Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the ball drops at midnight at 1 Times Sq. This one, in the cold
surrounded by thousands of drunks, is a masochist's delight. Call
&
212/768-1560
or 212/484-1222, or visit
www.timessquare
nyc.org
. December 31.
3 Tips for Travelers with Special Needs
FOR FAMILIES
Good bets for the most timely information include the “Weekend”
section of Friday's
New York Times,
which has a section dedicated
to the week's best kid-friendly activities; the weekly
New York
maga-
zine, which has a full calendar of children's events in its listings sec-
tion; and
Time Out New York,
which also has a great weekly kids
section with a bit of an alternative bent. The
Big Apple Parents'
Paper
is usually available, for free, at children's stores and other loca-
tions in Manhattan; you can also find good information from the
folks behind the paper at
www.parentsknow.com
.
The first place to look for
babysitting
is in your hotel (better yet,
ask about babysitting when you reserve). Many hotels have babysit-
ting services or will provide you with lists of reliable sitters. If this
doesn't pan out, call the
Baby Sitters' Guild
(
&
212/682-0227;
www.babysittersguild.com). The sitters are licensed, insured, and
bonded, and can even take your child on outings.
TRAVELERS WITH DISABILITIES
New York is more accessible to travelers with disabilities than ever
before. The city's bus system is wheelchair friendly, and most of the
major attractions are easily accessible. Even so,
always call first
to be
sure that the places you want to go to are fully accessible.
Most hotels are ADA-compliant, with suitable rooms for wheel-
chair-bound travelers as well as those with other disabilities. But
before you book,
ask lots of questions based on your needs.
Hospital Audiences, Inc.
(
&
212/575-7676;
www.hospital
audiences.org) arranges attendance and provides details about acces-
sibility at cultural institutions as well as cultural events adapted for
people with disabilities. Services include “Describe!,” which allows
visually impaired theatergoers to enjoy theater events; and the
invaluable
HAI Hot Line
(
&
212/575-7676
), which offers accessi-
bility information for hotels, restaurants, attractions, cultural ven-
ues, and much more. This nonprofit organization also publishes
Access for All,
a guidebook on accessibility, available free-of-charge
on the website
www.hospitalaudiences.org
.
