Pilots are always looking for something to do in between flights. When the time between flights is short, the obvious choice is to sit at the FBO in the pilot lounge and sleep. A longer stretch between flights may get you out of the FBO and into a restaurant for food.

But overnight flights with at least one good 24 hour stretch in between… those are the best.

One of my favorite places to overnight in the USA is New York City.

There is no shortage of activities to entertain a bored pilot – or anyone else for that matter! The problem for the first-time visitor to NYC – the visitor whose time is short – is knowing where to go and what to do.

New York City is huge and, unless you have been there before, renting a car and driving around is a waste of time and money. You’ll spend much of your time navigating and most of the rest of your time honing your New York City driving skills. If you are lucky, you might be able to get a visual on the stunning skyline. If you are alone, without a co-pilot, you might not see a thing. And if you do see something, you won’t know what you are looking at!

I prefer to get the lay of the land first. And one of the best ways to do so is with a guided tour.

City Sights NY is a pilot’s dream. Their double decker guided NYC Tours provide a visual you will not get on a standard coach bus. Their buses are all about seeing New York. That upper deck is open, so passengers have a full panoramic view of New York City. And, when the weather is cold, a clear canopy and heaters keep riders warm while still allowing them to see the sights.

Along with the stunning visuals, audio explanations are part of your New York City tour. You can put your map away, forget about driving and relax.

Tours can be viewed and purchased online at City Sights NY.

Their website is comprehensive and answered every question I had about taking a tour. You can purchase your tickets online and print them yourself.

Another benefit of City Sights NY is their “hop on, hop off” policy. With both the Downtown Tour and Uptown Tours, you can hop on and off your tour bus for 24 hours after you first board. When you see something you would like to explore, hop off the bus at the next stop. When you are ready to continue your tour, hop on again!

Enjoy! And let me know about your visit!