Affordable New York Helicopter Tours at Helicopter New York City

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New York Helicopter Tour vs. Walking Tours

Are you planning to spend some time taking in the sights New York City has to offer? Perhaps you’re visiting, or perhaps you’re a local wanting to enjoy your time in the city that never sleeps. Maybe you’re looking to have a solo adventure, or maybe you’re hosting a group and want to plan an experience that hits all the NYC landmarks. If you are weighing your options, you have likely considered New York helicopter tours and New York walking tours. But, which is the right choice for you? Take a look at what each has to offer below!

  • Cost: As you might imagine, a helicopter tour in New York will be more expensive than most walking tours. If you’re looking to spend as little as possible, you may prefer a walking tour. Depending on the site, a walking tour can be quite cheap. However, you can book a ride in the skies for as little as $149!
  • Number of Guests: You can book your own private New York helicopter tour for up to six people. This gives your guests a private experience together in the world’s safest helicopter with a certified pilot and tour guide. However, if you have a group larger than six to plan for, you may prefer a walking tour, as most walking tours can accommodate a larger group, provided you book your tour spots well in advance.
  • Experience: There is no way to deny that New York helicopter sightseeing is an unparalleled experience. While most people have been on a walking tour at some point in their lives, not many have gotten the opportunity to experience a bird’s-eye-view of one of the most well-known cities in the world! If you are looking to do something out of the ordinary while exploring New York, a helicopter tour will certainly be a more unique experience than a walking tour.
  • Locations: There is quite a difference in the locale for walking tours and New York helicopter tours, which may help you to make up your mind. Walking tours provide an abundance of different tours geared toward many different interests. You could check out a “movie star” tour that takes you to sites where famous movies were filmed. You could take a tour geared toward food or shopping that allows you to stop and partake while on the tour. New York helicopter rides offer fewer tour choices. However, a helicopter tour gives you the chance to see several iconic New York spots in one tour. For example, the “New Yorker” helicopter tour covers the Statue of Liberty, Empire State and Chrysler Buildings, and the famous Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. A walking tour could cover no more than one major landmark.
  • Time & Effort: If you don’t want to hoof it—you may prefer to take a ride above the majestic city to take it all in. On the other hand, if you’re an active person, you may want to take to the streets on foot and get in some exercise while seeing the sights.

Depending on these factors, you may find that a New York walking tour or a New York helicopter tour best suits your needs. Regardless of the option you choose, you will be sure to enjoy your experience in the city. The only wrong choice is no choice at all!

Comparing a New York helicopter tour to a walking tour might seem ridiculous, but feel free to give us your opinion on this… we welcome your comments!

Preparing for Your New York Helicopter Tour

You finally did it. You’ve made the call, planned your day, and rounded up your group. There’s a big, red circle on your calendar, helping you to count down, until, finally, the day has arrived! Your exhilarating New York City helicopter tour is today!

BUT, wait! Amid all the excitement, perhaps you’re asking yourself, “What do I need to do now to prepare for my New York helicopter tour?”

What you need to bring:

  • Your confirmation voucher
  • Your photo ID
  • A $15/per person heliport fee
  • A camera!

Where and when you need to go:

  • Your voucher will list the departure point and time for your specific tour
  • Make sure to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to departure

What to wear:

  • Eyewear— You may want to secure your glasses with a strap or wear sunglasses.
  • Dark clothing—These prevent window glare for the best pictures!
  • Long pants—Long pants are preferable to shorts or skirts.
  • A light jacket or layers—This is helpful in case of a chill.
  • Sunscreen— Even in cooler months, remember to protect your face.

When you arrive for your helicopter tour in New York, you’ll bring with you the confirmation voucher you received the day you booked your tour online. (While it is possible to book a tour on site, you aren’t guaranteed a tour spot is available, so booking online is recommended!) The confirmation voucher will list the departure location and time.

When preparing for your New York helicopter sightseeing trip, you’ll want to dress according to the weather. However, even in warmer months, a ride through the skies might get chilly, so bring a jacket or long sleeved shirt in case you get cold. Pants, not skirts or shorts, are recommended.

