New York Tours No Miracle On 34th Street New York New York

OUR EXPERIENCE WAS NOT THE MIRACLE ON 34^TH ST- It Was A NIGHTMARE.. 

On May 17, 2013, during a vacation to New Jersey my daughter and I took the NJ Transit into Penn Station .Our plan was to take one of the guided bus tours of Lower Manhattan .Upon our arrival, at Penn Station we were uncertain as to the easiest way to get to the tour ticket offices near Time Square. I asked two NYPD officers standing nearby for their recommendation. The NYPD directed us to vendors on the corner stating they are representing the companies and are safe to purchase from, they pointed to a man in a green vest standing nearby. The green vest represented GO NY TOURS.  The salesman was helpful,  then  after purchasing our tickets we were directed to walk over to 34^th St and wait by Macys for the next bus due in 10-15 min. to start our tour. On the way to Macys we also passed several vendors in red or blue for the other two companies. We were unable to locate any signs to designate where the stop was so we asked several people who seemed to waiting if this was the right place. One couple said they had already been waiting for 40 minutes and had not seen any green buses. While standing there waiting we watched both red and blue buses pass by every few minutes. After another 30 minutes passed and still no green bus and the group getting irritable we found another green vendor on the corner of 34^th and Broadway who said he would try to reach a supervisor for us. Finally a green bus pulled up – FULL- on one on as no one got off. The driver and tour guides had no explanation as to the delays, but tour guide said he would try to reach a supervisor or the office. Our green bus pulled up 1 hour and 25 minutes into our wait. Most of our group got on this bus, the guide explained one driver had quit and so they were a bus short. The top of double decker was full so we sat inside. The windows were very dirty and almost appeared frosted, which, unfortunately  limited   our  viewing . The tour guide gave a running commentary over a microphone full of static of the sites we passed while weaving in and out of traffic. Our original plan was to get off the bus at various locations to walk around or shop, but, after our  problems   involved in getting on in the first place chose to stay put. We did get off at ground zero near The World Trade Center. By now the overcast skies grew and it began to rain. We noticed that people were walking around in parkas, labeled with the red and blue tour line names handed out in case it rained, we found out later our tour doesn’t offer parkas. We got back on the bus with only seating remaining on the upper deck available. After going a block or so our bus stopped to change driver and guide. A loud, rude, name calling conversation erupted between the driver and tour guides over tipping and schedule. It was apparent to all that this was not the first such incident, and no one was hiding feelings. A supervisor arrived and “sorted things out”, we were set to be on or way as the rain began to fall, but wait- now the tour guide needed a restroom break. We sat for 15 minutes while we waited for her return. When she did return she appeared “high” almost manic, talking very quickly and in   disjointed   sentences. The guide was very taken by a church group from TX on the bus spending more time going back to that fact than in giving details on the tour. On the second half of the tour I’m not sure what we did or didn’t see with the multiple road closures and detours and lack of info from the guide. I still believe that a guided bus tour is the way to see the most with limited time, BUT I would encourage potential riders to steer clear of  the Green- GO NY TOURS- as you won’t go far!