Big Apple Greeter
Big Apple Greeter
5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
Since 1992, Big Apple Greeter has been pairing visitors with New York City volunteer Greeters who explore the city together, free of charge, on foot or by public transportation. Warm and welcoming, a Greeter meets up to six people and shares his/her personal knowledge of New York City's culture, people and diverse neighborhoods. A Greeter is not a professional tour guide. Instead, a Greeter is a new friend who is ready to spend two-to-four hours sharing the city he/she knows and loves.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
815 reviews
Excellent
725
Very good
43
Average
12
Poor
10
Terrible
25
Deana K
Petaluma, CA60 contributions
Jan 2020
My husband and I found Big Apple Greeter on Trip Advisor and with such great reviews we knew we had to try for a greeter. We were matched with Bill B. and we enjoyed every minute with him. After getting matched with him he contacted me via email and phone. After I spoke with him I knew we would have a great time.
On the day of our tour (Jan 20,2020) Bill met us in the lobby of our hotel in Times Square. We hopped on the subway and rode to the Highline. We continued our walking tour and saw Chelsea Market, SoHo, Greenwich Village, Chinatown and Little Italy. Along the way he shared history of some buildings and great stories (real or not we enjoyed them!). We stopped at a Starbucks for something hot to drink and also at a bakery in Little Italy for an eclair and cannolis. Our tour ended (we spent 4.5 hours together) near the Brooklyn Bridge and Bill was going to get us back to our hotel. Instead, we said our goodbyes there and continued our day with a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and had drinks in DUMBO.
This was a fabulous service. I told someone it was like meeting your best friends Uncle who was willing to share his time with you. Bill made us feel welcomed and you could tell he really enjoyed sharing the history and sites of his city (born and raised in NY).
Although the tour is free it is recommended that a donation be made; we glady did that as soon as we got home. My husband and I loved NY and will return one day. We will utilize this program again to see different parts of the city.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
On the day of our tour (Jan 20,2020) Bill met us in the lobby of our hotel in Times Square. We hopped on the subway and rode to the Highline. We continued our walking tour and saw Chelsea Market, SoHo, Greenwich Village, Chinatown and Little Italy. Along the way he shared history of some buildings and great stories (real or not we enjoyed them!). We stopped at a Starbucks for something hot to drink and also at a bakery in Little Italy for an eclair and cannolis. Our tour ended (we spent 4.5 hours together) near the Brooklyn Bridge and Bill was going to get us back to our hotel. Instead, we said our goodbyes there and continued our day with a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and had drinks in DUMBO.
This was a fabulous service. I told someone it was like meeting your best friends Uncle who was willing to share his time with you. Bill made us feel welcomed and you could tell he really enjoyed sharing the history and sites of his city (born and raised in NY).
Although the tour is free it is recommended that a donation be made; we glady did that as soon as we got home. My husband and I loved NY and will return one day. We will utilize this program again to see different parts of the city.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
Written January 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
marzy15
windermere51 contributions
Jan 2020
We had an amazing day with Joel. We can't thank you enough for giving up your free time to show us parts of this fabulous City that you just wouldn't find on your own. We had a blast. Clocked up over 8 miles in walking at quiet a fast pass but you had to see what we saw. I can't recommend Apple Greeters enough and the sad things is no one seems to have heard of them including New Yorkers. We hope to use your fantastic organisation when we come back. Thank you
Written January 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gilly C
5 contributions
Feb 2020
We wanted to see the "real New York"; not the Red Tourist bus version. Meeting Les, our greeter, was just terrific. Knowing that architecture and design was our particular interest, he took us to places we would never have found if left to our own devices. Who would have known that there were Art Deco gems hidden behind ordinary office doors or in hotel bars. He drew our attention to tall iconic skyscrapers (which now look modest compared to larger more recently built ones) as well as small details such as the fabulous post boxes in office entrance halls. At first sight, New York may not be as attractive architecturally as many old European cities but get to know it; examine it more closely , understand its social history through its buildings and people, and it becomes utterly fascinating. We could only have achieved that level of understanding through the eyes of our very congenial and knowledgeable guide, Les. I can honestly say our day spent with him was the highlight of our trip. We would go back to New York simply to do that tour again.
