Good guide books for NYC?

[Biff AKA Levi]

Posted: 4/30/10 at 5:45pm

Please suggest.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/30/10 at 6:01pm

I swear by Eyewitness for all my trips. For NYC, they also have a Top 10 edition.
Eyewitness New York

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 4/30/10 at 7:27pm

I used the NFT (Not for Tourists) book quite a bit when I first moved to the city.

They update it yearly, and also have individual books for Brooklyn and Queens if so inclined (not sure if they have one for the Bronx).

http://www.amazon.com/Tourists-2010-Guide-York-Guidebook/dp/0981559123/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272669964&sr=8-1

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/30/10 at 7:55pm

Definitely NFT. I just took one of their books on a trip to CA and it was really helpful. I use the NYC book even though I live here. There's also an iPhone app!

Updated On: 4/30/10 at 07:55 PM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 4/30/10 at 7:59pm

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 4/30/10 at 9:38pm

I third the NFT Guide. It's my bible. Has all the information you will need. Supplement this guide with TONY magazine and you are all set.

[Biff AKA Levi]

Posted: 5/1/10 at 12:03am

Thanks Mister Matt, but you've been overruled. NFT it is! Thanks!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/1/10 at 12:21am

I've always loves the Eyewitness books. I have them for a dozen countries.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/1/10 at 12:50am

The BWW Off-Topic Board

[Biff AKA Levi]

Posted: 5/1/10 at 12:58am

I could bombard the board with tourist questions, but that'd just be lazy and rude.

If I have any specific questions, I know who to ask, and I'll ask in an email. Or facebook.

[DMsquared2]

Posted: 5/1/10 at 2:14am

I've been to New York several times but I'm definitely going to check out that guide book as well!

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 5/1/10 at 3:26am

NFT would be my recommendation too. I've never used it for New York because I live here, but I've used it when I was in SF for a month a while back. Helped me navigate the city seamlessly.

[Biff AKA Levi]

Posted: 5/1/10 at 3:37am

I always like reading SF tour books, just to see how wrong and uninformed they are.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/1/10 at 11:13am

"I always like reading SF tour books, just to see how wrong and uninformed they are."

I do that with NYC tour books. One of my favorites: "In the NYC subway system, the train doors are like elevator doors, if they are closing, they will sense there is a person in the way and not close until you are safely off the train." Bwhahahahahahaha

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 5/1/10 at 2:46pm

I collect travel guides, so I'm a bit obsessed. The NFT book is great. For a more detailed guide, Time Out has a great NYC book filled with loads of info (and great pictures) for everyone but I feel it really caters to young, hip people. And if you want something more text-book like, Fodors is great. There are less pictures than the Time Out, but it's packed with more options and they update it a bit more often than the Time Out Guide. AND some Fodor's guides come with those sticky tabs to bookmark certain pages (which is an extra I love).

A while ago, Virgin had amazing city guides. It was long and narrow and they even had a spot in the back that came with a map. But I haven't seen any new ones in quite a while.

Whichever one you go with, make sure you get the most up to date one, as information in them expires quickly.

[Biff AKA Levi]

Posted: 5/1/10 at 2:53pm

I'm gonna check out all that's been mentioned, as they all seem very helpful for the tourist, which I'll be.

I guess I should've clarified this sooner. I'm meeting my aunt and uncle in the city, who are practically locals, so I don't need any info on food spots or anything.

I'm looking for neighborhood guides. Where's the best places to live, price ranges, closest laundry mat, what's the best way to get to Manhattan, that sorta thing. After talking with some other friends, I'm gonna check out Brooklyn first. Now, where in Brooklyn, I dunno... I saw a video about Sunset Park that made it sound really appealing. I live on Haight Street in San Francisco, and I'm looking for something like it. A ton of apartments, some restaurants, grocery stores, shops, that sorta thing, but really quiet.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/3/10 at 10:03am

I gave up on Damron years ago. Every time I bought a new one, I'd visit someplace the same year and 75% of the listings no longer existed. I never bought the NFT guides because every time I've bought a guide book, it was because I was a tourist. The Eyewitness guides are LOADED with photos and the breakdown of areas and neighborhoods were perfect. I got so many ideas of places to visit even on second and third trips that I had no idea existed previously.

But it sounds like NFT is probably closer to fitting your personal needs. As for Brooklyn, I love Brooklyn Heights.

Updated On: 5/3/10 at 10:03 AM