FAQ: How do you get to and from the airports in NYC?

As one of the leading NYC travel destinations, we hear a lot of questions from our guests about the city. One question that we’re asked all of the time is about getting to and from the airports in NYC. What’s the best way to get to LaGuardia? JFK? Newark International?

The fun thing about NYC is that the subway does not go to ANY of the major airports in or around the city, and by fun, I mean most inconvenient. So if you cannot take the subway, how do you get to your flight? It’s not like the double deckers have a hop off location in the vicinity.

The answer is actually pretty simple: Go Airlink NYC

Full disclaimer, Airlink is a sister company of Gray Line New York, but they didn’t put me up to writing this. They really are the best. You can take a share ride shuttle to and from the airport at a really low rate (starting at like $14) or you can book a private car for a little more extravagance. They provide door-to-door service, which is incredibly convenient, and you will always make your flight with time to spare. So how do you get to and from the airports in NYC? Go Airlink is the only way to go.

UPDATE: Go Airlink was just named a Viator 5 Star company, so if you don’t want to take our word on it, take the word of one of the biggest international travel websites out there. 

Do you have a question you’d like to see answered in the blog? Let us know on Twitter at @GrayLineNewYork

110 Things to Know if You’re Visiting NYC This Winter

It may not be winter yet, but it’s officially the holiday season. A few month back we brought you 108 things to know if you were visiting NYC this fall, and you loved it. So its only appropriate we outdo ourselves once again this winter. Some things still hold true, like staying out of empty subway cars, but all in all it’s updated to reflect the next few months. So brace yourselves because after this list you’ll definitely be ready to visit NYC.

Sports

1. Head over to MSG for the Big East Tournament from March 12 – 16
   
2. Catch the A10 Tournament at the Barclays Center from March 12 – 16
3. The Super Bowl will be held at MetLife Stadium on February 2
4. Super Bowl Boulevard will be held on Broadway between 34^th and 44^th Streets and will be free to the public from January 29-February 1
5. Yankee Stadium will play home to a pair of outdoor hockey games with the Rangers, Devils, and Islanders

Arts

1. The Intrepid is a museum on an aircraft carrier, which is awesome
2. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre has some amazing shows with cheap prices, too.
3. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is known for its unique building and is also a landmark of NYC
4. If you love spoken word you will have a good time at any poetry cafes in Manhattan
5. Harlem has some historic libraries, great dance schools, and art too.
6. Many Museums, including the American Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, have a suggested donation to enter, but you don’t have to pay anything at all. If you can afford to, you should pay the requested amount so that these museums will continue to be some of the best in the world.
7. Visit Radio City Music Hall this winter to see the famous Radio City Christmas Spectacular
8. MoMa also has five new exhibitions planned for this winter such as Ileana Sonnabend: Ambassador for the New on December 21
9. The Guggenheim has two new exhibitions launching this winter, including CARRIE MAE WEEMS: THREE DECADES OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO on January 24
10. Brooklyn Museum will have one new exhibition for the winter called Witness: Art and Civil Rights in the Sixties on March 7
11. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has four new exhibitions launching this winter, including Ink Art: Past as Present in Contemporary Chinaon on December 11
12. The Met is also now open seven days a week
13. There are like, a bazillion museums in NYC, not just the couple we named. You should check out as many as you can while in the city.
14. Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts has a lineup of amazing concerts, plays, and films throughout the winter
15. Visit Queens to see the Louis Armstrong House Museum which feature rare at home recordings of the jazz legend
16. It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play will be making its debut December 6^th at the Clarence Brown Theater
17. The Whitney Museum of Natural Art will be adding 2 new exhibitions this winter including Edward Steichen in the 1920s and 1930s: A Recent Acquisition
18. Check out the Chinatown’s Lunar New Year Parade festival celebration on February 2
19. Westminster Kennel Club 138 Annual Dog Show premiers on February 10
20. Head over to the Javits Convention Center to see the New York Progressive International Motorcycle Show on December 16
21. Join in the celebration of winter sports in the Winter Jam NYC being held in the heart of central park on January 25
22. The New York Jewish Film Festival is January 8 – 23
23. The Armory Show and Armory Arts week will be held on March 5 – 10
24. Head to the Joyce Theater shows like Focus Dance
25. The Theater at St. Clement’s will be showing the classic A Christmas Carol on January 4

