There is no online option for purchase, but you can buy it at many locations and on buses and vending machines. I bought my 7 day pass from a kiosk in the La Guardia airport. They charge $1 for a new paper Metro card and apparently cannot reload an old card with an unlimited pass from a kiosk. You can add cash value to an old Metro card. The La Guardia kiosk only took credit and ATM cards and not cash.
For buses, feed the card into the slot with the "M" facing down and towards you.
For subways, slide the card like a credit card and push the turnstile.
Subways usually have express vs. local routes. The express skips stops and often, but not always, comes at the opposite side of the same platform.
Monday, August 20, 2018
New York City Art Museums
What is still free or low cost nowadays in NYC with regards to art museums?
1) Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
Free Friday nights sponsored by Uniqlo
- there is a huge line for entry. If you do not mind less time in the museum, the line may clear out later in the evening, like 1 to 1.5 hours after it starts
- the huge line continues to the 5th floor as everyone crawls at a snail's pace towards Van Gogh's starry night
- the galleries then gradually get less crowded, but it is still way more crowded than usual. If you hate crowds, consider paying for entry and going another time.
- there are only elevators or stairs to the first floor; thereafter, you can take the escalator, elevator, or stairs to other floors
- bags are searched upon entry
- it took me about 3 hours to explore
2) Guggenheim pay as you wish Saturday nights
- there is a huge line for entry that does not seem to dissipate as it was still there when I exited
- the Guggenheim is close to the Met, so consider pairing the two visits
- there is a spiral ascent covering all galleries, or you can take an elevator. There was one main exhibit covering most of the spiral, a special exhibit on rooms on 2 floors, and, and the regular exhibit on the 2nd floor with impressionist art when I went
- it took about 1 hour to explore
3) New Museum pay as you wish on Thursday nights
- there was no line
- the two buildings are connected and the exhibits are dispersed throughout
- it took me about 2 hours to explore only because they had excellent video art on display which I took time to watch
4) MOMA PS1
If you got into MOMA for free on a Friday, then you can save the ticket and get into MOMA PS1 within 14 days with the same ticket
- It took me less than 1 hour to explore
- Medium to large bags and large umbrellas must be checked in
5) Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) is only pay as you wish for local residents
If you pay full price, you can save the ticket, which serves as a 3 day pass. Within the 3 days, you can return unlimited times to the Met or visit the other Met campuses (Met 5th Avenue, Met Breur, Met Cloisters are the three campuses).
- Save your ticket and receipt since the attendant had trouble scanning my ticket but was able to read my receipt code
- It took me three visits and 13 hours total to quickly browse the Met 5th Ave.
- It took me less than 1 hour to view the Met Breur
- It took me about 1-2 hours to view the Met Cloisters
6) Frick Collection pay as you wish Wednesday night
- it closes at 6 PM. I was unable to get there in time so ended up visiting another day and paying full (> $20) admission.
- It took me about 1 hour to explore
1) Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
Free Friday nights sponsored by Uniqlo
- there is a huge line for entry. If you do not mind less time in the museum, the line may clear out later in the evening, like 1 to 1.5 hours after it starts
- the huge line continues to the 5th floor as everyone crawls at a snail's pace towards Van Gogh's starry night
- the galleries then gradually get less crowded, but it is still way more crowded than usual. If you hate crowds, consider paying for entry and going another time.
- there are only elevators or stairs to the first floor; thereafter, you can take the escalator, elevator, or stairs to other floors
- bags are searched upon entry
- it took me about 3 hours to explore
2) Guggenheim pay as you wish Saturday nights
- there is a huge line for entry that does not seem to dissipate as it was still there when I exited
- the Guggenheim is close to the Met, so consider pairing the two visits
- there is a spiral ascent covering all galleries, or you can take an elevator. There was one main exhibit covering most of the spiral, a special exhibit on rooms on 2 floors, and, and the regular exhibit on the 2nd floor with impressionist art when I went
- it took about 1 hour to explore
3) New Museum pay as you wish on Thursday nights
- there was no line
- the two buildings are connected and the exhibits are dispersed throughout
- it took me about 2 hours to explore only because they had excellent video art on display which I took time to watch
4) MOMA PS1
If you got into MOMA for free on a Friday, then you can save the ticket and get into MOMA PS1 within 14 days with the same ticket
- It took me less than 1 hour to explore
- Medium to large bags and large umbrellas must be checked in
5) Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) is only pay as you wish for local residents
If you pay full price, you can save the ticket, which serves as a 3 day pass. Within the 3 days, you can return unlimited times to the Met or visit the other Met campuses (Met 5th Avenue, Met Breur, Met Cloisters are the three campuses).
