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Fodor's New York City 2003

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No matter what your budget or whether it's your first trip or fifteenth, Fodor's Gold Guides get you where you want to go. In this completely up-to-date guide our experts who live in New York City give you the inside track, showing you all the things to see and do -- from must-see sights to off-the-beaten-path adventures, from shopping to outdoor fun. Fodor's New York City 2003 shows you hundreds of hotel and restaurant choices in all price ranges -- from budget-friendly B&Bs to luxury hotels, from casual eateries to the hottest new restaurants, complete with thorough reviews showing what makes each place special. The Smart Travel Tips A to Z section helps you take care of the nitty gritty with essential local contacts and great advice -- from how to take your mountain bike with you to what to do in an emergency. Plus, web links and mix-and-match itineraries make planning a snap.

464 pages, Paperback

First published November 12, 1984

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129 people want to read

About the author

Fodor's Travel Publications Inc.

1,847 books61 followers
Fodor's Travel Publications is a United States-based producer of English-language travel guides and online tourism information. It was founded by Hungarian Eugene Fodor in 1936.
Fodor’s was acquired by Random House in 1986 and sold to Internet Brands in 2016.

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5 stars
118 (31%)
4 stars
142 (38%)
3 stars
91 (24%)
2 stars
16 (4%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
Profile Image for Toni.
829 reviews269 followers
September 10, 2019
Great digital resource. Fun to read as well.
Profile Image for Serena.
Author 2 books104 followers
July 24, 2009
Fodor's New York City 2009 came to me from Shelf Awareness in preparation for Book Expo America. I requested the guide to make plans for navigating the city, and it was a great resource for the trip this past weekend.

There are full-color pages throughout of various landmarks, monuments, and other places. There is a pull out map inside with clearly labeled streets and landmarks, as well as a subway system map in the back flap for Manhattan. The subway map helped during the trip to determine which line of the subway to take to our destinations, including to the hotel from Penn Station and from the hotel to the Greenhouse.

Anna and I did pick out a few things to see while in the city, but unfortunately, I revisited Times Square and not much else. Anna saw Times Square for the first time, though it was incredibly crowded. At one point during the day on Friday, we walked by and found Broadway closed off and lawn chairs spread out. According to my friend and photographer, Mike, the lawn chairs are part of a program to get people in office buildings out into the sun during the day, allowing them to breathe in the fresh air.

Fodor's guide is chock full of information about the subway system, its costs, fare cards, and other transportation needs, including appropriate tip amounts for taxis, bellhops, and others. I would highly recommend this guide for those taking a trip to New York City; it provides a comprehensive resource for those looking to see as much as they can in the city that never sleeps. I know I'll be using this guide again when I take my next trip to the city.
1,417 reviews59 followers
April 26, 2013
It's kind of misleading to label this "read," as I obviously didn't read the book cover to cover. (Also, I used the 2013 edition, which doesn't seem to be on Goodreads.) I read the sections I found relevant, since we stuck to Manhattan on our trip. But for the various parts of Manhattan we visited, and the introductory information parts, it was very very helpful.
The food recommendations were probably least helpful, as with all my dietary restrictions, I couldn't eat at most of the places. And on our budget, we probably couldn't have afforded them anyway. We did eat at one recommended place from this book, Candle 79, and were actually underwhelmed by it. The food was pricey for being so bland and relatively small portions. In the future, I'll skip Fodor's food recommendations--look up restaurants on my own--and just use their information about the area.
And this book was very useful for that, for looking up addresses and hours and pirces for various spots we wanted to visit, on the go. The map was extremely useful for finding them. And thanks to the general information and advice in the beginning of the book, I think our visit went smoothly. I'd definitely pick up a Fodor's guide for our next destination.
Profile Image for Steven Peterson.
Author 19 books329 followers
January 24, 2010
This is a good resource if you are thinking of visiting New York City. Frommer's is another resource, too. Although this volume is a bit dated, it would still be useflul.

However, this volume has a number of very important pluses. For one thing, there are well detailed maps of different parts of the city.

For another, there are very helpful maps of museums. For instance, the floor plan map of the American Museum of Natural History would be most useful for people wanting to explore this facility. Just so with a map of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. And so on.

As with other publications, there are sections on hotels, restaurants, shopping, entertainment, etc. Very well done in this volume. The problem, of course, is that there is much change. Restaurants come and go; the same with other facilities. Nonetheless, this volume provides enough depth that such matters are only secondary.

All in all, this is a good reference for those who are thinking of visiting New York City.
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
170 reviews13 followers
July 21, 2015
I bought this book to help me plan a trip to NYC, with the intention of being able to carry it around with me for quick reference (because relying on my phone the entire time would kill the battery in about, oh, 15 minutes). I found it to be very useful. The maps are large enough that they are easy to read (no microscopic type) and the organization of the book is sensible and easy to navigate.

The only downside is that the book is dated with current events, so after 2013 some sections of the book will no longer be useful. But it's not that much of the book, so it wouldn't be worth purchasing an entirely new version from year to year.
Profile Image for Todd Smith.
Author 1 book4 followers
June 16, 2024
The book helps you explore the High Line, see a Broadway show, or go to the center of it all at Times Square.