Music

1. Greenwich Village is known for having great live music
2. Madison Square Garden begins this winter with some big time headliners, including Billy Joel and Justin Timberlake
3. Barclays Center, The Garden’s Brooklyn counterpart, hosts some of the biggest names in Music this winter, including Pink, John Mayer, Beyoncé and Pitbull
4. The Beacan Theater will have a wide variety of holiday shows and act like Cyndi Lauper & Friends: Home for the Holidays,
5. New York Guitar Festival is January 10-29 at Brookfield Place Winter Garden, SubCulture, Merkin Concert Hall
6. NYC Winter Jazzfest is January 7 – 11
7. GlobalFest is January 12 at Webster Hall
8. Z100’s Jingle Ball 2013 is December 13 at MSG

The Holidays

1. The Holiday Season is bigger in NYC than in other places. We really get into it.
2. The Tree Lighting remains lit every day from 5:30 a.m. until 11:30 p.m., except Christmas and New Year’s Eve which have special hours. The Tree will remain lit until January 7, 2014
3. Come see the world’s largest Hanukkah Menorah at Grand Army Plaza
4. Time Square is the place to be on New Year’s Eve to watch their famous ball drop
5. Celebrate the holidays at the world famous Apollo Theater for their Holidays at the Apollo shows running all through December
6. Don’t Miss American Ballet Theater’s The Nutcracker premiering on December 13
7. Rockefeller Center has one of the world’s most famous ice rinks, right beneath the tree
8. Kick off your New Years by participating in the New York Road Runners Midnight Run at 72nd Street Transverse near Cherry Hill
9. Celebrate Valentine’s Day in New York with a nice romantic Carriage Ride in Central Park
10. Celebrate the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Fifth Avenue

Food

1. Four star restaurants have long waiting lists. Make your reservations now.
2. There are about 42 million fast food restaurants in NYC, but you shouldn’t go to any of them. At any given moment you will be within a 5 minute walk of low priced, better tasting burgers/chicken/tacos.
3. Our dollar slices probably taste better than what you’re used to, but if you want really good pizza, the extra money is worth it.
4. Don’t be afraid to try the pretzels at the hot dog stands
5. Food trucks are awesome, try them!

Transportation

1. The subway costs just $2.50 per ride, and can get just about anywhere in the city.
2. Save your metro card because it’s a $1 additional fee for a new one
3. If you’re staying for a week, you should buy a 7-Day Unlimited Pass which is good for unlimited subway and local bus rides for $30.
4. The subway runs 24 hours a day and 7 days a week
5. When waiting for the train, stand behind the yellow platform edge strip.
6. Don’t try to hold the door on the subway. People will hate you.
7. Don’t block the doorway on the subway. People will hate you.
8. Let people off the train before getting on.
9. If all of the subway cars are crowded except for one, which is empty, get on the crowded car.
10. You read that right, don’t get on the empty car. There’s a reason it’s empty.
11. Be aware of your surroundings
12. Trains usually run local or express, so if you are unsure you may want to ask a person or choose a local train
13. Make sure you know exactly where you’re going before you swipe your card, you can’t get a refund using the subway.
14. It can become very crowded on the trains. You will be surprised of the capacity.
15. Taxis tend to go out of service around the afternoon rush. Plan accordingly.
16. When catching a taxi you should get one in the direction you are going, it will save time and money
17. The Staten Island Ferry is free

Shopping

1. 5th Avenue has top of the line products, and prices to match
2. SoHo has less expensive clothing stores and trendy boutiques
3. Chinatown has incredibly cheap prices, and products to match
4. Union Square is one of the most popular places to shop.
5. Greenwich Village is filled with designer labels.
6. Herald Square has almost every chain store
7. Macy’s on 34th Street is the world’s largest department store and a registered NYC landmark.

Parks

1. Central Park is the largest park in Manhattan, but the 5th largest in NYC.
2. Brooklyn Bridge Park has an incredible view of the Manhattan Skyline.
3. Riverbank State Park is a great park too including a gym, and kids facilities
4. The High Line is an old elevated railway converted into a park
5. Battery Park has a beautiful waterfront, and is where you pick up the ferry to the Statue of Liberty
6. All of NYC’s parks are free to enter
7. Bryant Park has a reading room, ping pong, games, carousel, free ice skating and chess.
8. Central Park has a pair of ice rinks, one at 59th, the other at 106th.
9. Here’s a list of parks with free Wi-Fi
10. Washington Square Park has never a dull moment with constant entertainment to enjoy like break dancers and artists.

Pro-Tips

1. Even numbered streets run east
2. 5th Avenue is considered the center of the city. Any address like E. 42nd street is east of 5th, and address like W. 42nd street is west of 5th
3. 6th Avenue also goes by Avenue of the Americas because of the statues on Central Park South where it meets 6th
4. The numbers on the lights in Central Park refer to the closest cross street
5. When hailing a taxi…
6. Download a city/subway map to your phone. One less awkward thing to carry, and you don’t have the “tourist” look every time you need directions
7. It’s safe to get lost on the street in Manhattan, it’s fun in any neighborhood and you get a chance to explore parts that a tour guide wouldn’t typically show you.
8. If you happen to see a person having trouble standing because of age or an infant, the subway etiquette is to give up your seat.
9. Be prepared to do the most walking you ever done in your life. Wear comfortable shoes.

