New York on a Budget, USA
Airing Date: Jul 31st, 2006
New York, New York. Known as one of the biggest, most exciting and certainly most expensive cities in the world. Although, visitors that do their homework will know that no- cost and low- cost pleasures are everywhere!
Savvy travellers seeking an insider's perspective can take advantage of countless guided walking tours.. Big Apple Greeters offers a personalised, one-on-one visit with a New Yorker, who conveys the big city's small-town charm to individuals and groups up to six people travelling together.
At no charge, volunteer guides reveal the hidden treasures and overlooked details that give a neighbourhood its flavour. Greeters and visitors are matched by their interests.
Tours last two to four hours and should be reserved at least three or four weeks in advance. Tipping is not permitted, each member of the group will get a Metro Card "Fun Pass" which offers each visitor with a $4, 2-ride Metro Card valid on New York City's subway and bus system for the day and best of all.... the tour is absolutely free!!
The Staten Island Ferry has been a municipal service since 1905, and currently carries over 19 million passengers annually on a 5.2-mile run between the St. George Terminal in Staten Island and the Whitehall Terminal in lower Manhattan. Service is provided 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The Staten Island Ferry is the most reliable form of mass transit, with an on-time performance of over 96 percent! Throughout its history, The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has used architecture as a vehicle for self-renewal and regeneration.
The recently completed building project represents MoMA's most extensive redefinition since its founding seventy-five years ago. The Museum combines new spaces with MoMA's original architecture to dramatically enhance its dynamic collection of modern and contemporary art.
Home exchange offers the opportunity to live as a local amongst the community. When you become a member you receive full access to all member details on the HomeLink network, to which your own property details will be added.
As a member, you simply send out offers to places of interest and it goes from there! Your exchange may result from offers you initiate, or offers you receive from other members. Your membership pack will contain a 'guide to exchanging', which most first-time exchangers find useful.
All durations of exchange can range from weekends to many weeks. It depends on what you and your exchange partner arrange. If you are exchanging within Australia, your preferred time period of exchange may be different than if you exchange for Europe, when you may want to enjoy at least three weeks in your holiday home.
Top 10 things to do in NYC for FREE!
* Central Park Central Park is a great place to escape from the tall buildings and chaos of New York City streets and The Central Park Conservancy offers many different free walking tours year-round that are a great way to get acquainted with Central Park.
* Grand Central Extensive efforts to restore and revive this National Historic Landmark lead to its rededication on October 1, 1998 when Grand Central Terminal had been restored to its original glory.
* New York Public Library In addition to beautiful architecture and an impressive book collection, the museum is features temporary exhibits on a variety of topics. Free one hour tours of the building are offered Tuesday - Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; free tours of current exhibitions are available at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
* Federal Reserve Bank of New York See the gold vault, trading desk, and a multimedia trading exhibit when you visit this neo-Renaissance building erected in 1924. Tour offers a great introduction to what the Federal Reserve does and the role it plays in the economy.
* Times Square - The best Times Square experience is after sunset when the glowing lights and din are at their most impressive.
* Rockefeller Center Visitors can enjoy this Art Deco complex with an extensive amount of art work integrated throughout.
* St. Patrick's Cathedral St. Patrick's Cathedral is the largest decorated gothic-style Catholic Cathedral in the United States and seats 2200 people.
* The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine The largest Gothic Cathedral in the world, a visit to St. John the Divine is well worth the trip to Morningside Heights.
* Chrysler Building There's no observation deck, but the lobby of the Chrysler Building is worth a visit to see the ceiling mural.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Homelink - www.homelink.org. Registration $220. Price includes taxes. Subject to fluctuation. Conditions apply. Prices correct at 31/7/06.
Air Tahiti Nui - www.airtahitinui.com.au. Return to New York from
$1509 ex Sydney
$1690 ex Brisbane
$1699 ex Melbourne
$1889 ex Adelaide
$2100 ex Perth
Price includes taxes, subject to fluctuation. Conditions apply. Prices correct at 3/7/06
Big Apple Greeters - www.bigapplegreeter.org
