Guidebook 833 Lexington Ave New York City

To ride the metro, you’ll need to purchase a metro card. You metro card also works for any public bus or ferry. Card fee: $1 Single Ride Entry Fee: 2.75 (per person) 7-Day Unlimited Ride: $33.00 * Once you've entered the metro system, you can transfer train lines any number of times without having to pay a fee. Once you exit the metro system, you will have to pay again to regain entry, even if you have exited by mistake.

I recommend this app to all my guests. You simply input the address to where you’d like to go and you can choose between all possible options as to how you’d like to travel there, including the price for a car. The app will keep track off all track changes and delays, so as to help eliminate the frustration in navigating the city’s rather confusing transit system. The step by step guide in very helpful! THIS APP IS FREE.

TIP: Comfy shoes are a must! Helps if they are not new. Remember: blisters kill. Pay attention to the weather for that day. Bring an umbrella if you think it might rain and carry a decent size bag to collect your findings, hold a bottle of water, and whatever else you might need while you're out for the day. You’ll probably find that you’re away from the apartment for very long periods of time. Being caught in the rain stinks and street side umbrellas are overpriced and cheaply made.

The easiest way to get around the city, believe it or NOT, is by riding the subway. It’s cheap, reliable enough for your purposes, and it’s a quintessential NYC experience. Navigating the subway system can be daunting. I always recommend that you forgo the giant handheld Subway Map and GO Commando, meaning if you are lost, confused, nervous, scared, or any combination of the three, take a deep breath, laugh, and simply ASK someone for help. This is the BEST option as the subway lines often run on alternate tracks than what is on the map.

The subway is very safe, but do watch out for yourself and others as it is often crowded, loud, and smelly, which at times can be disorienting and off-putting. If something or someone feels off, just get off at the next stop and move to a different car. Avoidance is the name of the game in a city with over 8 million residents. Almost anything goes in a train car - beggars, dancers, musicians, poets, mentally ill, and protesters sometimes use this space as a free common wealth. Just enjoy the show and don’t feel as though you need to interact with anyone for any reason.

Subway maps are available at most MTA employee occupied booths, you just have to ask for one. The associates can put money onto your MetroCard via CASH if the machines are not working or it's late-night. They also help with giving directions and are your first contact in case of an emergency on the tracks or in the station as they have direct contact with police.

I say this to save you the issue of not being able to upload directions for your next destination while underground. Make sure you figure out where you're going before you head into the tunnels.

HAIL CABS! - Green or Yellow Only Be weary of unmarked cars posing as cabs or someone asking if you need a car outside of a station or busy store. If the car isn’t marked, they aren’t legitimate and this is just something you want to avoid, trust me. Also, it’s illegal for a driver to ask where you’re going BEFORE you get into the car. Just hail - get in - and then let them know where you’re headed. All NYC cabs take debit and credit cards. - Cabs that do not have their roof service lights on are not in service. Only cars with their light on is available to pick up passengers.

The lock on the main door is a bit old and can be tricky to turn at times, especially in the cold weather. Tip: Put the key all the way into the lock and then pull it out about 1/4 inch before turning. I'm not sure why this works - it just does. The heat in the building is controlled by one main unit, which is a bit archaic. The heat will be on - just know that the dials on each side of the vents do not control the flow or temp in anyway. They are completely useless. If you happen to be a bit too warm, I recommend opening the windows a bit. Too cold for too long, please let me know.

Regular trash and recyclables should be left in the apartment UNLESS something is smelly. If you need to throw trash away, please do so by placing it in one of the many public trash cans outside on the street level. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY TRASH BAGS ON THE STREET OR IN FRONT OF THE APARTMENT! Thank you :)

Please be kind and do not light to inhale anything of smoking nature in the apartment. We have neighbors who are likely to not appreciate such a gesture of disrespect. Secondly, it's illegal to smoke indoors ANYWHERE IN NYC - so if you can't take it ALL the way outside, we'd prefer not to host you. Sorry - windows don't count.