Miscellaneous Tips and Facts worth knowing

1. Don’t forget to take pictures of things. NYC is a beautiful city and worth sharing with your friends back home.
2. When you take these pictures, if you abruptly stop walking in the middle of the sidewalk, people like you a little less. Don’t do that.
3. Try not to text while walking.
4. Think of walking like driving: If you’re going to walk slowly, stay to the right. If you want to walk fast you can “pass” on the left. The same rule applies for standing on escalators.
5. Always carry some cash. You won’t need it everywhere, but you will need it more than where you’re from (probably)
6. Tipping for quality service is a nice thing to do, and being nice is totally awesome
7. Remember New York City can be very expensive, so spend wisely so you can be able to see a lot of what New York has to offer
8. New York City is divided into five boroughs-Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, The Bronx, and Staten Island
9. Streets run east/west, avenues run north/south (in Manhattan)
10. SoHo is south of Houston (pronounced HOUSE-ton) Street
11. TriBeCa is the Triangle Below Canal Street
12. If you ever need help with something, just ask someone. Contrary to popular belief, New Yorkers tend to be very nice
13. Don’t worry about the cat in the bodega, it’s there for your benefit
14. Be prepared to see anything on the streets on NYC.

Black Friday at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets

Midnight Madness at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets is just around the corner!  If you didn’t already know, the Friday after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday because of all of the incredible deals promoted by stores.  50% off big screen TVs, $1,000 off a new camera; who knows what is going to be the big thing this year.  The catch is, there is usually a limited supply so you have to get there early.

How early do you need to get to the outlets on Black Friday?  Well, the first stores are opening at 9 p.m. Thursday night and will stay open for the next 25 hours, so you should probably scarf down Thanksgiving dinner and head right over to Port Authority!

How do you get to Woodbury Common Premium Outlets?  Gray Line New York provides shuttle transportation to and from Woodbury Common Premium Outlets from Port Authority.  For Black Friday, Gray Line New York – Woodbury Common Premium Outlets shuttle buses will begin running from 7:45 Thursday evening.   More information.

What stores are located at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets?  There are over 220 different designer and brand name outlets to choose from when you go shopping on Black Friday.  These outlets include Burberry, Coach, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, J.Crew, Lacoste, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Prada, and many more.

For Black Friday transportation from New York City to Woodbury Commons, visit Gray Line New York.

For more information on Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, visit their official website.

Catch a Ride to the Woodbury Common 4th of July Summer Sale!

From June 29^th until July 4^th, Woodbury Common Premium Outlets will be ringing in summer with their annual 4^th of July Sale!  You can shop at over 220 designer and brand name outlets at the world-famous Woodbury Commons, and with this sale you can enjoy extra savings on top of the 25-65% off that you normally see!

We run bus transportation to and from the outlets, so don’t worry that they aren’t in the city.  We have buses leaving Port Authority as early as 7:15 a.m. and returning to the city as late as 9:26.  Take advantage of the great summer sales at Woodbury Commons and book your trip now!

Outlets include:

• Burberry
• Coach
• Dior
• Giorgio Armani
• Gucci
• J.Crew
• and more!

*Get hundreds of dollars in additional savings with a complimentary coupon book when you book your trip*

Book a day trip to Woodbury Commons

Visit premiumoutlets.com/woodburycommon for more info on the sale

Introducing Big Pink Sightseeing

If you’ve been in New York City over the past week or so, you’ve probably seen them.  They look just like any of our other buses, but they’re pink.  Our Big Pink Buses have been on the road recently, but haven’t had any passengers.  Well, that’s about to change.

Beginning Monday, April 16^th, Big Pink Sightseeing will be running the bus tour that also fights for a cure:

Big Pink Bus

Not only have we wrapped a bunch of our buses in pink to support breast cancer awareness throughout New York City, but for every ticket sold, Gray Line New York is making a donation to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  While you take this exclusive, open-top, double-decker bus tour of Midtown and Downtown Manhattan, you will also be helping the fight against breast cancer.

If not for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, many facts about the genetic basis of breast cancer would not be known, the link between exercise, nutrition and breast cancer risk would not be established, and the rate of mortalities would not continue its downward curve.  BCRF-funded scientists are responsible for these and many other critical achievements.

For more information about BCRF, visit www.bcrfcure.org

To book your Big Pink Sightseeing tour, head over to New York Sightseeing now.