BAG-First timers.

Im arriving in New york for th first time in 11days-SO EXCITED!. I applied online about 3 months ago for a Big Apple Greeter and got confirmation that i have one on 2nd day of my visit. Im just wondering what is the best way to utilise this great added bonus.Do you just ask them to take you around the city is it? Or would i be better off asking them to show us the off the track New york and we can do the bus tour another day??we will be in NY for 6 nights. Any advice??anyoneever have a BAG before??x x

BAG-First timers.

You will soon learn that everyone in our city can

be a Big Apple Greeter. I had heard of this program

but not really followed up on it so have no information. When you are out and about do not be

afraid to ask people who look like natives questions,

also read a good guide book in the next 11 days so

you have a general idea of what you want to see. We

want you to go home happy, and if you get homesick

there are about 8000 Irish Pubs in Manhattan. the

experts will soon chime in with their lists of must

sees. I will just contribute one. The Bethesda fountain in Central Park. Enter the park at 72nd ST

west stop at the John Lennon mosaic and then continue

down the path to the fountain. To me it is the most

beautiful spot in the park.

BAG-First timers.

There is no fear of me getting homesick anyway:) hope the weather picks up! So excited have wanted to go for soooooo long and have so much planned!! Il visit that fountion thanks for the advice!!

We had a Big Apple Greeter on our first (DH and DS first) trip last March. I think it was well worth our time. Our BAG took us everywhere, it seemed. We started by taking the Subway to Washington Square (we had requested Greenwich Village), and we saw everything from the Village, to NYU, Soho, Chinatown, Little Italy, financial district, etc.

Ya i think il leave the BAG decide where to bring me!.Your not allowed tip so what do you do buy them lunch or anything? how long would they stay with you?x x

Hey KC. I%26#39;m a Greeter myself, and I%26#39;m glad that you took advantage of the program, and that you were successfully placed. What I try to do when I walk with people is to show them what their Frommers doesn%26#39;t. I usually walk people from Brooklyn, which usually gets slighted in the tourbooks anyway.

Your greeter probably has an idea as to where he or she wants to show you. Maybe its in a part of Manhattan. Maybe its in the outer boro. Whereever it is, you can rest assured that you%26#39;re in good hands. In all likelihood, you will see sights and hear stories that most of your fellow tourists will miss.

Welcome to NY.

We had a fantastic BAG when we went to NYC two years ago. He showed us some of his favorite places in the tourist areas and since our daughter was with us (she was 11 at the time) he took her to the American Girl store.

Hi KC. My 2 girlfriends and I had a greeter in Novem last year. It was fab! We had the option of nominating where we wanted to go, or leaving it to our BAG. We decided to leave it to her (Helen), and we weren%26#39;t disappointed.

We told her the day before that we wanted to wander around Manhatten (and learn about shops, restaurants, sights to see etc). She met us at 9.30 at our accomm, and we walked, and walked until 4.30pm.

Helens knowledge of the history, and her passion for her lovely city were something we never would have gotten from a book. I think it%26#39;s an amazing program which should be implemented in our Aussie cities.

As we knew that we were meeting the BAG before we left Aus, we bought a small %26#39;typical Australian%26#39; gift for her. We also paid for her lunch on the day.

It%26#39;s a fab program, and an even more FAB city!.. (I%26#39;m going back in May ... can%26#39;t stay away from the place now!!)

Cheers, and have fun!

I have requested a greeter for my visit in May - I completed the on-line request about 6 weeks ago.

I haven%26#39;t received any confirmation that my request has went through. I%26#39;ve also emailed BAG to ask but got no reply.

Can anyone confirm if requests are acknowledged?

I do realise that we may not get told if we%26#39;re successful until arrival at our hotel.

I would like to be sure that they do have my application. Also I may have to advise them that I will be staying at a different hotel.

Any advice? Thanks

I received a ';visitor%26#39;s number'; from Big Apple Greeter a few weeks after my initial request. I hope this helps!

Shells I seem to remember that we did get a confirmation email, but I can%26#39;t find it now to confirm that. Maybe you should send them another email advising the new hotel details anyway. Keep trying, I guess. Good luck...