Do a Guided Tour of New York City with a BIG APPLE GREETER

If you define yourself as a slick, clever, stingy, broke and/or shrewd tourist then this great tip is absolutely for you!!!!

What’s a Big Apple Greeter?

Big Apple Greeter is an association which offers free guided tours led by New Yorkers who volunteers their time in order to share their love for the City. These volunteers are supervised by the city of New York and are carefully screened.

Unfortunately, I can’t share my experience since I have never personally met with them.

They are very well known and appreciated. In order to convince you, read some of the feedbacks: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review

The only worry, the main and only one, is to get an appointment with one of these greeters!!!

Ideally, make sure to book well ahead, at least 3-4 weeks prior.

In order to book an appointment, visit their website (http://www.bigapplegreeter.org) to fill up a form including which neighborhood you’d like to visit with your New York volunteer. You’ll be asked additional information such as your tastes, a language preference on your tour and the desired day and time.

In addition, you’ll have to give the date of your trip to New York, the name of your hotel and a cellular phone number. In other words, every information needed in order to enjoy a great visit!!!

You’ll notice that while it’s a very professional association, yet it’s very friendly. Nothing like to listen to some of the anecdotes from the locals and see how their see the city and share their point of view about the general climate in United-States and the world and their personal experience about September 11. Indeed, you’ll enjoy this meeting very much!!!!

The volunteer will not take more than 6 people at a time.

Today, for the story, there approximately 350 volunteers who give their time to let tourists discover their neighborhood.

Since its creation in 1992, Big Apple Greeter has received more than 75 000 visitors from all States in America and 124 countries with visits spoken in 22 languages. The Big Apple Greeter welcomes visitors without distinction of ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, marital or disability.

A tour is also available for the disabled.

Voila! I hope I managed to convince you that this is a great tip and it’s FREE!!! Yes, yes absolutely FREE!!!

Now, nothing prevents you to buy your Greeter’s a drink at least 🙂

Web site: www.bigapplegreeter.org