New York (JFK) Stopover Tips

[get me outta here]

PS, don’t do what a friend of mine from Aus did recently and ask them to take you to good coffee shops, even though I explained fully that the good coffee shops are quite specific and here are the ones that you could consider good in the area you’re staying in. Needless to say, they did not get a greeter. There are very good coffee shops now in NYC. But the locals do not tend to know which ones.

Greeters are free and cannot accept a tip. But if you happen to be out at lunchtime and bought them a sandwich that would possibly be acceptable to them.

Agree, I have a close friend who is a big apple greeter, and I’ve done some of the greeter field trips. The trick to acquiring one is to be specific on an area that you would like to go to, or a particular interest that you may have, e.g. architectural, old trains, whatever. If you’re a bit airy fairy and obviously haven’t done your research they find it hard to match you up with someone who is an expert in that particular location.

 

[drron]

We did have lunch with our greeter though she paid for her own meal.delighted though to accept some Australiana.
The little koala would probably be an even bigger hit today.

 

[RooFlyer]

And if you have a couple of days this is a great idea and free.We did take Tim tams and a small koala for our greeter.

Big Apple Greeter - A Free Welcome-Visitor Service from NYC Volunteers

Big Apple Greeter - A Free Welcome-Visitor Service from NYC Volunteers

bigapplegreeter.org

Great tip drron and thanks also for other into GMOH I've just requested a Greeter for late February - history and architecture. I've been to NY maybe 8 times, half of those on business in lower Manhattan, but never gotten off the beaten track so to speak.

 

[Dr Ralph]

And if you have a couple of days this is a great idea and free.We did take Tim tams and a small koala for our greeter.

Big Apple Greeter - A Free Welcome-Visitor Service from NYC Volunteers

Big Apple Greeter - A Free Welcome-Visitor Service from NYC Volunteers

bigapplegreeter.org

Fantastic service. We specifically got one in Long Island City as that was an area we wanted to explore.

Also used the same service in Chicago.

Highly recommended.

A question that will hopefully result in a few tips:

Is it usual for people to take their luggage on the subway (via the airtrain) to get to, say, Manhattan or Queens?

I've done it when by myself and only with 1 suitcase.

Anything more than 1 suitcase or with mrs Dr Ralph then it's a private transfer usually in a large SUV. $50 to $70 US is the usual fee for this.

 

[get me outta here]

Here’s the vagaries of pricing hotels in NYC. And, the prices vary from day to day too eg, business v holiday times, but for strategy planning, this will help:

 

[Spongbob]

The word "expensive" appears many times in the NYC hotel prices advice document.

Anything less than $300 a night is "inexpensive"?

 

[get me outta here]

Don’t forget all the taxes NY adds and don’t get caught out on the ‘resort’ fee rort.
If you want to see which hotels charge a resort fee, it is all there on trip advisor in the New York city forum.

The word "expensive" appears many times in the NYC hotel prices advice document.

Anything less than $300 a night is "inexpensive"?