Visiting New York

Dining

• How far ahead should I book dinner or a show?

  As early as you can. The most popular restaurants open their books on a set schedule, often one to four weeks ahead, and the best times go quickly. A member Concierge can sometimes secure tables and tickets that look sold out.

  Source: Time Out New York.

• When do New Yorkers eat dinner?

  Earlier than many visitors expect. Lately, 6 to 7 pm has been the most booked dinner hour in the city. Most Broadway evening shows start at 7 or 8 pm, so if you are seeing a show, book an early table near the theater.

  Sources: OpenTable's bookings, in Time Out New York and Broadway.com.

• What if my plans change?

  Tell your Concierge as soon as you know. Some restaurants hold a table with a card and charge a fee for a late cancellation or a missed booking. A member Concierge tells you about any such charge when they book.

  Source: OpenTable.

Theater and tickets

• Can a Concierge find tickets to a show that is sold out?

  Sometimes. Members use their connections and resources to find seats that look sold out. They tell you the price, with any surcharge or service fee, before you agree, and where the seats are, including anything that blocks the view.

• Where can I find theater tickets at a discount?

  Twice a year, in winter and in September, NYC Broadway Week offers two tickets for the price of one. All year, the TKTS booths in Times Square and at Lincoln Center sell tickets for same-day shows and next-day matinees at up to 50 percent off. Your Concierge knows what is on sale during your stay.

  Dates and shows: NYC Broadway Week and TKTS by TDF.

Getting around

• What is the best way to hail a cab?

  Look at the light on the roof of a yellow taxi. When the number is lit, the taxi is available, so step to the curb and raise your hand. When it is dark, the taxi has a passenger or is off duty. You can also call a taxi with an app the city licenses, and your Concierge can arrange a car service, by the trip or by the hour.

  Sources: NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission, the roof light and its fares and licensed apps.

• How do I pay on the subway and the buses?

  Tap a contactless card, a phone or a watch at the turnstile or on the bus. There is nothing to buy first, and MetroCards are no longer sold. Use the same card or device for every ride. Your first tap starts a seven-day period, and once your fares in it reach the weekly cap, the rest of those seven days are free on subways and local buses.

  Sources: MTA, the weekly fare cap and MTA, the end of MetroCard sales.

• How do I get from the airport to my hotel?

  By taxi, by train or by a car booked ahead. A yellow taxi between JFK and Manhattan charges a flat fare plus tolls and surcharges. Take a taxi only from the official taxi stand outside the terminal, and ignore anyone who offers you a ride inside. Your Concierge can book a car to meet you, so write before you fly.

  Every way into the city: the airports' own pages. Sources: NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission and JFK's taxi stands.

Your Concierge

• Do Concierges take commissions?

  Not NYCAHC members. Every year they pledge never to take commissions or join contests tied to the business they send. They recommend what suits you, not what pays.

• How do I know I am asking the hotel's own Concierge?

  Ask who runs the desk. At a member hotel, an NYCAHC Concierge serves the hotel's guests and takes no commission on what they recommend. Some desks in hotel lobbies are run by outside companies that sell tours and tickets, and their advice may follow what they earn.

• Can a Concierge help with more than restaurants and shows?

  Yes. Tables and tickets are only the start. Members plan your days, arrange cars and take on every request, so long as it is ethical, legal and humanly possible.

Tipping

• Should I tip my Concierge?

  Gratuities are appreciated, never required. The amount depends on the hotel, on how much your Concierge did and on how hard the request was.

• Who else do I tip, and how much?

  Many service workers in New York count on gratuities as part of their pay. At your hotel, that means bell staff, door staff and housekeeping. In the city, it means restaurant servers, bartenders, taxi and car drivers, and hair, nail and beauty services. The customary amounts are in Tipping in New York.

  Source: NYC Tourism + Conventions.

• Is the tip already on my bill?

  Sometimes. Many restaurants add a gratuity of 18 or 20 percent for a large party, usually six or more, and a restaurant without tipping may add a service charge instead. Read the bill before you add more, and ask your Concierge when in doubt.

  Source: NYC Tourism + Conventions.