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Midas Hotels: New York: Extensive Visitor Information for New York
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New York New York. The Big Apple. The Empire State. The city that never sleeps. No matter what you call it - it's New York - and it's one hell of a city! Not a bad deal for a handful of beads a few hundred years ago. Millions and possibly billions of words have been written about it, thousands and possibly millions of films and pictures have featured it, but no one - and no description or film - can even start to capture this incredible, wonderful, seething mass of humanity that is New York City - unless they spend some time in it. In a way it seems preordained that this, probably the greatest city on earth was the scene of one of the greatest single atrocities by man against man on earth.
New York post 9/11 - dazed, battered, bruised and deeply, terribly hurting. Today it is still the same city - but has rallied and moved on, with both it's people and the city absorbing 9/11 into its unique culture and history, drawing enormous spiritual strength from it with a never ever to be forgotten legacy. The city is once again the powerhouse that it always was, but now with a new purpose and destiny that is totally unique. Over 1.2 million visitors from the UK visited New York in 2007 to see first hand what this amazing, big, buzzing, mind boggling, "king of cities" has - charm, wit, culture, the arts, shopping, and whatever choice of capitalist inspired excess can be found on earth, along with great lashings of - well - WOW!! Eight million people living on top of each other is nothing new to Londoners but nobody in the world does it as well as the special people that are New Yorkers. But - don't take our word for it - take a bite and see for yourself. We at Midas Hotels have got a a deal for everyone - no matter your budget. So get on your bike - Now!
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* Click on Blue Information Icon below to go to specific Information Section
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 Airports/Airlines/Airport Lounges
Airport Transfers: Taxis: Bus: Shuttle Bus
Airline Carry on Baggage in USA
Banks/ATM's
Begging/Buskers ('Panhandling') Subway & Streets
Bargaining & Discount Stores
Business Hours
Bicycles & Bicycle Tours
Broadway Shows in New York
Off Broadway Shows in New York
Cinema (Movies)
Climate
Currency & Exchange Rate: US $ - £UK Pound
Credit Cards
Communications: Telephones (Landline)
Communications: Telephones (Your UK Mobile)
Communications: email / Internet / Web
Communications: Mail
Cars: Hiring & Driving Rental Cars in New York
Cars: Roads, Driving, Parking
Customs Allowance from UK for USA
 Midas New York Customer Comments
Dining in New York: Food & Restaurants
Disabled Travellers Access
Drugs (iIlegal variety)
Electricity
Festivals & Concerts
Health and Hospitals (Medical facilities-Visitors)
Health and Hospitals (Medical Insurance)
Language (Local Slang)
Manners/Customs (Locals)
Media: TV, Newspapers, Radio
New York Neighborhoods
New York Night Clubs & Bars
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Parks & Gardens: Central Park
Parades: Famous Parades: St Patricks Day, Macey's
Personal Safety
Public Holidays
Sex and The City! (..The Tour!)
Sightseeing: Art Galleries & Museums
Sightseeing: Famous Landmarks; Empire State
 Building, Chrysler Building, Rockerfeller Centre,
Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Grand Central
Station, Wall Street, St Patrick's Cathedral
Sightseeing: Famous Show Venues: Radio City Music
Hall, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Centre, Metropolitan
Opera House, Madison Square Garden
September 11 - Ground Zero
Shopping in New York: General
Shopping in New York: The New York Pass
Shopping in New York: Famous Shops: Saks 5th Ave,
Maceys, FAO Schwartz, Bloomingdales, Tiffany & Co:
Sports in New York: Baseball, Basketball, Football,
Ice Hockey, Tennis, Boxing, New York Marathon
Taxis in New York
Travel Insurance
Tours: New York Must See/Do: Statue of Liberty,
City Helicopter Tour, Ground Zero, Sex & City, More:
Tipping
Time Difference
Transport:(Public) Subway, Bus, Taxis, Limos, Walk
Passport/Visa: New ESTA & e-passport Rules
Visas & Passport: American Embassy in London
Visas & Passport: British Consulate in New York
Vaccinations & Health Requirements for Visitors
ZOOM MAP: MANHATTAN - NEW YORK CITY
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** Please note that we take NO responsibility for the content of external web sites that we link to for informational purposes **
New York City Neighborhoods (Manhattan Districts)
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Ok, so you've decided it's time to visit the Big Apple. You want to book a New York hotel but you're not quite sure of the geography. First things first, New York is split into 5 main districts, Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, The Bronx and Manhattan Island. By far the most popular is Manhattan, where all the famous sights and sounds of New York can be experienced, and Midas Hotels have got New York hotels to suit all budgets.
Ok, that's the geography bit over with. Now, here's the good news… Navigating around Manhattan couldn't be easier as our friends across the pond planned the whole of the city on a grid system. Even better news, they showed a distinct lack of imagination when naming the Streets opting for the not so inspirational 1st Street 2nd Street etc which to be fair, makes our job even easier.
So here's the deal, think of Manhattan as a long thin island with streets running east to west and avenues running north to south. On a good day with a decent headwind and a lucky run of green WALK signs it takes around a minute to walk from one street to another. Hence from 32nd Street to 42nd Street will take around 10 minutes. From 50th Street to 65th will take around 15 minutes, from 25th Street to 55th Street will take around… well I'm sure you get the picture.
