Having only a limited number of days in New York to check items off our bucket list, we needed an…read moreexcellent guide with a plethora of knowledge and enough spare energy to keep us going. I fortunately found New York Historical Tours under the ownership and direction of Kevin Draper, CEO (Chief Experience Officer). My wife and I had used a private tour guide while in Scotland, and had a wonderful one on one experience ~ away from groups and tailored to fit our style of tourism. Kevin was incredibly knowledgable, affable, professional and customized our bucket list to 1) see the Statue of Liberty with pedestal access and the new museum, 2) get a brief but comprehensive history of Ellis Island without disembarking, 3) work our way to Katz's Delicatessen (we are big "When Harry Met Sally" fans) all the while getting a feel and history of the local neighborhoods, as well as learning how to use the Metro system to develop a nice level of familiarity and comfort in the East Side of Manhattan where we were staying. A standout feature on a tour with Kevin is his attention to detail in planning our time together. I call him the Master of Timing and Positioning. For example he suggested catching the first ferry to the Statue of LIberty. When we met him, he had already purchased our tickets. While on the ferry, he kept us comfortably shaded, then took us to key positions to get the best views of Lady Liberty while giving us an incredibly interesting history of the Statue. By the time we left the island, it was getting swamped with tourists and school groups. Superb timing indeed. On the way to the Metro, he pointed out the very interesting history of Battery Park and surrounding buildings and branch of the Smithsonian museum. We wound our way through Little Italy, Chinatown, Nolita and Jewish neighborhoods on the way to Katz's. Amazingly the line was short, but a madhouse inside. Kevin knew how to maneuver to the right cutter, get a table and we had a delicious lunch. As we left, the line had grown to over a block long with over an hour wait. Again the Master's timing was impeccable. He gave us more fascinating history of different areas as we headed back to the Metropolitan Museum where we ended our incredible tour. Our 6 hour private tour went by so quickly, and we were comfortably exhausted. As a historian, Kevin is a walking talking wealth of knowledge about New York, and has tremendous pride in this amazing city. We can enthusiastically recommend him for those seeking the best in personal tours of the Big Apple. In fact, we look forward to using his services on a return trip to New York which can't come soon enough.

We went on their China Town & Little Italy tour of down town Manhattan. Dan was just terrific!…read more His enthusiasm was contagious that made our Birthday celebration weekend. We now want to go on all the tours that they offer.

Wonderful tour of an amazing NYC landmark! Great tidbits and cool use of AI! Bob and Ed really…read morebring the building to life!

Our tour guide for the Woolworth Building was Bob Gelber. He was a true professional, could not…read morehave more knowledgeable or more considerate of the tour participants. We choose the 90-minute tour, and the time just flew by. The only downside was there was no place to sit, and the restrooms are not available to tour participants. Neither are something the tour operator could do anything about. Bob, Thank You, your tour was the most interesting event in my seven days in New York City. Five Stars.

Had the pleasure of a FANTASTIC tour of lower Manhattan with Renee. She was extremely knowledgeable…read moreabout the Financial District and NYC and could not have been any more helpful. I recommend Free Tours by Foot and especially tours with Renee. Thank you so much Renee!

I am so glad I found this tour company! We did the Brooklyn bridge/DUMBO walking tour with Onel -…read morehe was phenomenal! This tour was one of the highlights of our trip to NYC. I can't wait for my next trip to take another walking tour with this tour company. Onel is knowledgeable, personable, engaging, humorous, thoughtful and kept us on time! He knew exactly where to stop for photo ops and gave us plenty of time for them - I appreciated the scheduled bathroom break at clean bathrooms and the stop for drinks/snacks at the most perfect grocery store that I wish was in my neighborhood. The tour ended at lunchtime in the perfect location with several food options as well as close to both the ferry and trains for the return commute to Manhattan. I highly recommend this walking tour with Onel as your guide - you won't regret it!

Absolutely loved our small group tour through Chelsea art galleries. Merrily is delightful and the…read moreperfect guide - knowledgeable, prepared, and totally up to date on the ever-changing art scene in NYC. We had art novices in our group as well as those with more arts experience and we all had a great time. She shared interesting info about each artist, including previous work and info on future shows/exhibits. I am already looking forward to my next trip to New York and will book tours with her again and again, including the Chelsea tour as the exhibits change often.

Had a great small group tour today with Merrily. The galleries had each had different styles of…read morework and some really major artists. She also told us about interesting buildings along the way. Merrily 's style is informative, relaxed and knowledgeable, I never felt like we were in a "lecture". I'm so glad I went!

My girlfriend and me we had an AMAZING day with you guys, the guide was super nice we were all…read morearound Central Park and we never tough that was that incredible place!! This guys knows New York City as any other people in the city, for sure. We have the best pictures EVER, we definitely recommend the tour photoshoot Thanks for everything guys.. See you soon!!

