Compared with other major cities New York City Yellow Taxi Cabs are not that expensive. I gave up using the New York Subway on my last visit. We were in a group of four and a NY yellow cab was much cheaper and more convenient.

Using the NY Subway in the heat of the summer is also a very unpleasant sticky and stifling experience. Unless it is raining heavily, freezing cold, or around rush hour you should have no problem hailing a yellow cab.

To hail a cab just stand on the curb, and stick your hand out. There is no need to yell taxi or whistle loudly. Look at the lights on the top of a taxi. If none of the lights are lit, the taxi has passengers on board, and won't pick up anyone else.

When the lights with the words OFF DUTY are lit the taxi is off duty, and will not normally pick you up. If the middle number and letter section of the taxi light is lit then the taxi is available to hire, so stick your arm out.

New York Cabbies have to take you anywhere within the 5 Boroughs, without argument. That covers, Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. Do not be surprised if the driver immediately drives off before you have told him where you want to go.

This saves valuable seconds, and also doesn't annoy the taxi driver behind your cab who is also waiting to pick up passengers. A good travel tip is to plan where to hail your cab from. Make sure you are on the right side of the street and the taxi's are heading in the direction you want to travel

Some NYC Cabs have credit card swipe machines in the back but I have found that the drivers do not like using it and will try and come up with an excuse. They like cash but do not try to pay for a $5 cab fare with a $50 note.

Cabs normally only carry change up to a $20 bill to prevent robberies. The cost of a taxi is via the cab's meter. As you get into the cab there should be $2.50 (in 2010) shown as the standard hire rate on the meter display.

It will then click up $0.40 for a unit as your journey starts. A Unit is one-fifth of a mile (over 6mph) or 60 seconds (stationary or under 6mph). There are some extras that can be add on the meter. $0.50 if you hailed the cab after 8pm and before 6am. $1.00 if you hail the cab between Mon-Fri 4pm - 8pm

New York City Water Taxi

One of the best ways to see the island of Manhattan is from the water. Check out their website www.nywatertaxi.com They have routes that go around both sides of the island at the weekend. There is no better way to spend an hour on a sunny summers day. It travels under most of New York's historic bridges. The trip provides some great photo opportunities.

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