Written April 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tonyrosssafc
Sunderland, UK6 contributions
Apr 2022
We had Beth as our greeter and she was amazing or in USA speak Awesome.
Beth took time to prepare for our meeting and visit and created an itinerary based on our information which was so thoughtful and showed that she was listening to what we were hoping for. We had to amend our schedule but no bother she just adapted this gave us a couple of options and this was really appreciated.
Mia whose sole purpose in New York was to shop was very appreciative and Sue has been telling everyone she has been in contact with who is going to New York to use the Greeters.
Beth met us on the day showed us how to use the subway buy and refill cards and explained the intricacies of the systems. We visited DUMBO walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and had loads of opportunities for lovely photos and gained lots of information about DUMBO the bridge and interesting insights into the city.
Beth also took us to the Museum of Moving Image which so helpful I am not sure we would have managed to find it ourselves :-).
Through osmosis and Beths passion we have a little bit of New York in us and become mini New Yorkers. There was an unfortunate incident on the subway 24 hours after our journey and Beth kindly got in contact to make sure we were ok. This was so thoughtful.
Meeting a New Yorker and making that human connection, sharing difference, similarities is what this experience is about so thank you to Beth and the Big Apple Greeters for this wonderful service. We will never forget New York or Beth xxxxx
Beth took time to prepare for our meeting and visit and created an itinerary based on our information which was so thoughtful and showed that she was listening to what we were hoping for. We had to amend our schedule but no bother she just adapted this gave us a couple of options and this was really appreciated.
Mia whose sole purpose in New York was to shop was very appreciative and Sue has been telling everyone she has been in contact with who is going to New York to use the Greeters.
Beth met us on the day showed us how to use the subway buy and refill cards and explained the intricacies of the systems. We visited DUMBO walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and had loads of opportunities for lovely photos and gained lots of information about DUMBO the bridge and interesting insights into the city.
Beth also took us to the Museum of Moving Image which so helpful I am not sure we would have managed to find it ourselves :-).
Through osmosis and Beths passion we have a little bit of New York in us and become mini New Yorkers. There was an unfortunate incident on the subway 24 hours after our journey and Beth kindly got in contact to make sure we were ok. This was so thoughtful.
Meeting a New Yorker and making that human connection, sharing difference, similarities is what this experience is about so thank you to Beth and the Big Apple Greeters for this wonderful service. We will never forget New York or Beth xxxxx
Written April 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ash J
Melbourne, Australia87 contributions
Sep 2022
We were matched with Anthony R, and he was fantastic.
His communication and advice before arrival were fantastic, and he continually offered to help us plan an itinerary.
On the day we met, he was determined to show us some of his favorite parts of NYC, and his passion and enthusiasm were contagious. He kept all of us, including my two teenage sons, engaged for several hours.
I would highly recommend anyone visiting NYC to sign up for this program, The fact that it is free is amazing!
His communication and advice before arrival were fantastic, and he continually offered to help us plan an itinerary.
On the day we met, he was determined to show us some of his favorite parts of NYC, and his passion and enthusiasm were contagious. He kept all of us, including my two teenage sons, engaged for several hours.
I would highly recommend anyone visiting NYC to sign up for this program, The fact that it is free is amazing!
Written October 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EGREASBY
Upton, UK89 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
On our way back from from UK to Barbados to celebrate our 50th Golden Wedding Anniversay we stopped over for 4 nights in New York. We have been to New York many times but we had not explored Brooklyn other than a walk over the bridge. We were fortunate to be successful in our request about a month before to Big Apple Greeter for a guided visit. Jeff Riback was assigned as our volunteer guide and we immediately had email contact with him. We were able to tailor make the visit and received very helpful suggestions from Jeff about the "must see" features of the Borough. In addition we were able to set the time scale as we were meeting friends late afternoon back in Manhatten.