  • QUICK NOTE ABOUT WEATHER: With Helicopter New York City, your safety is our first priority. Therefore, in the case of bad weather, your helicopter tour may be cancelled. If that happens, we will work to reschedule your New York helicopter tour for a day and time that is convenient for you. If for some reason, we cannot find a suitable time for your trip, we will refund your credit card in full. With our flexible policies, feel confident to Book Your Helicopter Tour Today!

New York helicopter rides are an amazing picture-taking opportunity, so be sure to bring a camera or video camera with you! Make sure your camera has a sturdy strap—either a good wrist strap or a neck strap for a larger camera. If taking a DSLR, only bring one or two lenses—you don’t want to be switching out lenses during your tour! When choosing a lens, wider is better for New York helicopter sightseeing.

If you follow these tips, your New York helicopter tour will be smooth sailing! Enjoy the skies!

Private New York Helicopter Tours

A New York City helicopter tour offers a singular experience that you will not soon forget. Far beyond a typical sightseeing experience, New York helicopter tours provide you a breathtaking vantage point from which to see iconic New York landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Helicopter New York City also provides you with the opportunity to book a private helicopter tour! You can book any one of our New York helicopter tours for up to six people. This is the perfect opportunity to surprise someone with an unforgettable romantic date, share a bonding experience with your family, or celebrate with your friends overlooking the gorgeous skyline of NYC.

On a private New York helicopter tour, you and your guests will experience:

  • Luxurious leather seats with ample legroom
  • A 180-degree view from inside the cabin
  • Unmatched photo and video opportunities
  • Your own personal FAA certified and experienced pilot

With Helicopter New York City, you have three private tours to choose from for your New York helicopter sightseeing experience:

A private helicopter tour in New York is the ultimate experience to share with your friends or family. Make it an all-day event with dinner and drinks and beforehand. (You may even want to get that limo service to take you and your friends to your private tour in style!) Let’s be honest– if you want to book something exclusive for you and your guests, private New York helicopter rides top the list. Now is the perfect time to book your private helicopter tour in New York!

New York Helicopter Tours Are Ideal for Special Occasions!

It can be tough to come up with ideas for gifts and special occasions after a while. Let’s be honest, does your hubby really want another tie for his birthday? And while your wife may have loved that fancy restaurant for your first anniversary, it stops being “special” after the third straight year in a row. At some point, you start wracking your brain, saying, “Why can’t I think of something new and exciting to do? I CAN’T GIVE ONE MORE FRUITCAKE THIS YEAR!”

A New York City helicopter tour is just what you are looking for! Talk about new and unique! A helicopter tour in New York blows the standard “going to dinner” celebration out of the water. This type of once-in-a lifetime experience is not only a perfect gift to give to someone special, but also a great way to celebrate and mark a special occasion in your life.

New York helicopter rides are perfect for:

  • Birthdays (No tie for him this year!)
  • Anniversaries (She’ll be shocked you didn’t just take her to dinner.)
  • Weddings or honeymoon getaways (Because romance is a bird’s-eye-view of the NYC skyline.)
  • Holidays (Just imagine those holiday lights!)
  • NYC vacations (What better way to SEE the city than from above?)

New York helicopter sightseeing is the answer to what you should do for your next special event. This year, you’ll finally be able to top yourself and surprise that special someone with an amazing experience that’s far more exciting than dinner and a movie. Don’t fall flat with a stale, familiar routine this year. Take a New York helicopter tour for an unmatched experience and create a memory that will last much longer than that boring bouquet of flowers will.

Share Your New York Helicopter Tour Story with Us

Did you know you can not only share your New York Helicopter Tour experience, but you can upload some of your best photos from your Helicopter New York City helicopter ride?!?

We really want to hear about your Helicopter NYC helicopter tour experience!

Here’s all you have to do to submit your New York Helicopter Tour experience:

  1. Go to our New York Helicopter Tour Reviews form
  2. Fill out the required fields (at least)
  3. Upload your photos (if you want!)
  4. Click ‘Submit your review’ button

Seriously, that’s it.

