New York Travel Guide

This Free New York Travel Guide is provided by Orbeeze.

If you’re taking a New York City vacation, you need to first familiarize yourself with transportation to New York. You have lots of options to get to NYC, including plan, train and yes…automobile. We had to do it.

Most of Manhattan is presented in a grid. Accounting Northern Manhattan, which is the convention that indicates the island of Manhattan is oriented exactly north-south (actually northeast to southwest), the streets running east to west and avenues running north to south. This makes it relatively easy and simple to find your way. The streets are numbered (except in downtown Manhattan) and the number is rising as it moves northward. Most streets are numbered from east to west (for the First Avenue is east of the second, etc) below 59th Street. Construction of the numbering starts in the main roads in the south end of the avenue and rises as it moves northward.

Above Washington Square, Fifth Avenue divides Manhattan into East and West; numbers begin at Fifth Avenue on each side (except when you stop Central Park) and increases in both directions. Directions to the west of Fifth Avenue are written as, for example, 220 W. 34th Street, while to the east of Fifth Avenue are written as 220 E. 34th Street. However, below Washington Square numbered streets (thankfully, only two, the 3rd and 4th Streets), Broadway Street divides East and West. Because of this dual numbering system is always advisable to take into account the intersection nearest to your destination (6th Avenue and 34th Street, Broadway and 51st, etc.). In Greenwich Village and midtown Manhattan (generally considered below Houston (HOW-ston) Street), all bets are off as the maze of streets, dead end and cut themselves. Streets in Greenwich Village, are particularly known for defying logic. For example, West 4th Street crosses West 10th Street and West 12th Street, and you can stand on the corner of Waverly Place and Waverly Place.

As a practical guide to the distance, there are 20 blocks per mile along the avenues (walking North / South). The average person can walk about 1 block per minute. Walking east / west in the streets, the blocks are generally much longer.
On foot

For shorter distances, there is no better way to get around New York than hitting the pavement. If you use the subway or bus, it will almost certainly have to walk to and from stations or stops. In all areas of New York travelers can visit all the streets are wide, smooth-paved sidewalks. For long distances, walking is also fine and a good way to see the city.

Jaywalking is very common among New Yorkers, but can be extremely dangerous. While you can not measure the speed of the cars in the opposite direction, it is recommended that you wait for the signal to walk. A general average New Yorker jaywalks 10-15 times a day, so do not blindly follow one as they are quite adept at making choices in the second division – and yet have time to do everything, the person behind them did not. If you do JAYWALKAS, driving is on the right side of the road into two one-way streets so remember to look left to check traffic coming from your side of the road. Note that most streets are one-way, so you’ll have to look right. Most New Yorkers who know which streets go which will only be in the direction of traffic coming over to look in both directions. A useful mnemonic to remember which way streets (not roads) go is “equal to the Orient” – or if there are parked cars, look how they face. This helps about 98% of the time. But beware of illegal cyclists go against the proper flow of vehicular traffic – or, for that matter, the police or other vehicles doing the same. (It’s never just look both ways, even in a one-way street).

If you do not want JAYWALKAS, be considerate of New Yorkers by not blocking them from crossing at an intersection while you’re waiting for your signal.

New York City Transit Authority issues MetroCards to use the bus and the subway in the city. While you may pay the bus through the exact change (in coins) should have a MetroCard to enter the subway system. Cards can be purchased online, at stations (either from a vending machine or a token booth) or in many grocery stores and newsstands (look for a MetroCard sign on the window of the shop). Information on the types of MetroCards and fares can be found online at the website of Metrocard.

MetroCard that is right for you? It depends on how long you plan to stay, how to use the system, and the frequency with which they will use the system. The base fare is $ 2.25 paid to enter a bus or pass through a turnstile in the station for the first time. However, most MetroCards this discounted rate:

* The single Ride MetroCard available for $ 2.25 at stores and vending machines in stations MetroCard. You can buy this card in a token booth. This does not allow the free transfer of the other buses or subway lines, left the system. Only valid for two hours after purchase.

* Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard available from $ 4 to $ 80 in vending machines and lockers. Any purchase over $ 8 gives a bonus of 15% (each $ 10 that gives you an extra $ 1.50). Transfers between bus and subway are available. This is the best choice if you are spending a few days in New York and plan on using public transport intermittently. The only way to have a Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard with a balance is still $ 45 purchase through the “choose other amount” option, in addition to 51.75 and gives 23 runs.

* One day FunPass available for $ 8.25 in stores and from MetroCard vending machines (but not because booths). Unlimited use of subways and buses since the first time you use the card until 3am the next day. A lot if you plan to use the transportation system largely on one day.

* Seven-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard available for $ 27 from token booths and vending machines and valid from the moment you first use at midnight on the seventh day. Under $ 3.60 a day, this is an incredible offer for anyone who wants to spend a week in the city. Even with moderate use of the transport system, will break even in five days. Not valid on express buses or the AirTrain JFK.

Money * 14-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard, to $ 51.50, and 30 days, $ 89, save even more for visitors. If you purchase with a credit card or debit card, you can get a prorated refund if lost.

* Include more specialized variations on the seventh day Express Bus Plus Pass for $ 45, which also allows unlimited use of express buses (which serve Staten Island), JFK Airtrain and two specific options: a 30-day unlimited pass for AirTrain $ 40, and a 10-pass $ 25, both of which are only valid on AirTrain.

MetroCards also be used for discounts throughout the year in venues across New York in a “MetroCard last minute.” The subway, buses and stations to post signs announcing the “Offers”, which is often redeemed by showing a MetroCard in a locker, or accountant of goods. MetroCard website also posts the latest offers from MetroCard.