early 1990s and be outside, wind whipping, and see the entire city beneath you. That's a memory I will never forget...my only time to the top of the Twin Towers.
#48
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#49
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: pleb
Posts: 563
Just a few recent examples of the comical mess that is the NYC subway:
http://gothamist.com/2017/10/16/the_...ffed_again.php
http://gothamist.com/2017/09/25/mta_mondays.php
http://gothamist.com/2017/09/11/mond...rain_delay.php
http://gothamist.com/2017/07/17/pls_help_us.php
I digress though. NYC subway is part of the NYC experience, but put it this way, not something I would recommend looking forward to or have high expectations of. It is what it is.
Last edited by nightkhan; Oct 27, 2017 at 11:06 am
#50
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Location: SF CA USA. I love large faceless corporations. And they cherish me in return (sometimes). ;)
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Haha that's probably because you don't have to live with it everyday. When getting stuck underground with no AC becomes the norm, you'll be singing a different tune too. Sure is an experience!
Just a few recent examples of the comical mess that is the NYC subway:
http://gothamist.com/2017/10/16/the_...ffed_again.php
http://gothamist.com/2017/09/25/mta_mondays.php
http://gothamist.com/2017/09/11/mond...rain_delay.php
http://gothamist.com/2017/07/17/pls_help_us.php
I digress though. NYC subway is part of the NYC experience, but put it this way, not something I would recommend looking forward to or have high expectations of. It is what it is.
Just a few recent examples of the comical mess that is the NYC subway:
http://gothamist.com/2017/10/16/the_...ffed_again.php
http://gothamist.com/2017/09/25/mta_mondays.php
http://gothamist.com/2017/09/11/mond...rain_delay.php
http://gothamist.com/2017/07/17/pls_help_us.php
I digress though. NYC subway is part of the NYC experience, but put it this way, not something I would recommend looking forward to or have high expectations of. It is what it is.
It's a matter of picking your poison, I guess!
#51
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Location: Brighton. UK
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I have visited NYC literally dozens of times over many years and always use public transit there. Surface transportation doesn't necessarily beat the subway, as NYC streets are subject to massive traffic jams. So cabs/rideshares/private car/etc. don't necessarily work any better than the subway.
It's a matter of picking your poison, I guess!
It's a matter of picking your poison, I guess!
Yes Stuff happens but it can happen anywhere.
One problem a lot of locals have is when something goes wrong is that they simply don't know what the alternative routes are to their destination.
I use the citymapper app and whilst not perfect is pretty good at giving alternative ways of getting from a-b
#52
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: pleb
Posts: 563
Anyways, getting this thread more back on track, I also recommend for anyone who has time to take a helicopter flight over NYC. FlyNYON flies out of NJ for the shorter flights for sightseeing and the view of the city from overhead with no door between you and sky is quite an experience. Highly recommended https://www.flynyon.com/
#53
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
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Or, if the subway stops running in the middle of rush hour and thousands of people at once try to take the alternative route (bus)...
#54
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,592
took the subway to show it to my daughter, really part of the NY experience.
It was also more convenient from the freedom tower to midtown and visited the oculus at the same time.
Probably the experience will not be as good during rush hours.
ESB : at 9,45 am week day no line ON THE STREET. (About 30 / 40 meters to the 86th floor)
At 11 am line was all the way up to 34th st...
Freedom tower : booked the ticket on their Web site while walking from Battery Park and we saved 15 /20 mns line
Restaurant at the top is OK / good.
Elevators are amazing
Rockefeller Rock : Saturday night : short line to buy the ticket BUT entrance was 3 hours after... so we didn't go.
Tussaud : only 10 extra if you buy a tour bus with it.
Staten Island ferry : great experience. Very easy back to back.
Why they don't charge?
Minus 5 (Celsius not F) at the Hilton on 6th Avenue. Small but very nice ice scuplture.
No phone / photos allowed. My Daughter believes she was Elsa...
Moma : no line at the kiosk and kids are free up to 16YO. (I had to tell her that they have the original of the staring night to bring her inside)
It was also more convenient from the freedom tower to midtown and visited the oculus at the same time.
Probably the experience will not be as good during rush hours.