If you’ve had a great time on one of our New York Helicopter Tours, let us know…

  • Was it a Special Occasion? Birthday? Wedding? Honeymoon? Anniversary?
  • Was this your first time in New York City? Or are you a local doing a NYC helicopter ride for the first time?
  • Who were you with? Was it family? Friends? Significant Other?
  • Which New York Helicopter Tour did you take? New Yorker? Ultimate? Deluxe? Or did you choose a Private Helicopter Tour?

OK, now go share your New York Helicopter Tour story with us, TODAY!  :)

New York Helicopter Rides – the Ultimate in NYC Sightseeing

People, worldwide, come to New York City to experience not only its culture, food and neighborhoods, but to experience its famous sights and landmarks.

Whether you are a first time tourist to our fabulous City, a ‘regular’ or a LOCAL, why not capture all the flavors of New York via a helicopter ride? A helicopter ride is New York sightseeing at its best.

NYC Helicopter Rides – Fun for the Whole Family

A New York helicopter tour may not be the first thing you think of when planning a family vacation to NYC, but did you know that our NYC helicopter tours are fun for the whole family?

YES, the breathtaking views of the City via helicopter can be enjoyed by the whole family!

From our FAQs page:

Are children allowed on the Helicopter New York City helicopter tours, and what is the cost?
Yes, children of all ages are permitted to fly.  Any child under the age of 2 years old may fly at no charge.  Flight regulations state that regular charges apply to all children over the age of 2 years old.

New York Helicopter Rides Make Unique Gifts

Are you and/or the family coming to New York City for a special occasion? Are you coming to celebrate something special? Are you looking for a one-of-a-kind GIFT for that special someone or occasion?

A New York City helicopter ride is that special gift to share.

So next time you are planning a New York vacation trip, book a seat on one of our one-of-a-kind New York helicopter tours:

New Yorker Helicopter Ride

Ultimate New York Helicopter Ride (our best seller!)

Deluxe New York Helicopter Ride

You’ll be so glad you did!

New York City Travel Tips

There’s so much to do and see in New York, it can be hard to know where to start on a New York City travel guide! When it comes to ideas on travel to New York City – especially if you’re a first-time visitor – sometimes it’s best to go back to the basics, so here are some New York City travel tips that will help ensure a great time in the Big Apple:

  • Travel to New York City usually means Manhattan – but don’t forget to check out the “outer boroughs” as well. Brooklyn has become a popular destination for both visitors and residents, and there are also attractions, museums, shopping and cultural events to be found in Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island.
  • New York has one of the best mass transit systems in the world (MTA), so grab hold of a map or app and use the city’s subways and buses to design your own personalized New York City travel guide. A prepaid MetroCard – good on MTA subways and buses throughout the five boroughs – is your best bet, and if you’re staying for a few days or more, with a 7-day Unlimited Pass you’ll pay one amount up front and won’t have to think about bus or subway fares again for an entire week!
  • Your New York City travel information should always include a check of local weather. It can be really hot and humid during the summer and cold and snowy in winter – so come prepared. Travel to New York City in the spring and fall should be milder, but always be prepared with layers in case of a sudden change … and don’t forget your umbrella!
    • NOTE: With Helicopter New York City Helicopter Rides, your safety is our first priority. Therefore, in the case of bad weather, helicopter rides will be cancelled. In this situation, we will work to reschedule your flight for a day and time that is convenient for you. If for some reason, we cannot find a suitable time for your trip, we will refund your credit card in full. With our flexible policies, feel confident to Book Your Seat Today!
  • There are several official NYC Information Centers in Manhattan where you can find help in devising a customized New York City travel guide. Located in areas that are popular with travelers – Chinatown (at the intersection of Walker, Canal and Baxter Streets), City Hall (Broadway at Park Row, at the Southern tip of City Hall Park), Times Square (Seventh Avenue between West 46th and 47th Streets), Midtown (810 Seventh Avenue, between West 52nd and 53rd Streets) and Harlem (144 West 125th Street) – these are great places to find maps, tours, discount offers and passes, and lots of useful New York City travel tips.
  • If you’re going to travel to New York and have time for some advance planning, consider registering on social network sites like Groupon, Living Social and Blackboard Eats – but use a Manhattan zip code when you sign up (10018 is the zip for midtown), and you’ll get daily emails with deals on local restaurants, attractions and other helpful New York City travel information.
  • Finally, here’s one of the best New York City travel tips of all: don’t be afraid to ask a New Yorker for help. Despite anything you may have heard, New Yorkers are generally happy to answer questions about their neighborhood and city – and with their insider point of view, you’re certain to get some terrific New York City travel information as well!

