Advice needed on best NYC tour by bus/Central Park tour

Hi everyone,

I%26#39;m going to NYC with my mum next week as it%26#39;s her 60th birthday. I%26#39;d like to take a bus tour around the city, any recommendations for a reputable company and ideas on price?

Also want to take her around Central Park on her birthday, was thinking of doing so on an open horse drawn carriage. Again, any recommendations/ideas of price?

Advice is much appreciated!

Thanks

Advice needed on best NYC tour by bus/Central Park tour

Grayline does a hop on/off bus tour of various sections of NYC. It%26#39;s popular but requires climbing up and down stairs as seats are up top on old London double decker buses. Price is ~ $45/person for all loops 2 day ticket.

grayline.com/Grayline/鈥ewyork.go

Real NY Tours is a smaller group and takes you around by foot and subway. Gets raves here

http://www.realnewyorktours.com/

The best way to see Central Park is by foot. Carriages are not recommended and limit what you can see. (they only run on roads where cars go). There are pedicab tours (like a bicycle rickshaw) that are a better option. One of our regular posters, tourguidestan provides this service (and also does other areas).

oconnorgreentoursnyc.com/feedback/index.htm

Central Park also has free walking tours daily of different areas.

centralparknyc.org/site/PageNavigator/progra鈥?/a>

The Boat House in Central Park is a lovely spot for a meal.

thecentralparkboathouse.com/sections/home.htm

You should also take some sort of boat ride while you%26#39;re here, whether a simple cruise tour like

nywaterway.com

or a fancier ride for drinks or a meal like

bateauxnewyork.com

shearwatersailing.com

sail-nyc.com

Advice needed on best NYC tour by bus/Central Park tour

That%26#39;s great thanks, I might not do the open horse drawn carriage thing then! We%26#39;re on a bit of a budget... $1000 for 3 1/2 days to do all the attractions including meals. Do you think this would be enough?

Hi - as to your budget that will be fine. I%26#39;ve just returned from a trip with my mum and we had a kitty of about $700 between us for taxis, food etc and that was plenty. (and the exchange rate was worse at the start of May when we arrived).

That%26#39;s great, thanks. I%26#39;ve preordered my currency today from M%26amp;S to collect next week before we go. Apparently dollars are flying out now the exchange rate is going up!