New York Pass - Anybody have recent experience ? Worth it ?

[tombanjo]

Hi All

I will be in NYC for a week at HCNY October 17-23rd. I have read both terrible reviews and rave reviews of the NY Pass. Primarily, it is merely to pre-pay for the ticket, and you need to stand in line for the ticket, then stand in line for the attraction. Also, that you need to go to Madame Tussaud's to get a paper ticket first, which needs to be gotten with a print out of your voucher. That might be for groupon buyers only. In any case - anyone have some experience they can share ? I'd probably get the 3 day pass and use it Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. I have a Metro card and fine using public transport between sites, rather than wait for hop on hop off bus which is only valid for one day in any case.

 

[wackymother]

I've gotten them for other cities; we live just outside NYC and I worked in Manhattan for many years.

With the City Passes for other cities, we thought they were more trouble than they were worth.

In the case of New York...are those particular sights definitely what you would want to see in New York? Realistically, will you go to all of them? I would really think about how many you will see and then add up the at-the-door costs. And don't take their word for how much admission costs--you need to go to each website and see what the costs really are for individuals in your group.

The other problem is that many people and groups buy City Passes, so the attractions on the passes end up being mobbed by tourists. Last time we went to the Museum of Natural History, the lines were unbelievable. It was many, many people with City Passes, waiting to get in.

 

[tombanjo]

thanks for the input - There are several things I'd like to do, but concerned about the reviews with the lines being out of control, making the amount of places to get to less than I imagine. Things like "top of the rock", which I ordinarily wouldn't pay much for, would be worthwhile if it was easy in and included. I think I'll pass this time on the pass.

 

[easyrider]

We used groupon and viator for discounts on some NYC attractions. I really enjoyed the Lower Manhattan walking ghost tour. It ends at a bar made famous by George Washington. It was my favorite activity while we were there.

Bill

 

[wackymother]

Yes, Groupon has some nice activities in New York. But they also have some things that are about the same price if you just book through the regular websites.

BTW, Costco has had some tickets for attractions in cities we've visited, and their prices were actually very good. I would check there for tickets and see what they have for you.

 

[clifffaith]

We took several "free" walking tours, both historical and food oriented. Just don't not show up or you'll get blacklisted. We went the complete wrong direction and missed our tour one day a couple years ago. No smart phones at the time, so no way to find the tour when we got turned back around. When we got back to our computers at the end of the day, our final tour had been canceled, but we already had an email from that tour guide so we fessed up to missing a tour, and he said go ahead and come. Believe me, a guide who works for tips, and knows his stuff, wants Cliff on his tour!

 

[1st Class]

We haven't used the pass, but wanted to suggest a visit to the Jekll and Hyde Club. This is a really fun place especially if you have kids with you. It's a haunted restaurant, and my kids really liked the special effects.