Airport Transfer and Assistance

Personalized welcome in New York in a café or at your hotel
and/or Airport pick-up with transportation to your hotel

Finally, you are in New York City! But if you’ve never been, if you speak little or no English, if it’s your first time in such a big city, or even if it’s your first time in the United States, then if you’re worried about your arrival, don’t be!

Mad Tours and Events will help you from the very beginning of your stay. We will explain how to get around New York, where to buy subway tickets, how tips work and how much they cost, as well as information on taxes, where to eat on the run, what not to miss and where to go shopping! Our assistance will answer all your questions to make the beginning of your stay as smooth as possible

Description of services offered:

Reception at the airport by a tour guide and transfer to your hotel:
Our assistance will meet you at the airport to welcome you as soon as you leave your flight with a sign with your name on it and will drive you to your vehicle with driver or by metro to take you to your hotel or accommodation. The transfer by Airtrain or metro depending on your accommodation or hotel can take from 30 minutes to 2 hours. If you prefer a vehicle with driver, the transfer can take from 30 minutes to 1h30 depending on the traffic and the place you are staying. Our guide will be happy to answer all your questions during the trip. Depending on the means of transportation desired, the price will vary so please contact us for pricing.

Meeting in a café or at your hotel (2h00):

Our assistance will either meet you in the comfort of your hotel or pick you up and then go for a chocolate, tea or coffee in one of the city’s coffeeshops to give you all the tips of our vibrant city. Our French-speaking staff will give you as much information as possible, so don’t hesitate to ask them any questions you may have about shopping, restaurants or the beautiful walks you want to take!

Airport transfer (Round trip) without assistance:

We propose you a transfer from the 3 airports of the city or from your hotel with a sedan car or SUV, minivan (for 3 to 11 people, depending on the vehicle) or even a limousine if you want to show off your arrival. The driver will greet you with a sign with your name on it as soon as you leave the airport and drop you off at your hotel. Depending on the means of transportation desired, the rate varies so please contact us for pricing.

Larger groups: Please contact us.

PRICES:

Briefing at your hotel or coffee shop:

If you send us a cancellation request more than 3 days before the day of your tour, a 50% refund will be given.

If you cancel less than 3 days before the day of your tour, no refund will be given.

Reception at the airport by a guide + transfer to accommodation:

If you send us a cancellation request more than 7 days before the day of your tour, a 50% refund will be made.

If you send us a cancellation request less than 7 days before the day of your tour, no refund will be made.

Airport transfer (without local assistance):

If you send us a cancellation request more than 3 days before the day of your tour, a 50% refund will be given.

If you cancel less than 3 days before the day of your tour, no refund will be given.

Health Protocols – Covid 19

In accordance with local legislation and the latest health and safety recommendations to prevent the spread of disease. A vaccination card and your passport/ID card are required to enter the facilities. A mask is required to enter the facilities or vehicles.

Currency / Exchange rate

The unit of currency is the Dollar (US $), the only currency accepted in New York.
1 Euro = approximately 1.18 US dollars
The maximum amount of cash you are allowed to bring with you on a trip to the US is $10,000. It is best to change a few euros into dollars before your departure, then withdraw cash with a credit card. There are ATMs (automated teller machines) everywhere.

Credit card:

This is the easiest and most economical way to pay, the rate being better than if you do the exchange on the spot. Have your passport with you, it is sometimes required. The most common cards are Mastercard, Visa, and of course American Express, which charge very low commissions.

The secret code is not used on the other side of the Atlantic, so you must sign for each transaction. In the USA, a payment card is an essential tool, almost obligatory even, Americans pay everything by card, even for 5$!

Languages

The American constitution does not stipulate any official language. However, it is obvious that English is the most widely spoken language in the United States (80% of the population), with Spanish coming in second place (12%), followed by Chinese. In New York, nearly half of the population speaks a language other than English at home. Very few shopkeepers speak French at home.

