New York

Orientation

New York City, lies on the east coast of the United States, is made of five boroughs including Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan and the Bronx.

Waves of European immigrants coming to New York, the development of the city’s infrastructure, the consolidation of the five boroughs into one vast city and the incredible construction boom of the next 30 years all contributed to the city’s prominence.

With its greater reputation for business, culture, people, leisure, sophistication and art than any other city in the world, New York City is usually the primary American base for foreign companies wanting to start up an American office.

City Facts

• New York City Population: 16,626,000 (Source: UN Population Division 2000 estimate)
• USA Population: 277,825,000 (Source: UN Population Division Division 2000 estimate)
• Currency: US Dollar ($) = 100 cents
• Time Zone: GMT – 5 hours (Daylight Saving Time is observed)
• Language: English
  

Weather

Weather Forecast

Climate

New York has an extreme weather, with unbearably hot and humid summer but a bitterly cold and snowy winter. Travelers are therefore advised to check the weather forecast before visiting the city.

Travel Tips

When to Visit - Arts and Events

Many well-known arts centres at New York have become tourist attractions for long, and the Broadway is a prime district for theatre. There are around 250 legitimate theatres in New York, not to mention the countless ad hoc venues.

Music lovers are catered for with immense diversity and choice as several hundred celebrations and festival are held annually in New York. In the city, you could find the world’s oldest symphony orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the magnetic Metropolitan Opera, the world’s greatest ensembles and soloists, as well as a huge number of pop or rock act.

In New York, it is hardly find a day going past without a special-event taking place somewhere at the city.

Dining

New York, a multi-cultural city, embraces international flavors both metaphorically and literally. The cuisine here brings fusion of culture, and no other city offers such diversity. The choice is tremendous and dishes from any corner of the globe are available at the city. The only complaint from diners might be that there is just far too much choice and far too much food on the plates.

Tipping Advice

Restaurant bills throughout New York are not subject to service charges, but a standard gratuity ranging between 10 and 20 percent is the norm. For doormen, valets and luggage handlers, a tip of one US dollar for each service is suggested. Taxi drivers are usually tipped according to the service received. As a guide, adding 10 percent onto the fare is acceptable.

Transportation

Arriving by Air

New York City has three major airports including John F. Kennedy, Newark and La Guardia. Both international and domestic carriers serve the New York area. Like any other airports in North America, New York’s airports have stepped up their security operation, therefore all travelers are advised to be patient and allow plenty of time when arriving or leaving.

Getting Around New York

When you arrive in Manhattan, the best thing to do with your car is to leave and park it in a garage which costs you USD$25 a day the most.

The subway is so far the easiest method of getting around New York. However, the map and train system is quite different from other major cities. There are no line numbers but rather they use letters and/or numbers for each train. That number or letter which is also color-coded will then follow a set route.

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