We had pre-purchased, 72 hour Hop On Hop Off tickets with VIP access through Thomas Cook, the VIP access allows you to jump the queues to board buses and ferries but there were no queues to jump, so in reality the VIP access is not really worth getting. If you have the time, the multiple day packaged offering is great value for money, with extra value added vouchers and discounts. We ended up using a cab to get to our next stop. Also note that the buses are reasonably punctual, but we waited for more than 40 minutes outside the Metropolitan Museum for the bus that never arrived. This can add up if you are doing multiple buses during the day. The tour guides were friendly and informative, but be aware that they stand at the exit with a tip box when you leave the bus. Included in our package were 3 vouchers to a selection of top attractions (we used it for Top of the Rock, the Guggenheim Museum and the Metropolitan Museum, but the Empire State Building can be accessed with one of the vouchers as well), as well as a discount card for a selection of restaurants and shops. Four different routes are on offer, including Uptown, Downtown, Brooklyn and a Night Bus. Find another tour operator, and do yourself a favour.We got the three day city pass from a vendor at Times Square, which included unlimited hop-on and hop-off during the time, as well as a hop-on hop-off ferry that went from Pier 78 to Brooklyn, down the Hudson River. Filed a complaint with the company and so far just getting the run around. Never even used it the next day because it was torturous. So disgusted by the time we got back to our hotel we got off a stop early just to be done with it. One bus came, wouldnt let anyone on, next bus came, two drivers argued about picking passengers, finally got on one, settled in, and its a TAPE tour. So we just walked through the outside pool area, and reported back to our spot, waited more than 45 minutes in throngs of cranky Grayline passengers. No way we could cover the museum etc with the lines. Got to our stop at 5 only to be told the last bus picked up there in an hour. The guide barely spoke and when he did it was almost intelligible. Didn't say the last bus went out from the destination we were actually going to hop off at, which was the 9/11 memorial. The sales rep on the street told us Grayline operated with a real tour guide, and called over his manager to confirm. So it was we made our purchase with Grayline. We were told the number one thing to look for in a hop on-hop off tour was having a real person as the tour guide rather than a tape. I feel I got value for money using this pass. I found the buses easy to use and didnt wait long for one to arrive, the tour guides on all the buses we took were informative. So all in all I used 3 options, didnt get my value out of the bus tours as there wasnt enough time. Didnt use the bus this day, took subway. Day 3 used our final options Ground Zero Memorial and Museum and Top of the Rock. then got uptown bus, was great to go past museums, through Harlem etc. Paid to do a pedicab around Park, they took us to all the tourist spots, cant recommend this enough as a MUST DO in NYC. Day 2 went to do Horse and carriage Central Park but this had been discontinued as an option from when I first paid for pass. After Statue, took bus back uptown, whole day to do this. Its important to note that the options you choose even though you have the pass, you still need to que for each option with everyone else! It just means youve paid for them in advance. First day took downtown bus tour to go see Statue. In 3 days I feel it would be impoosible to really do more than the 3 as it takes so long to go from A to B in the city.
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