Electricity

The standards for electrical installations are not the same in France as in the United States, so remember to bring an electrical adapter in your luggage. It will be essential for recharging your cell phone, camera or computer. Indeed, in the United States and in New York, the electric current is 110 volts / 60Hz (in France: 220 volts / 59Hz).
The plugs in the United States have 2 flat plugs, often with a third round plug for the ground.

Telecommunications

To call New York to France with your cell phone: dial 0033 followed by the number of your correspondent without the 0 (be careful of the time difference).
Except for the iPhone, most cell phones in the United States use a CDMA network, rather than GSM. Check with your operator for compatibility. An international extension is necessary to call from your cell phone, and the cost of communication is expensive.

Taxes

In the USA, prices are always quoted without taxes, whether in stores where the tax will be added at the checkout, or in hotels, restaurants, bars… Each state and each city is free to set its own tax. In New York, the situation is even more particular: purchases are subject to a tax which includes the New York State tax (4%), the New York City tax (4%), and a transit tax of 0.375%, which makes a total of 8.375%.

Tips

The French do not have a great reputation for generosity when it comes to paying the bill. In their defense, it is rather because they are unaware of the habits and customs… You should know that in the United States, the service is not included and constitutes the remuneration of the waiter, the “tip” which is evaluated between 15 and 20% of the amount of the bill. If you pay by credit card, indicate in the box provided the amount of the tip you wish to leave and make the bill yourself. In bars, leave $1 per drink served. At the hotel, we usually give a tip to the porters, for a maid we leave them on the table of the room when leaving. In cabs, it is customary to leave a 20% tip.

For your Guides / Drivers

It is customary to leave a gratuity at the end of the trip for your guides and drivers who will have accompanied you throughout your stay. This is of course left to your discretion. As an indication, the commonly adopted basis, for the guide, the drivers, is 20 $ in all, by participant for the whole stay.

Tobacco

It is forbidden in New York to smoke (and even to vape) in all public places (restaurants, bars, nightclubs, museums, transportation…) and in the open air in the parks, on the city’s beaches and in certain pedestrian areas like Times Square. The fine is $50! The objective of this restriction is to breathe easier in New York and live longer. Since 2021, the legal age to buy cigarettes (including electronic cigarettes) has been raised from 18 to 21, a first for a major American city.

Getting around New York

The subway: New Yorkers spend a lot of time in the transportation system, especially in the subway. The network is extensive and efficient, operating 24 hours a day. The basic fare for a trip is $2.75, regardless of distance. Magnetic cards can be purchased inside the stations, at MetroCard machines or at the ticket counter or you can pay via credit or debit card by a no contact swipe by a card processing payment terminal by the entrance of the platform. To get to the north end of the city, take the Uptown train, south to Downtown. Some stops do not go in the same direction, but they are often on either side of the street. It is also important to check the letter or number of the line indicated on the train because, from the same platform, trains can go to different places.
Yellow cabs: They are yellow in Manhattan and apple green in other areas. There are so many, you will have no trouble finding one, except from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm (rush hour). On the roof of the cab, there are three light bulbs. If the middle one is on, the cab is free, you can simply call it with your hand. If the middle one is off, the taxi is taken. If only the side lights are on, he is off duty, that is to say that he has finished his service but can take you if the trip is on his way back. The prices are regulated and relatively interesting. All cabs are equipped with card payment terminals. At the end of the trip, you just have to select the payment method on the screen (cash or CB) and follow the instructions. Don’t forget the 20% tip.

Photos / Camera

In some religious, official or tourist buildings, it is allowed to photograph or film outside. But never inside, under penalty of a fine. Respect the instructions indicated on the pictograms.

Customs / Return to France

-If you need to take medication with you, you must have a prescription corresponding to the prescription.
-Remember that any excess baggage weight will be taxed by the airline on your return.
-When you arrive in France, you are exempt from duties and taxes at customs for all your purchases not exceeding 430 Euro / Person. This amount cannot be accumulated by several people for the same item. Have on you the invoices of the purchases that you will have carried out, in the event of control by the customs officers, are authorized with the return: 1 liter of alcohol titling more than 22 degrees or 2 liters of alcohol of less than 22 degrees. For tobacco, 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars of 25g of smoking tobacco.