- Save your ticket and receipt since the attendant had trouble scanning my ticket but was able to read my receipt code
- It took me three visits and 13 hours total to quickly browse the Met 5th Ave.
- It took me less than 1 hour to view the Met Breur
- It took me about 1-2 hours to view the Met Cloisters
6) Frick Collection pay as you wish Wednesday night
- it closes at 6 PM. I was unable to get there in time so ended up visiting another day and paying full (> $20) admission.
- It took me about 1 hour to explore
Monday, May 1, 2017
London Museum Late Nights
You can maximize your museum experience if you plan ahead to visit the London Museums open late at night on certain days, saving your valuable Mon-Fri business hours for museums not open weekends or with limited hours.
For example, at the time of writing this, the British Museum opened until 8:30 PM on Friday nights, and the Victoria and Albert Museum opened until 10 PM one night a week.
London Transit
Oyster cards are good on the Underground, Overground, and DLR. The cards can be purchased from the automated machines in most terminals. You need to tap your card when boarding non-Underground trains since they tend not to have gates like the Underground. Instead, they have a designated area on the platform or near the ticket purchasing machine at which you should tap your card.
It is usually best to pay as you go instead of buying i.e. a 7 day pass because the Oyster card fee is capped such that you won't be charged more than the cost of a daily pass.
You will usually need to tag on and off since transit is charged by distance.
Beware of confusing "way out" signs. I found some pointing in opposite directions. Also, beware of service reroutes due to engineering work. Not only could there be delays, but you might need to follow signs telling you where to walk (further along a different platform, etc.) to reach the alternative departure point.
It is usually best to pay as you go instead of buying i.e. a 7 day pass because the Oyster card fee is capped such that you won't be charged more than the cost of a daily pass.
You will usually need to tag on and off since transit is charged by distance.
Beware of confusing "way out" signs. I found some pointing in opposite directions. Also, beware of service reroutes due to engineering work. Not only could there be delays, but you might need to follow signs telling you where to walk (further along a different platform, etc.) to reach the alternative departure point.
Fake Police, Pickpocketing, and other Scams
A gypsy woman throws a baby which a tourist instinctively catches or tries to rescue, and in so doing, the tourist exposes his or her pockets to pickpockets.
An elderly woman asks you to hold onto her bags. Suddenly, fake cops appear out of nowhere to arrest you or to solicit a fine for holding onto contraband in her bag.
A fake tourist insists on striking up conversation with you, asking for directions or other small talk to elicit where you are from in order to confirm your foreign status. Often, the fake tourist speaks halting English (or fakes doing so). This is all to delay you while his associate(s), fake police officers, come to demand to search the fake tourist and you on pretext of some crime prevention initiative. After they pawn through your ID and wallet, if you are lucky they do not take all of it, they will pilfer a few of the large bills unbeknownst to you before returning the rest to you. These fake police may have counterfeit IDs or may be in plainclothes. If you call or threaten to call the real police, I wonder how they would react.
Watch Bob Arno, master pickpocket performer, video in You Tube where he supposedly confronts some Italian pickpockets. They work in teams and either distract you by wiping something off you after they purposely spilled it on you, asking for directions, or bumping you in a crowded train or bus.
I have encountered a couple of these schemes in my multiple trips to Europe thus far. I suggest tourists keep abreadst of these schemes and do not hesitate to call the police (if you have a phone), yell for help, etc. if you feel endangered. Travel in groups, do not carry a lot of cash, avoid empty or dark streeets.
One pickpocket in France was brazen enough to put his hand in the pocket in which already had my hand, so of course I felt it! I did not have anything of value in either pocket, but I yelled and he (a teenage Middle Eastern kid) retreated. Sometimes upon reflection I would've liked to exhibit my martial arts skills on him; however, do keep in mind the laws of the various countries and that excessive force on your part, when there is no threat to merit such self defense, may land you in trouble depending on the local laws.
An elderly woman asks you to hold onto her bags. Suddenly, fake cops appear out of nowhere to arrest you or to solicit a fine for holding onto contraband in her bag.
A fake tourist insists on striking up conversation with you, asking for directions or other small talk to elicit where you are from in order to confirm your foreign status. Often, the fake tourist speaks halting English (or fakes doing so). This is all to delay you while his associate(s), fake police officers, come to demand to search the fake tourist and you on pretext of some crime prevention initiative. After they pawn through your ID and wallet, if you are lucky they do not take all of it, they will pilfer a few of the large bills unbeknownst to you before returning the rest to you. These fake police may have counterfeit IDs or may be in plainclothes. If you call or threaten to call the real police, I wonder how they would react.