ESB : at 9,45 am week day no line ON THE STREET. (About 30 / 40 meters to the 86th floor)
At 11 am line was all the way up to 34th st...
Freedom tower : booked the ticket on their Web site while walking from Battery Park and we saved 15 /20 mns line
Restaurant at the top is OK / good.
Elevators are amazing
Rockefeller Rock : Saturday night : short line to buy the ticket BUT entrance was 3 hours after... so we didn't go.
Tussaud : only 10 extra if you buy a tour bus with it.
Staten Island ferry : great experience. Very easy back to back.
Why they don't charge?
Minus 5 (Celsius not F) at the Hilton on 6th Avenue. Small but very nice ice scuplture.
No phone / photos allowed. My Daughter believes she was Elsa...
Moma : no line at the kiosk and kids are free up to 16YO. (I had to tell her that they have the original of the staring night to bring her inside)
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,231
took the subway to show it to my daughter, really part of the NY experience.
It was also more convenient from the freedom tower to midtown and visited the oculus at the same time.
Probably the experience will not be as good during rush hours.
ESB : at 9,45 am week day no line ON THE STREET. (About 30 / 40 meters to the 86th floor)
At 11 am line was all the way up to 34th st...
Freedom tower : booked the ticket on their Web site while walking from Battery Park and we saved 15 /20 mns line
Restaurant at the top is OK / good.
Elevators are amazing
Rockefeller Rock : Saturday night : short line to buy the ticket BUT entrance was 3 hours after... so we didn't go.
Tussaud : only 10 extra if you buy a tour bus with it.
Staten Island ferry : great experience. Very easy back to back.
Why they don't charge?
Minus 5 (Celsius not F) at the Hilton on 6th Avenue. Small but very nice ice scuplture.
No phone / photos allowed. My Daughter believes she was Elsa...
Moma : no line at the kiosk and kids are free up to 16YO. (I had to tell her that they have the original of the staring night to bring her inside)
It was also more convenient from the freedom tower to midtown and visited the oculus at the same time.
Probably the experience will not be as good during rush hours.
ESB : at 9,45 am week day no line ON THE STREET. (About 30 / 40 meters to the 86th floor)
At 11 am line was all the way up to 34th st...
Freedom tower : booked the ticket on their Web site while walking from Battery Park and we saved 15 /20 mns line
Restaurant at the top is OK / good.
Elevators are amazing
Rockefeller Rock : Saturday night : short line to buy the ticket BUT entrance was 3 hours after... so we didn't go.
Tussaud : only 10 extra if you buy a tour bus with it.
Staten Island ferry : great experience. Very easy back to back.
Why they don't charge?
Minus 5 (Celsius not F) at the Hilton on 6th Avenue. Small but very nice ice scuplture.
No phone / photos allowed. My Daughter believes she was Elsa...
Moma : no line at the kiosk and kids are free up to 16YO. (I had to tell her that they have the original of the staring night to bring her inside)
The Staten Island Ferry is operated by the City, which pays for it.
#56
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,592
#57
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
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But of course the ferry is not free - just free at the point of use - and it costs the city taxpayers (which includes SI) around $5.50 per passenger in subsidy to operate the service.
There was a recent request from an SI politician to see how much might be raised if non New York City visitors were charged to use the ferry but the net income (after costs of staff and installing ticket gates etc etc) was calculated to be quite small.
#58
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
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As an Aussie who has listened to everyone talk about the subway, I'd like to just experience a short trip. Call it weird. I enjoy visiting the supermarket in other countries just to see what they have. I guess this falls in to that weird category.
#59
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSY (finally); previously NYC, BOS, AUH
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It's not weird. The NYC subway system is amazing. It's old, it's poorly maintained, it's dirty, it's prone to breakdown, and it can be maddeningly frustrating. But usually it works exactly as it's expected to, usually is the cheapest and often is the fastest way to get around, and it really is amazing.
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,231
It's not weird. The NYC subway system is amazing. It's old, it's poorly maintained, it's dirty, it's prone to breakdown, and it can be maddeningly frustrating. But usually it works exactly as it's expected to, usually is the cheapest and often is the fastest way to get around, and it really is amazing.