Similarly the Avenues, which run north to south and take around 3 minutes to walk. So to get from 1st Avenue to 3rd Avenue will take around 6 minutes. This all being said, Manhattan is a true walking city and one of the best things to do is just head off on foot and explore all the districts that this vibrant island has to offer.
Midtown Manhattan
What can we say? Midtown has got everything. With a host of New York Hotel options and a wealth of sites to see, Midtown starts around 30th street and goes up to around 60th street where Central Park starts. The hub of Midtown, in fact the hub of New York is Times Square where Broadway meets 42nd Street. Other sights of Midtown include the Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden, Grand Central Station, the Chrysler Building and a wealth of shopping including Bloomingdales and Macys. Oh and don't forgot all the fantastic restaurants and bars scattered around all the New York Hotels offering comfortable retreats no matter what the budget.
Upper East Side
Think Upper East Side, think Sex and The City. This is a true New York neighbourhood where the locals, or at least the locals rich enough to afford a place in Manhattan, live. Upper East Side has got a cosy neighbourhood feel, but because it's largely a residential area a number of interesting and award winning restaurants and bars have popped up in recent years to service the community. There is a good selection of New York hotels scattered about the Upper East Side allowing you the opportunity to join the locals during your visit. Oh and don't forget about Museum Mile, the affectionate name for the stretch of 5th Avenue where a plethora of Museums exist to thrill both tourists and natives alike, including The Museum of the City of New York, the Guggenheim Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Across the road 5th Avenue is lined with trees hiding the urban oasis of Central Park.
Upper West Side
This is Seinfeld land. The most successful US comedy show in history was based in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Whilst it might not be quite as classy as the East, it's still a great neighbourhood to visit, with a wealth of bars and restaurants servicing the New Yorkers who live here, giving each establishment a real and local feel. There is also a great selection of New York hotels on the Upper West Side offering a wide range to suit all budgets. Finally there's the ace in the hole, the American Museum of Natural History, there's always a special exhibit on so it's worth checking a guide for details. Everyone should visit here once in their lifetime, and once you do, you'll keep coming back.
Soho / Tribeca / Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, SoHo and TriBeC are located in lower Manhattan, and are 24/7 neighbourhoods that are hip, cool and young. This is the cradle of NYC culture - where it is born, grown and then adopted uptown - and exported to the rest of the world. The district joins old and new in a neighbourhood renowned for it's its great restaurants, bars, theatres, famous green market and boutique shops. It also has the NYU (university) at its core with residential areas to the east and west with the village itself where young New Yorkers live, work, study and play. World-class art galleries and all are easy walking distance and Little Italy, Chinatown, Wall Street, and Times Square are also a 5 minute cab ride away. Greenwich Village is of course also known the world over with its famous neighbourhood name evoking memories of Joan Baez, Bob Dylan and Janis Joplin to name a few. The 'Village' (as it is known) occupies the area between Houston Street and 14th Avenue from river to river. There is lot to do from a day in Washington Sq. Park to trying to cover the innumerable great art galleries and boutiques in the area, as well as a plethora of superb restaurants and night spots.
As for Washington Sq. Park, it is a mini 'Greenwich Village' experience itself. Occupying an area of over 9 acres it is located right at the beginning of 5th Avenue. Entering through its famous arch, it has everything including great performances from fantastic street performers, fortune tellers, comics, footpath artists and a whole bunch of funny, zany talented people. Make sure you don't run down by the hundreds of roller bladers that zip around everywhere! Off the park are old cobblestone streets with all kinds of neat shops. Night life in Greenwich Village is awesome; you can spend a quiet evening in a coffee house or see one of the famous jazz clubs in the area. The SoHo area, (abbreviated name for 'South of Huston') is relatively small and centred around Spring and Prince Street and is lined with art galleries, pubs and restaurants. More 'tourist' oriented than the Village, the cobblestone provide the perfect backdrop to an ever-changing cultural scene. South of 'SoHo', the TriBeCa area is the abbreviation for 'Triangle below Canal' and is a commercial rapidly transforming into an upmarket residential neighbourhood.
Little Italy / Chinatown
The Little Italy/Chinatown area is downtown on the East Side and is the area from Brooklyn Bridge to Houston Street and the Bowery to Lafayette Street. Canal Street is the unofficial dividing line, with Chinatown to the south and Little Italy to the north. An incredibly rich and diverse ethnic area (as is all of New York City but more so here) it is probably most famous for its absolutely awesome choice of food and atmosphere. Chinatown is one of Manhattan's oldest neighbourhoods and Chatham Square in China town was the acknowledged entertainment centre of New York long before Times Square became the 'centre' of New York. NYC Chinatown is the largest Chinatown in the United States and one of the largest in the world. New and superbly converted apartments live alongside old world retail shops and old-fashioned world food markets. Walk north and you feel that you have transported yourself to another country – Italy! Little Italy runs north from Canal Street to Houston Street, and is west of Mott Street. Asian style calligraphy changes to red and green, and the aroma of fresh coffee permeates the air. For ten days in September, the world famous fe | | | | | | | | |
Midas New York I