I can't express how many wonderful memories were made during our first trip to New York while on…read morethis photo tour of Central Park. I found the Gotham City Tours photo tour through Central Park on the Groupon website and I am so glad I did. I recommend this tour and this company to EVERYONE going to New York. The staff is easy to reach with questions via phone,email, and is exceptionally courteous and professional. We met with Luke, our personal tour guide and photographer, on a chilly December day. He was fantastic! He made us feels comfortable and, as my then boyfriend (now husband) and I walked through Central Park, Luke snapped over 150 amazing professional photos. Some of us just doing what we do...walking and holding hands, laughing and talking. Other photos were of us in front of landmarks and historical fountains, statues, lakes, and in front of the architecture of NY. At the beginning of the tour, Luke took a few shots of us in front of the Plaza Hotel and told us that by the end of the tour we would know more about Central Park than NY natives. It was true, we tested some NYers in the bars later. It's hard to choose which is the best part of our experience with Gotham City Tours because it truly was amazing. Unlike other places that take professional photos, Gotham City Tours takes all the photos, and emails them all to you. You aren't made to choose a few out of the over 100 that they take and then charged for them. Every single picture is yours! It's been almost a year since we went to NY and we still love our pictures. Two days later, we got engaged, and our photos and our memories from our time in Central Park are even more special. There is so much to do in New York, especially around the holidays. I think it would be a great photo opportunity for families, friends and couples alike. Thanks again!! We will be back.

TEP deserves more than 5 stars for the amazing start to finish service we experienced on our 7 day…read moreadventure to Peru to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. From the time we signed up, to the time we boarded the plane to return home, TEP took care of every detail. We commented amongst ourselves that we felt like kids on vacation with our parents, as we didn't have to worry about any of the details - just show up and follow Neptali (our guide). From airport pickup in Cusco in luxury Mercedes vans where we were promptly served Coca tea to help with the altitude acclimation, to group dinners at amazing Peruvian restaurants, to historical tours and education on the history of the Inca - everything was covered and taken care of for us. And that was all before the amazing trek along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu! Of course the trek itself was the highlight of the trip, and although it was extremely challenging for us, TEP's unbelievable attention to detail did not fail us on the trail. With nearly a 2:1 porter to trekker ration, our every need was met on the trail. We dined like kings every meal, and were consistently amazed with the quality (and nutritional appropriateness) of the food our chef and sous chef were able to put out with minimal kitchen conveniences. The thing I felt was most special about TEP's approach to this trip was the focus on gaining a cultural and historical appreciation for what we were experiencing. Every step along the way, we learned about the native people of Peru, the Inca civilization, the many ruins we came across, the vegetation we saw and how it was and is used, and the history of modern Peru. It was the trip of a lifetime, and have the help of The Explorer's Passage made it so much more enjoyable, and so much more memorable. The value of what they provide is amazing for the cost....rather, for the investment. I highly recommend them!

What a fabulous tour! I did the "Washington in NYC" tour in June 2017 and it was such a wonderful…read moreexperience! So much fascinating historical information that I can't wait to share with all my friends now; such a great group of fellow explorers; and all so perfectly run - well planned, perfectly on time, with a great variety of sights and insights for all types of travelers. I recommend this tour highly - and will be on the lookout for future adventures from The Explorer's Passage! :)

Good food! Great variety on a short time! Really enjoyed this tour, we would do another like this…read moreanytime!

This is my 3rd tour with Foods of NY. Food tours is something I always do when I visit a town and…read morethese tours are amongst my favorite. Tours are thoughtfully curated to provide a great experience and historical information as well as the best of the best food tastings.

What a wonderful experience!! You buy your tickets online - choosing a specific tour from a number…read moreof options. We chose the Italian & Jewish families tour. It looks like 2 separate experiences on the main page, but when you click on either family (Rogarshevsky & Baldizzi), you'll see that it's a combined tour, and a really good one! We showed up at the main museum early, checked in, and after checking out the nice gift shop, we popped into the theater room to watch their wonderful documentary. Don't miss this one! You'll learn about the 2 women co-founders who - with zero museum experience - proceeded to set up these 2 incredible tenements as museums telling the story of NY thru, quite naturally, its immigrants (what an important thing now!!). We were called for our tour right on time. Our guide took us on a brief walk down the sidewalk to #97 - the tenement where the 2 families lived in the 1930s. It's like walking into a time capsule! The dark walls have some decorative coverings - small patches restored to give you an idea of what it looked like back then. The mahogany bannister is original - as you head up to the 1st floor. The creaking building was lovingly shored up over the years by a multi-million dollar renovation -- but they've never lost its authentic look. Inside the Italian fam's place, you're struck by how small the 3 rooms they lived in really were. There's even a tiny bed for their 2 kids right in the kitchen crammed alongside the oven! We were also so struck by the pride that clearly went into adorning their parlor room. The Jewish family - the Rogarshevskys - lived across the hall. You'll hear audio played from one of the other family's kids when she was an adult - giving museum creators an authentic oral history about her time there & about the fam across that hall. So much work has clearly gone into making the experience authentic. One guy on our tour had been on some of the other experiences and said this one and the one with bar (‍) were his faves so far. Will definitely be back.