Discover New York Zoos & Aquarium

Lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my!

Nothing invokes a childlike sense of wonder quite like a New York City zoo. It makes you feel small to stare up the massive New York aquarium that showcases colorful creatures, swimming right before your eyes, separated only by the glass. It makes you laugh to hear the hooting, gibbering, singing, and squawking of the majestic New York zoo animals you never thought you’d get so close to.

New York zoos are truly another world where people get to stroll in the open air and visit with the world’s most fascinating creatures. Whether you’re planning a date or looking for a place to go with youngsters, this is an experience you should not leave out of your plans for New York City.

Central Park Zoo

Central Park Zoo, New York City—it doesn’t get more New York than this. In the heart of Central Park, the Central Park Zoo has three main sections connected by splendid glass arbors and draping vines. This New York City zoo boasts a tropical indoor rainforest as well as a chilly penguin house and polar bear pool!

Bronx Zoo

Bronx Zoo, New York—located in Bronx Park, this New York zoo can boast being one of the world’s largest city zoos. With over 4,000 animals in the expansive park-like setting, you’ll have your choice of both indoor and outdoor exhibits to take in.

Queens Zoo

Queens Zoo—located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, this New York zoo opened on the site of the 1964 New York World’s Fair and features American animals. It is also the only one of the New York zoos to feature a petting zoo where visitors can pet and even feed the many domestic animals!

  • Queens Zoo (53-51 111th Street  Flushing, NY (718) 271-1500)

Prospect Park Zoo

Prospect Park Zoo—located on the eastern side of Prospect Park in Brooklyn, this New York City zoo includes three themed exhibits—The World of Animals, Animals Lifestyles, and Animals in our Lives. Unique to this New York zoo is the Discovery Center, where kids can take part in educational programs.

New York City Aquarium

New York Aquarium—located on the time-honored boardwalk of Coney Island, this New York landmark is the U.S.’s oldest operating aquarium. New York Aquarium’s performing marine mammals will enchant you. You can also watch daily feedings of the sea animals, as well as experience the Deep Sea 3-D ride.

With all these New York zoos and New York aquarium to choose from, you will have nothing to stop you from experiencing the sights and sounds of the animal kingdom.

Family Fun in New York City

A family vacation in New York City promises fun and excitement for everyone! Of course no family vacation in New York City would be complete without visits to attraction highlights such as the Empire State Building, Times Square, Grand Central Terminal and the Statue of Liberty – here are just a few other suggestions that are certain to delight children of all ages:

Central Park

Weather permitting, there’s lots of New York City family entertainment to be found in Central Park. On a sunny day you can picnic and play in the Sheep Meadow. Be sure to include a stop at Belvedere Castle and the carousel. And did you know that there are actually four zoos (plus an aquarium!) in Central Park, known collectively as the Central Park Zoo, and all great stops on a family vacation New York City. Be sure to include a stop at the Tisch Children’s Zoo, which includes a petting zoo where kids can feed the animals themselves. (And if you haven’t had your fill of creatures furry and otherwise, your family vacation New York City can head a bit north to the Bronx Zoo, one of the largest metropolitan zoos in the entire world.)

Renting bikes in Central Park is not only a top list for fun family things to do in New York City, but a fairly inexpensive thing to do! And in addition to Central Park bike rentals, there are many other places in New York City for bike rentals!

