Keys to the City

Facts & Fundamentals

New York City is rivaled only by London and Tokyo in the world of international business and commerce and is the United States' center for finance, real estate and insurance industries. And it is also home to two of the most important stock exchanges in the world, the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ.

In addition the Big Apple is a global center for television, independent films, music, advertising and publishing. Time Warner, Hearst Corporation, and Viacom all have a major presence in the city.

NYC's population in the 2000 census was 8,143,197. This large population creates a city with a density of 26,403 people per square mile.

New York charges a sales tax of 8.375 %. No sales tax is imposed on the purchase of clothing and footwear valued under $110. Hotels are subject to additional taxes and occupancy fees.

Weather

Varied yet comfortable, the Big Apple's climate includes four distinct seasons. Spring usually kicks in in late March, and temperatures warm up from that point on, reaching the 80s and even up into the 90s in the heart of the city on the hottest of days. In September, temperatures cool, and late October sees chillier temperatures. At winter's height, temperatures generally average in the high 30s and snowfall is not at all uncommon.

Holidays & Business Hours

On federal and state holidays, many offices and businesses close or have truncated hours. Naturally, policies vary, but in general, the following holidays are broadly observed:

Coming & Going

The Big Apple is serviced by three major airports, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on Jamaica Bay, LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in northern Queens, and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in New Jersey. All three airports are operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. JFK is the top international gateway in the United States, accounting for close to 20% of the overseas travel completed by US citizens, and also handles most of NYC's air traffic to and from the West Coast. Just a few miles north, La Guardia handles mostly domestic (and a few Canadian) flights for Delta, American, and US Air. Newark Liberty is located about 15 miles southwest of Manhattan and operates as the country's 5th busiest airport, handling in excess of 30 million passengers each year in addition to serving as a hub for FedEx, Continental, United and UPS. Combined, these three airports see over 100 million people pass through their gates every year. To get from the airports to the heart of Manhattan, travelers usually exercise one of two options: cab or train.

From JFK to Midtown, the flat-rate for cabs is $45; by rail, the Long Island RR from Jamaica Station takes less than an hour and costs under $10. From the Howard Beach-JFK subway station, a ride to Midtown takes well over an hour but costs only around $2.

Cab rides from La Guardia to Midtown are less than $30. If you'd rather take the subway, the closest station to the airport is Astoria Boulevard; the M60 Bus travels between all La Guardia terminals and Astoria.

At Newark Liberty, the AirTrain carries passengers to the Newark Liberty International Airport Rail Link Station, where they can then catch a train to Penn Station. Cab rides between EWR and Manhattan usually run $50 or more, depending on tolls.

Making Your Way

In a city the size of NYC, getting around, for a first timer, can take some planning. The transportation options are numerous thanks to the 3,700 buses, 12,000 taxis and limousines and 714 miles of subways. NYC is flat and most streets follow a grid system, making it easy to navigate and perfect to explore on foot. Obtain a trusty map from your hotel or visitors center, get your bearings and start exploring.

The subway operates 24 hours a day. Frequency of trains depends on the time of day, but they are usually a fast and easy way to navigate the city. Routes are identified by letters, such as A B C and by numbers, such as 1 2 3. The different lines are assigned different colors. Free subway maps are available in many hotels and at the Official Visitor Information Centers.

A bus stop is always nearby. NYC operates 3,700 buses on more than 200 routes in all five boroughs. Each trip is only $2 per ride, no matter how far you travel. Exact change is required and has to be paid by coins or MetroCard. No change is provided and you can't use paper money.

The MetroCard card is available in many options. The $7 one-day Fun Pass; the 7- ($24) and 30-day ($76) unlimited ride cards; and a pay-per-ride card ($10 for 6 rides, $20 for 12 rides, when purchased you can place any amount on the card). When using the MetroCard, you may transfer free from bus to subway, subway to bus, or bus to bus within two hours of the time you paid your fare. Unlimited Ride MetroCard includes all transfers, at no charge.

Taxis can be hailed on any street or found in front of major hotels at the taxi stand. Official New York City taxis are yellow and operate by meter. A taxi is available when its white rooftop number light is lit.