Watch Bob Arno, master pickpocket performer, video in You Tube where he supposedly confronts some Italian pickpockets. They work in teams and either distract you by wiping something off you after they purposely spilled it on you, asking for directions, or bumping you in a crowded train or bus.
I have encountered a couple of these schemes in my multiple trips to Europe thus far. I suggest tourists keep abreadst of these schemes and do not hesitate to call the police (if you have a phone), yell for help, etc. if you feel endangered. Travel in groups, do not carry a lot of cash, avoid empty or dark streeets.
One pickpocket in France was brazen enough to put his hand in the pocket in which already had my hand, so of course I felt it! I did not have anything of value in either pocket, but I yelled and he (a teenage Middle Eastern kid) retreated. Sometimes upon reflection I would've liked to exhibit my martial arts skills on him; however, do keep in mind the laws of the various countries and that excessive force on your part, when there is no threat to merit such self defense, may land you in trouble depending on the local laws.
British Pound Notes- Old Ones Obsolete
If you are a foreign currency hoarder, saving your money for your next trip, beware of rules for GBP (Great Britain Pound) notes which may decrease the utility of your old paper money. Unlike in the US, when there is a change of paper currency design, the British merchants and commercial banks will no longer accept the old notes after a certain deadline which is announced several months in advance. Only if you go to the Bank of England can you exchange your notes for new ones after the deadline. I.e. specifically the Bank of England and not just any commercial bank in England.
I was informed of this rule by a British post office worker. I verified the information online. Thankfully I had enough advance notice to plan my spending accordingly to use up my old notes which my US bank had given me when I had exchanged USD for GBP.
I was informed of this rule by a British post office worker. I verified the information online. Thankfully I had enough advance notice to plan my spending accordingly to use up my old notes which my US bank had given me when I had exchanged USD for GBP.
Thursday, December 22, 2016
BritRail Pass
My only previous rail pass experience was Eurail, so I thought ok, let's use the same affiliated company (ACP rail's Britrail.net website) since it was a good experience.
Bad idea.
ACP travel company's price is NOT necessarily the best deal for Britrail. After I stupidly bought the pass from them, here are my lessons so you don't make the same mistake:
Bad idea.
ACP travel company's price is NOT necessarily the best deal for Britrail. After I stupidly bought the pass from them, here are my lessons so you don't make the same mistake:
- Price shop. Surprisingly the rail pass price is not the same from one company to another. I found out Rail Europe would have saved me 30 USD vs. ACP travel/Britrail.net because their pass was cheaper, they didn't charge an extra handling fee, and shipping was free if I spent over a certain amount (which was true for me buying two flexi passes).
- Check travel books for legitimate recommendations, but still price shop. After I already bought the pass, then I realized Fodor's, Rick Steves, etc. had different recommendations for how to buy the pass, and the prices were different! You don't want to buy from a bogus company that will steal your credit card, but you don't want to get ripped off, either.
- Beware of timing restrictions. The pass I bought must be validated within 6 months of purchase even though the flexipass is technically good for longer than that once it is validated. This doesn't make any sense if you, like me, don't live near England or happen to travel enough to conveniently drop by England to validate your pass and tuck it away for future use. So in total, 6 months time is all I get from time of purchase to start using it, so luckily I didn't buy it too early. However, all flexi days, once the pass starts being used, must be used within 1 month.
The only positive thing I can say was the pass arrived in 2 days via Fedex and came with a free magazine on Britain. Nice but not worth 30 USD!
Of note, the pass can be validated at the Heathrow Express main ticket office if it is open. It is right before the elevators to the Heathrow Express on-boarding. That way you can use your rail pass to pay for the Heathrow Express if you were planning to use it for other train travel upon arrival. Use for Heathrow Express alone may not be worth it since you will likely save money by buying Heathrow Express tickets in advance (i.e. 30 days or more online) or if you take the London Underground or train.
Of note, the pass can be validated at the Heathrow Express main ticket office if it is open. It is right before the elevators to the Heathrow Express on-boarding. That way you can use your rail pass to pay for the Heathrow Express if you were planning to use it for other train travel upon arrival. Use for Heathrow Express alone may not be worth it since you will likely save money by buying Heathrow Express tickets in advance (i.e. 30 days or more online) or if you take the London Underground or train.
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