Some Advice for First-Time Visitors to New York City

I recently got a tour request from a couple of seniors (from a Midwestern state in the USA) who are contemplating their first visit to New York City, bringing their 12-year-old granddaughter. They're thinking about hiring a guide for two to four hours a day over three to four days to introduce them to NYC.

That's not actually in my wheelhouse--blame the name of my company!--but it's fine that they contacted me.

Below is a modified version of my response. 

If you look at my website, I actually do not specialize in introductory NYC highlights (Financial District, Times Square, Central Park, etc.) but rather on more focused walks around various neighborhoods, mostly in Brooklyn, and a few in Manhattan and Queens.

In other words, they're generally for people who've already seen those highlights and want to go beyond. I suspect you'd probably want to spend at least two, maybe three (maybe all?) days in Manhattan.

Please keep in mind that NYC is large—you can't see a lot in two hours, even if you're limited to Manhattan.

There are numerous guides who could help you in Manhattan, as well as scheduled group tours.

(I can​ lead tours in Manhattan—I did a 9-hour tour a few weeks ago that included pieces of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens—but others specialize in Manhattan.)

Some DIY research

I'd encourage you to first buy (or borrow from the library) a guidebook, so you can figure out your priorities. In other words, you generally don't need a guide to take you around a museum.

I'd also encourage you to join the Facebook group What to Do in NY and search​ for people reporting on what they did with a 12-year-old.

Also think about how much walking you can do, and whether you'd want to cut down on distance by taking public transit (buses or subway) or taxis.

Finding and paying a guide

Think about your budget for a private guide: it will cost you minimum $60-$75/hour, and some guides do charge $100+/hour.

If you can't find a guide recommended in Facebook or other web searches, you can always search on the Guides Association of NYC website. Or post a request for a guide (the more focused the better).

What about Brooklyn?

Finally, if you would​ like a tour of Brooklyn with me after you do the highlights in Manhattan, we could do an introductory tour: Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, etc. My fees are here (but will go up slightly in 2024),

Why specialize?

As noted above, I can lead introductory tours in Manhattan and did combine part of one with a larger tour that included Brooklyn and Queens. That was for a recurring client--a leader who brings 5-6 different people to New York once a year for a full day of touring!

But I don't market myself for those tours because I don't specialize in those highlights. Sure, I can show you Times Square and Rockefeller Center and part of Central Park, and it will be "good enough" for new visitors. But I know some other guides are there all the time and know all the nuances.

I spend a lot of time trying to keep with the complexities of all the neighborhoods (mostly Brooklyn, plus two in Manhattan and three in Queens) where I do lead tours.

That said, if anyone does want a tour that combines boroughs with Manhattan, that could work. I'm happy to lead more long tours!