Jeff met us at our hotel near Times Square and helped us navigate the subway to reach Brooklyn. Our walk took us to the beautiful brownstone houses and we even saw Henry Street , our daughters married name! Quite a contrast was the row of mews houses
Stopping at Fort Green Park we learned so much from Jeff about its role in the Revolutionary War at Brooklyn in 1776. We found out the main characters and the strategies employed. Although defeated by the British in 1776 they were able to be the victors 7 years later.There is an interesting memorial at the top of the "Fort" .
In the Civic area the buildings changed to limestone so like those in Liverpool with columns like St George's Hall. The court buildings allowed Jeff to explain the U.S. legal system and teh stages of the various courts. There was a beautiful bronze sculpture in memory of Robert Kennedy outside one of the courts.
We made our way through Brooklyn Heights where the homes are very grand and the views of Manhatten outstanding. The important names we learned were Pierrepoint and Fulton in the development of the area.
A stroll along the promenade led us to the latest ferry to be used to cross the river and the nearby antique carousel. Known as Jane's Carousel it has been lovingly restored and can be used year round as it is housed in a glass pavilion.
In Dumbo we came to a real hub of activity as numerous warehouses and factories have been used to create a thriving accommodation and entertainment area with many restaurants to choose from.
We walked back to Manhatten over the Brooklyn Bridge and were blessed to have bright skies and no rain. Jeff took us back on the subway to our hotel where we said our goodbyes.
We feel so fortunate that Jeff was our guide. If we remenber a quarter of the information he gave us we will do well. He also followed up our visit with us and we could not have wished for better. Thank you again Jeff Riback.
Jeff met us at our hotel near Times Square and helped us navigate the subway to reach Brooklyn. Our walk took us to the beautiful brownstone houses and we even saw Henry Street , our daughters married name! Quite a contrast was the row of mews houses
Stopping at Fort Green Park we learned so much from Jeff about its role in the Revolutionary War at Brooklyn in 1776. We found out the main characters and the strategies employed. Although defeated by the British in 1776 they were able to be the victors 7 years later.There is an interesting memorial at the top of the "Fort" .
In the Civic area the buildings changed to limestone so like those in Liverpool with columns like St George's Hall. The court buildings allowed Jeff to explain the U.S. legal system and teh stages of the various courts. There was a beautiful bronze sculpture in memory of Robert Kennedy outside one of the courts.
We made our way through Brooklyn Heights where the homes are very grand and the views of Manhatten outstanding. The important names we learned were Pierrepoint and Fulton in the development of the area.
A stroll along the promenade led us to the latest ferry to be used to cross the river and the nearby antique carousel. Known as Jane's Carousel it has been lovingly restored and can be used year round as it is housed in a glass pavilion.
In Dumbo we came to a real hub of activity as numerous warehouses and factories have been used to create a thriving accommodation and entertainment area with many restaurants to choose from.
We walked back to Manhatten over the Brooklyn Bridge and were blessed to have bright skies and no rain. Jeff took us back on the subway to our hotel where we said our goodbyes.
We feel so fortunate that Jeff was our guide. If we remenber a quarter of the information he gave us we will do well. He also followed up our visit with us and we could not have wished for better. Thank you again Jeff Riback.
Written April 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NYCMD123
3 contributions
Oct 2021
Happy to report that I have now gone on two tours (one in October and one in November) of W. 57th St. with Les Barnett. I went with two different groups of friends. We all agreed that he is a brilliant guide with a wealth of knowledge about New York City and an engaging manner that makes the time fly by. I'm looking forward to booking another tour with him. He is the type of person who can make a native New Yorker like myself love the city even more!
Written November 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melissa D
St. Catharines, Canada10 contributions
Jul 2022
We were in NYC in July 2022, and we had the pleasure of being paired up with Michele. This was my second time using this service and it always exceeds my expectations.