New York City is filled with museums and the book helps provide the details from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Museum of Natural History.

I liked how the authors highlighted the different areas of New York, especially Manhattan so I could figure out what sites, restaurants, and hotels to stay at if I went to be near certain sites.

Areas such as Staten Island and Coney Island are also highlighted.

This is a book that I will turn to when we visit New York City this summer.
20 reviews
July 17, 2008
This book is fantastic! I received it as a gift after moving to the Northern New Jersey area. It has clear and concise, yet insightful explanations of the districts within Manhattan / Staten Island / The Bronx and what attractions can be found where. It also contains several maps and pictures of major attractions and details local hotels, restaurants, etc. with a price and quality guide. This book is interesting, accurate, and affordable (around $15!) It's a must-have for any non-NYC native living in the area!
Profile Image for Shawn.
436 reviews21 followers
November 23, 2022
As a hardcore traveler, I have read my share of travel guides... and Fodor's is by far the best. I got two other NYC travel guides from the library and still ended up buying this one.

The real gift of Fodors is their list of "Top Picks" I have never gone wrong following one of these.. whether it is a restaurant or a thing to do. The other gift is their introduction to each neighborhood (in NYC) and an overview AND the breadth of their books.

I normally read these guides cover to cover before the trip and then use them during my trip too.
Profile Image for Danny.
540 reviews1 follower
May 22, 2025
Now that we are back from NYC, I can update this entry and say I think I will always choose Fodors travel guides. It gives me the amount of detail I like. The maps are great. I read all 530 pages, and got lots of info.
I look forward to going back to NY. There is so much more to see, taste, experience, that we could go many times over. We had a great time, thanks again, Mom C. for your hospitality, and also Dad C. for your foresight.
4 reviews
August 27, 2020
I visited NYC a few years ago. However, it was a brief with limited planning beforehand. I intend to visit again in the near future, so I was looking for a guide that would give me better insight on the sights, dining, and activities. This guide gave me a wide range of info and a much-needed dose of excitement for when the opportunity presents itself for the next trip.
Profile Image for Olivia.
364 reviews12 followers
November 5, 2008
I get a lot out of this guide every time I open it up. I picked up a copy right before I moved to NY, and still find it useful 4 months in.

The format is easy to understand, the maps are clear, and the recommendations are right on.
Profile Image for Sarah.
373 reviews5 followers
September 22, 2010
This is a great guidebook--lots of info, clearly organized, and it gives the impression that it was written by real people who care and want travelers' feedback on how to improve the book. Well done!
Profile Image for Kyle.
233 reviews11 followers
June 11, 2014
This was a good resource for traveling to New York City. Lots of good advice, key tips for the big attractions, restaurant and hotel lists (little used on my trip), and most importantly, a very handy fold-up mini-map of Manhattan's subways. Two thumbs up if you're travelling to New York this year.
Profile Image for Jesse Scobie.
82 reviews3 followers
June 15, 2021
An extremely informative, detailed travel guide to all five boroughs and all districts in Manhattan! It has over 250 beautiful NYC photos, detailed daily itineraries, and descriptions of dozens of bars, hotels, nightclubs and parks!
Profile Image for Michael.
293 reviews15 followers
February 22, 2008
Made our trip so much easier and was able to preplan our days. Pay attention to the dates the museums are open. I made this mistake and it threw us off a little.
1,104 reviews8 followers
July 24, 2008
I particularly enjoyed the "Word of mouth" section at the beginning of each book division (designating locations of the city) . The quotes certainly accurately echoed our own experience.
Profile Image for Sarah.
680 reviews35 followers
Read
May 7, 2009
getting ready for my trip next month!
Profile Image for Liz.
524 reviews7 followers
June 10, 2010
This book was only so so. I know the point of it wasn't to have much information but it didn't have many restaurants and that's important for a short trip.
9 reviews
July 23, 2010
Actually gives me a 2 day guide to see NY. Where to walk and everything including eating!

Profile Image for Fili.
15 reviews
May 12, 2012
Can't wait to put all of this knowledge to use when I go this spring for my birthday!
Profile Image for Anne.
895 reviews5 followers
March 4, 2012
Useful guide--fairly well organized.
Profile Image for Sharon.
659 reviews
May 12, 2012
Helpful guide of the basics ... enclosed map was good but could have been more helpful/detailed. Extemporary exploration was more fruitful on this visit - loved Brooklyn!
Profile Image for John Velez.
16 reviews3 followers
August 18, 2012
This is very helpful on our trip to New York City also supplied maps for the trip, as well.
Profile Image for Linda.
2,554 reviews
February 6, 2013
Very helpful information for our stay in NYC for hotels, restaurants, and things to see/do.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
1,078 reviews4 followers
February 19, 2015
Very informative. I didn't read the whole thing, just the parts relevant to my journey.
Profile Image for Alyssa.
231 reviews3 followers
July 10, 2015
Wished it had more pictures and more in-depth reviews of places instead of saying one thing that the place was known for.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews

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