My family's story in the United States has roots on the lower east side of Manhattan. Lost history…read moresince my grandfather refused to talk about his early life, emigrating from Russia. My grandmother was just a baby with few recollections. In 1988 two visionaries founded the Tenement Museum. Their intent was to spread tolerance and understanding of the immigrant experience. The museum purchased two tenement buildings on Orchard Street and rehabbed several apartments to simulate the way they were when occupied. Between 1863 and 1935 it's estimated thousands of people from 20 nations called these tenement buildings 'home.' I found the tour fascinating with our guide talking about two families -- one Italian, the other Jewish -- and the hardships they endured living in over-crowded quarters. There are several tours you can choose from focusing on different immigrant experiences, each $30, each ranging from 60 to 75 minutes. (The only way you can see the museum is by booking a tour.) Make reservations on line and check-in at the visitors' center upon arrival. Learn more about the museum by watching the 26 minute film that's run on a loop in the back room. A very worthwhile afternoon.

Going to the Top of the Rock is a good experience. Has a short film presentation before head up to…read morethe observation decks. I'll speak to the Beam Experience next, but before I do....do note, I give this place 5 stars overall, as it is an iconic NY building worth visiting. There's far more to see at this building, than just the observation deck I speak to in this review. . Now, what I personally found a rip off, is the Beam Experience. It costs $20 a head, in addition to your base observation ticket price. Not worth it at all and here's why: - You sit on the beam and strap in. - It goes straight up (5-6 seconds). - Pauses briefly and turns 180 to face outward (6-7 seconds). - It pauses again as it faces outward (9-10 seconds). - it turns back toward the Top of the Rock building and takes your pic (7-8 seconds). - Beam lowers back to roof top (5 seconds). . As you can see, it is so brief in duration. And there's nothing that makes you feel vulnerable at all. Or you're not any higher, actually lower, than an observation deck you can be in and be higher than folks on the beam experience. The only way the beam experience may be worth it to you....is for your to be highly nostalgic.....and want to sit on a steel beam....up in the air a bit....and technically be like those guys eating lunch on a beam all those years ago....in kinda the same place as those workers did way back when. If you don't know, that classic of the workers on the beam; occurred during the building of the Rockefeller Building. But as I see it, this beam experience isn't worth it at all.

I was extremely disappointed with the FIFA Watch Party at Top of the Rock…read more I had been looking forward to this match for months and expected an unforgettable experience. Instead, it turned into one of the most poorly organized events I've ever attended. The venue was severely overcrowded, and there were far too few TVs for the number of people admitted. Most guests, including us, couldn't even watch the game because there simply wasn't enough viewing space. We spent the event walking around trying to find a place where we could see a screen, but it was impossible. This event was clearly oversold without proper planning or consideration for the guest experience. We paid specifically to watch the FIFA final, but ended up missing most of the match. We left feeling frustrated, disappointed, and honestly scammed. This was not the experience that was advertised or promised. I hope Top of the Rock takes responsibility for what happened and provides refunds to the affected guests, while making sure events like this are organized much better in the future.

Scammy, unresponsive, and complete trash! Ordered the 9/11 museum tour for 5 people - $395. Was…read moretold to download the app to access the tickets. Fast forward to the day of the tour. I open the app 40 minutes before the tour. It tells me the tour starts at the church next to the One World Trade. Ok so we trek over to St Paul's chapel at 9:45. No one to be found. Waiting around until I check the app about 9:55ish (tour starts at 10) and notice it says to message in the app messenger for specific meeting location. So I shoot a message. I wait until 10:15 and still no response at which time I decide to just go ahead a go buy new tickets. I don't get a message back from Nina B until 1:45pm (3 hours and 45 minutes after the tour starts ) telling me it's my fault I didn't check the email even though the app tells you to communicate and get the tickets in the app. She would not accept any responsibility and refused a refund. So I had to do a charge back, which I obviously won. See my communication times and screen shots below. BEWARE AND DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS COMPANY. I told you I would get my money back Nina B

We did the 5 Borough tour and had the most AMAZING guide!! Solange Rodrigues was so knowledgeable…read moreand personable. She was a wealth of information on every place we saw. My granddaughter and I throughly enjoyed our tour. She also took photos for us and our group at any of the stops. She was so professional and we highly recommend her and this company.