The Holland Hotel’s close proximity to Manhattan places us in an ideal location for guests to skip the driving and utilize the variety of transportation options that are available to the public. This guide will discuss various options on traveling to and from Manhattan and the rest of NYC from The Holland Hotel, as well as different methods of getting around the boroughs.

Manhattan 101

Manhattan is one of the easiest major cities to get around, due in part to the careful planning that laid out the city’s streets and avenues in a grid formation. From 14^th St. and up, each street and avenue intersects at right angles, and the street numbers go up one at a time, for over 100 blocks. The streets in Manhattan are numbered and run from east to west in terms of numbered addresses, with street numbers increasing as you travel north. The avenues in Manhattan are numbered from east to west, with First Ave being closest to the East River, and Twelfth Ave being closest to the Hudson. In some locations, the numbered avenues will turn into names, like at Columbus Ave, Central Park West, and Amsterdam Avenue.

The Subway

New York City’s subway system is widely regarded as the most efficient mass transportation system in any major city around the world. While it may get a bad name thanks to the movie and television industry’s depiction, the NYC Subway is actually very safe and clean. Riders are able to purchase a MetroCard at kiosks located in each station. These cards allow the rider to purchase single rides for $2.50, as well as 7-day unlimited ride passes for $30 and 30-day unlimited ride passes for $112. A tip for visitors, you’ll need to load at least $5 onto a MetroCard when you initially purchase it. Ticket machines also do not dispense cash as change, so either use a credit card, or plan to have an exact amount of cash on you to avoid getting loaded by with $1 coins.

When first looking at a Subway map, it may seem incredibly confusing, but is actually very similar to the lay of the streets above. One major source of frustration that visitors often experience is ended up in a station that only runs in one direction, whether it be uptown(northbound) or downtown(southbound). Each station’s exterior signs will say if the station only serves a specific direction, so be sure to look over a map before swiping your MetroCard and entering the station.

Taxi

You’ll see them the second you step into the City, and they’ll seemingly be everywhere you turn as you explore the boroughs. When it comes time to hailing one, they all seem to disappear. New York City taxis are a convenient way of getting to any location in Manhattan, the surrounding boroughs, and even into New Jersey. While not always the cheapest or quickest method of transportation, taxis are good options if your group is tired, or is trying to find an address that you aren’t sure of. Pricing for taxis begins with a $2.50 base fare, and a $0.50 charge for every 1/5^th mile, or $0.40 per 60 seconds in stopped or slow traffic.

Uber

For getting around crowded areas where hailing a cab or fighting your way through a subway station doesn’t sound like your idea of a good ol’ New York time, Uber, the ride-sharing company that has taken the world by storm, is a great option to get from point A to point B. Users who are requesting an Uber ride simply access the app and indicate when they need to be picked up, as well as how many are in their party. An Uber driver in the area will accept the trip, and come right to your location to pick you and your group up and drop you off at your destination. Uber pricing differs from taxis, as Uber uses a flat rate pricing system based on distance. Be aware of Uber’s Surge Pricing, which can be quite common in Manhattan. Surge Pricing occurs when there are more people requesting an Uber than are available (post-concert, NYE, parades, etc). When this occurs, Uber implements a multiplier to their fares, which can range from 2x all the way up to 10x. If you’re ever debating if paying the Surge Price is worth it to get home, it’s not. Grab a cab or find your nearest subway station.

Human Power

Walking in New York City is the method of transportation that the majority of residents and tourists choose. With so much to see on each and every block, along with the easily navigable streets and avenues, a walk from 42^nd to 34^th shouldn’t take more than 15-20 minutes. It’s very possible to walk from the southern tip of Manhattan all the way up to Times Square in just a few hours. New York City also offers Citibike rentals to anyone who is looking to take to two-wheels and take transportation into their own hands. Citibike rental kiosks can be found all throughout Manhattan, and costs $9.95 per day. The secret to Citibike is they also allow unlimited free trips that clock in at 30 minutes or less, so a quick trip to the other side of town could only cost you a little bit of sweat as you peddle through the streets.

And of course, getting in and out of NYC will be a breeze when you are staying at The Holland Hotel, located just outside of The Holland Tunnel. Contact us today to make your reservation!

We are located on the New Jersey side right outside the entrance of the Holland Tunnel making traveling into New York City most accessible by car. Once you cross the Holland Tunnel, you are within minutes of Downtown Manhattan, Greenwich Village, Little Italy, SOHO, Tribeca, Chinatown, The Financial District … and much more.

Or you can leave the car behind and take other means of transportation including:

Walking distance to NY/NJ PATH™ Trains.

Ferry Service which can take you to the following destinations:
– Battery Park & the Financial Dist
– South Street Seaport
– Times Square & Midtown Manhattan
– Yankee Stadium
– Shea Stadium

New York Tours™ bus service, providing half and full day tours, will pick you up and return you to our front door.

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