The total cost depends on the distance traveled and time spent in the cab. Taxi fares are calculated by a meter located in each cab. Fares are $2.50 for the first 1/3 mile, then 40¢ each 1/5 of a mile thereafter, and 40¢ per 120 seconds when cab is not moving; a 50¢ night surcharge is in effect between 8pm and 6am; a $1 surcharge is in effect 4-8pm weekdays (not including holidays). Any bridge or tunnel tolls will be added to the total charge; drivers might ask that you pay the tolls as you go through them. Taxi drivers are usually given a 15% gratuity on top of the final metered fare.

News & Views

The New York newspapers and magazines are legendary to say the least. The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal are two of only three national dailies in the US, and they cover everything ranging from world politics to business. Tabloids like the conservative New York Post and the more liberal Daily News do their parts to cover (and sometimes sensationalize) the city's pulse with poingant writing and photography. Major ethnic news publications include The New York Amsterdam News and El Diario La Prensa, which are geared toward the five burroughs' African-American and Spanish-speaking segments. For insight into the city's rich array of diversions, there are specialized papers such as the weekly Village Voice, which runs feature pieces on current affairs but is most well known for its coverage of the arts and entertainment scene. One of the most respected magazines in the country, The New Yorker offers informed, intelligent perspectives on literature, politics and popular culture; meanwhile, its chief competitor tends to focus more on the life, culture, politics and style of New York itself.

Quirks & Curiosities

The usual way of telling the driver where you want to go is by naming the cross street and the avenue. For example, "34th and 5th" means 34th Street and 5th Avenue. The driver will ask where on the block you want to be dropped off when you get closer to your destination.

Subway entrances are usually found on street corners with staircases descending to the terminal. Stops marked with a green ball mean there is a ticket booth where you can purchase tokens and MetroCards. Stations marked with a red ball are not staffed and require you have fare available to enter.

Getting Your Bearings

Even if you carefully plan a trip to New York, you can never hope to know the city like locals do. That's why organizations like NYC & Company, which is headquartered in Midtown just east of Broadway, are so important to travelers. Don't feel like you're aimlessly adrift, wondering the streets of Manhattan and overwhelmed by the plethora of things to do and places to eat. Instead, stop here and tap their bank of knowledge for recommendations on lodging, dining and shows to catch – you may even land yourself a few good deals while you're at it!

NYC Visitor Information Center
Midtown
810 Seventh Ave, between 52nd & 53rd Sts
212-484-1222
www.nycvisit.com
Mon-Fri 8:30am-6pm; Sat-Sun 8:30am-5pm

Necessities - Post Offices

It's usually not too difficult to spot a drop box when you're out and about, but if you need to conduct more serious postal business, it's not always that easy. In NYC, a number of post offices are convenient to travelers and residents. They include:

FDR Station
909 3rd Ave
212-330-5508
Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-4pm

Dag Hammarskjold
884 2nd Ave
212-571-1526
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm

Rockefeller Center
610 5th Ave
212-265-3854
Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm

Grand Central Station
450 Lexington Ave
212-330-5722
Mon-Fri 7:30am-9pm, Sat 7:30am-1pm

Lenox Hill Station
217 E 70th St
212-330-5561
Mon-Fri 8am-7pm, Sat 9am-4pm

Radio City Station
322 W 52nd St
212-265-3672
Mon-Wed, Fri 7:30am-6pm; Thu 7:30am-7pm; Sat 9am-4pm

Midtown Station
223 W 38th St
212-819-9604
Mon-Fri 7:30am-6pm

Empire State Building
19 W 33rd St
212-736-8282
Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm

Times Square Station
340 W 42nd St
212-502-0421
Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm

Common Courtesies

Although tipping is generally a personal matter, some guidelines prove helpful. At restaurants, servers typically get 15% of the bill, although 10% acknowledges basic assistance, and 20% awards exceptional service. It is also common now for some restaurants to charge an automatic gratuity of 18% for groups. You should be aware of this possibility before providing an additional tip. Taxi drivers usually receive a tip equivalent to 15% of the tab.

Often, a dollar tip covers many situations. Bartenders are customarily given $1 per cocktail, hotel maids are provided $1 for each day of a stay, bellhops get about $1 per bag, and a coat-check clerk typically receives $1 as well. Excepted is a concierge, who generally receives $5-$10 for standard service (additional assistance suggests more).