American Museum of Natural History

There’s plenty of New York City family entertainment at the American Museum of Natural History – from the massive dinosaurs to the big blue whale, life-sized dioramas of world cultures, the Hayden Planetarium and much more, the four floors of exhibits are certain to be a highlight of any family vacation in New York City!

Circle Line Cruises

A New York City family vacation may not conjure up visions of the great outdoors, but you can spend lots of quality time exploring the city from the unique vantage point of a Circle Line Cruise, which goes all the way around Manhattan Island. A quicker and easier ride on the waterways that will also provide New York City family entertainment is to head all the way downtown for an always FREE ride on the Staten Island Ferry (about 30 minutes in each direction), which includes a terrific view of the Statue of Liberty and lower Manhattan.

South Street Seaport

The South Street Seaport offers New York City family entertainment for everyone – you’ll find interesting architecture, restored ships, lots of shopping opportunities … and the Imagination Playground at Burling Slip, an interactive environment where children can create their own play space with sand, water and all kinds of fun and fabulous building materials. This can be a terrific stop on your family vacation in New York City – weary parents might even get a bit of a break while the kids are building their own versions of the city’s skyscrapers!

Holiday Season Fun in New York City

The holiday season is a particularly fun time for a family vacation in New York City. It might be chilly, it will certainly be crowded, but you’ll find one-of-a-kind New York City family entertainment like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the ginormous Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center – where you can also go ice skating – and the stunning holiday-themed decorations in department store windows. You can rest your tired feet at the end of your New York City family vacation day at a performance of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker at the New York City Ballet– it was actually this production, which debuted in 1954, that began the worldwide tradition of celebrating the Christmas season with stagings of The Nutcracker.

New York Helicopter Tour

We would be remiss if we didn’t include Helicopter New York City helicopter tour packages! Yes, a New York helicopter tour is fun for the entire family. Soar above all the City’s famous landmarks and experience New York City sightseeing like never before. Weather permitting, New York helicopter tours are a family fun thing to do in New York year-round!

 

Where to Find Bike Rentals in New York City

Gridlock in New York City is looking different these days, as more and more people are riding bicycles up and down the streets of the Big Apple. Don’t own your own bike? No problem – bike rentals in New York City are plentiful and easy to find, from one end of the city to another.

TIPS:

  • Many New York bike rentals offer specials and/or discounts if your book your bicycle rental reservation online
  • Many of the bike rental places also offer guided or self-guided New York City bike tours.

Bicycle Rentals in Central Park

A good place to start when thinking about New York bike rentals is Central Park (http://www.bikerentalcentralpark.com) – one of the best ways to explore the park is on a bicycle – where there are six miles of drives and many flat surfaces that make for smooth, easy riding.  You’ll have no trouble finding places to rent a bike in (or around) Central Park. You’ll find bike rentals at the Central Park Boathouse (available from April-November).

New York City Bike Rentals

There are also local concessions, such as Bike Rental NYC (http://www.bikerentalsnyc.com/), which is located just a few blocks from Central Park (at 40 West 55th Street) and offers bike rentals in New York City by the hour or the day.

Bike and Roll NYC (http://bikenewyorkcity.com/) gives its riders a wide choice of bike rentals – not only does the company offer a variety of bike models, from basic bikes to road, racing and even tandem rides, you can also combine bike rentals in with guided New York City bike tours around Manhattan and Brooklyn. If you’d rather sign up for a bike rental and take off on your own, there are also self-guided New York City bike tours covering different parts of the city. Best of all, Bike and Roll NYC has nine convenient locations in New York City where you can pick up your bike rentals.

Free Classes in Bicycle “Drivers Ed”

Before signing up for a bike rental in New York, you might want to check out Bike New York, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting cycling in New York’s five boroughs. In addition to providing a handy list of New York bike rentals (http://www.bikenewyork.org/advice/nyc-info/rental-bike-shops/), Bike New York also offers free classes in bicycle “drivers ed” to help you navigate New York City streets once you’re ready to pedal away on your bike rental.