Michele was kind, and thoughtful. She took the time to connect with us ahead of our trip and offered some very helpful advice on where to eat in Jersey City (where we were staying).
Our 4 hours together started at the WTC and ended at Chelsea Market. We learned so much that we wouldn't have if we had just wandered by ourselves. Our 11 year old daughter now refers to Michele as her "New York Grandma".
I honestly can't say enough about how wonderful this service is. You won't be disappointed.
Michele was kind, and thoughtful. She took the time to connect with us ahead of our trip and offered some very helpful advice on where to eat in Jersey City (where we were staying).
Our 4 hours together started at the WTC and ended at Chelsea Market. We learned so much that we wouldn't have if we had just wandered by ourselves. Our 11 year old daughter now refers to Michele as her "New York Grandma".
I honestly can't say enough about how wonderful this service is. You won't be disappointed.
Written August 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Liz B
Melbourne, Australia30 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
We were lucky to enough to have George L as our host. We are here from Australia and it was great to have someone so knowledgeable about NYC. We loved George’s passion about his city. He was also generous, friendly and respectful of our needs. We would strongly recommend this tour and we hope you get paired with George as we loved seeing his city through his eyes. Liz and Michael. Melbourne, Australia
Written May 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lsullivan
1 contribution
Feb 2020
We had a great time with our BigApple Greeter, Jeff. He tailored his time with us to the exact things we were interested in, history & food, taking us to Nolita, Little Italy, Chinatown and the Lower East Side. The food was fantastic & the history so informing. He also gave us an overview of the subway system, which then allowed us to use both the subway & the bus system more confidently on our trip. I think this is a fantastic program & would encourage travelers to use BigApple Greeter! I will definitely look for them in other cities. I also would use Jeff’s own tour guide service again, Jeffribacktours.com.
Written February 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi
We are so looking forward to our tour but are not clear how to pay/tip for the service? What did others do please?
Thanks!
Written March 29, 2022
Big Apple Greeters has a policy of not accepting tips or payment of any kind. We made a donation to the organization because we were so appreciative of this wonderful organization!
Written March 30, 2022
Do you have any greeters that sign me and my daughter are coming over in May for her 18th she is profoundly deaf who wears cochlear implants having someone who signed would really make her stay in New York even more special
Written January 8, 2020
You would really have to contact BAG directly for answer
Written January 15, 2020
Yo envié la solicitud con tres meses de anticipación y estuve 10 días en New York. Recibí el mail en el que me avisaban que no tenían guía disponible cuando estaba en el aeropuerto a punto de salir.
Written October 3, 2019
Bonjour
Je prévois un séjour libre à News York logement en appart hôtel du 3 au 7 avril 2019. Comment prévoir des visites accompagnées ?
Merci
Written January 6, 2019
How long in advance can I book a Greeter? I will be in New York for the first time in mid October this year.
Jenny
Written July 7, 2018
We booked our Greeter two months in advance. I think it is worth giving it a try now though you may not get a confirmation until much closer to the date. It puts you at the head of the line.
Written July 7, 2018
I noticed that Big Apple Greeter is funded by donations. Did you make a donation? What would be an appropriate amount?
Written July 5, 2018
You are given a sheet at the end to complete a review, and in this sheet is the opportunity to donate an amount of your choice, or denominations of $50, $75 or $100. Given it cost the four of us around $40 for lunch in NY every day, it seems very fair to offer a donation, given we had 3.5 hours of brilliant advice and chaperoning.
Written July 5, 2018
I wish to be picked up by London Greeter in late september till 1 december and joi in their walks. How do I proceed/tqvm
Written May 7, 2018
How far in advance did you book the greeter both times? I don't want to do anything too soon or too late.
Written May 1, 2018
sorry delay forgot my log in info
i think a day or so before 15th march as thats when i got email thanking me for submitting my request for a big apple greater.
we were worried left bit late to request one as missed out last time but was so glad we got one,would def recommend them.
when do you go?
Written May 10, 2018
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