The classic fully guided New York package from Collette, a 108-year-old tour operator rated 4.5 across 954 reviews on the platform. Four nights at the Sheraton New York Times Square, a locally guided landmarks day through Central Park, Fifth Avenue and Greenwich Village, a Broadway show of your choice, the harbor ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Listed departures are guaranteed to run.
Overview
Collette runs this five-day New York City package with one base for the whole stay, the Sheraton New York Times Square, which means no repacking between days. The tour is guided in English, takes travellers aged 18 or above, and runs with a group of 2 to 44 people. Days two through four carry the sightseeing, while days one and five are listed in New York City with no activities given.
Day two is a locally guided tour of city landmarks with visits to Central Park, Fifth Avenue, Greenwich Village and Chinatown, plus St. Patrick's Cathedral and Rockefeller Center, ending with a Broadway show of the traveller's choice. Day three shifts to the water, with a ferry cruise of New York Harbor, a visit to the Statue of Liberty and a self-guided tour of the Ellis Island Museum. Day four covers a drive through the Wall Street district, a visit to the 9/11 Memorial, a self-guided tour of the 9/11 Museum and a second Broadway show.
The package suits adults who want a structured city stay with accommodation, selected meals and the listed visits already arranged. It suits less well anyone travelling with children, since the age floor is 18. Optional extras such as department store shopping and a Greenwich Village walking tour with dinner can be added at additional cost.
What's Included
Included
- Hotel nights at the Sheraton New York Times Square
Itinerary
- Day 1, arrivalThe tour opens in New York City. The listing gives no activities for this day, so treat it as an arrival day.
- Day 2, landmarks and BroadwayA locally guided tour of New York City landmarks takes in Central Park, Fifth Avenue, Greenwich Village and Chinatown, with stops to see St. Patrick's Cathedral and Rockefeller Center. Breakfast and dinner at local spots are included, and the day ends with a Broadway show, with a choice of shows. Optional extras at additional cost: shopping at Macy's, Bloomingdale's or Saks Fifth Avenue.
- Day 3, harbor and islandsBreakfast is at a local diner, then a ferry cruise of New York Harbor visits the Statue of Liberty and continues to Ellis Island for a self-guided museum tour. An optional Greenwich Village walking tour with dinner is available at extra cost.
- Day 4, downtown and BroadwayAfter a transfer to Wall Street, the group drives through the district, visits the 9/11 Memorial and takes a self-guided tour of the 9/11 Museum. Dinner at a local restaurant and a second Broadway show, again with a choice of shows, close the day.
- Day 5, departureThe final day is in New York City with no listed activities, so it works as a departure day.
What To Expect From The Tour
A few practical points from the listing are worth knowing before booking this tour.
- Adults only. The tour accepts travellers aged 18 or above, so families with younger children cannot book it. Groups run from 2 to 44 people, and the exact size varies by departure.
- One hotel base. Accommodation is at the Sheraton New York Times Square for nights one through four, though the listing states all accommodations are subject to change. A single base for the whole stay means no repacking between days.
- Meals on tour. Breakfast is included on days two and three, and dinner on days two and four, all at local establishments. The listing names these meals in the day-by-day itinerary.
- Walking involved. Central Park, Greenwich Village, Chinatown, the 9/11 Memorial and Ellis Island are covered on foot in part. Comfortable shoes matter, since several days mix guided walking with self-guided museum time.
- Broadway choices. Two Broadway shows are included, on days two and four, with a choice of shows each time. It is worth checking the booking page for how that choice is made.
- Optional extras. Department store shopping on day two and a Greenwich Village walking tour with dinner on day three carry additional cost. The core itinerary runs without them.
Common issues. The listing sets a minimum age of 18, which rules out family travel with children. Group size can reach 44 travellers, so those wanting a small-group feel should note the upper limit. Accommodation is listed as subject to change, and the listing does not state whether transport to and from the tour start is provided, so confirm that on the booking page. Optional activities and any meals beyond those listed are paid separately.
Meeting Point And Pickup
Collette does not state a pickup point or meeting time for this tour in the listing. Since the tour runs five days and stays at the Sheraton New York Times Square for nights one through four, the practical assumption is that Day 1 begins at or near that hotel in Midtown.
Be ready early on arrival day and treat the hotel as your anchor. If you land at JFK, the AirTrain costs $8.75 to connect with the subway, where the base fare is $3. The group size runs from 2 to 44 travellers, so a morning briefing with that many people can move slowly if someone is late.
When It Runs And The Best Season
The listing does not limit departures to a season, and it notes that departure dates and prices are shown by month on the booking page, so timing depends on which month you choose. Weather shapes the experience more than anything else. Monthly highs run from 42F in January to 87F in July, with April around 61F, October around 69F, and December back down near 46F.
Winter and December departures suit travellers chasing the holiday atmosphere, while spring and autumn bring milder walking weather. July is the hottest month in that range, so plan for heat if you book a summer departure. The five days are all spent in New York City, so a single stretch of bad weather can affect much of the trip.
What It Really Costs
The tour starts from $2,899 per person, with the listing not specifying what that price basis covers beyond accommodation, meals, and additional services. Against comparable packages, that sits well above the 10-Day New York Crosswise, a private self-guided trip from $1,400, though this tour adds an escort, set accommodation at the Sheraton New York Times Square, and organised services across five days.
Budget extras on top. Independent estimates put a mid-range New York day at $150 to $250 per person excluding lodging, which helps frame what free time might cost. A subway or bus ride is $3, with an OMNY weekly cap of $35 if you ride often. Broadway tickets through TKTS go for up to half price. Tipping adds more: 18 to 25 percent at restaurants and 15 to 22 percent in taxis.
What To Bring
- Comfortable walking shoes. Five consecutive days in the city means a lot of time on foot regardless of the season.
- OMNY-ready contactless card. Subway and bus rides cost $3 each and cap at $35 a week, so a tap-to-pay card handles free-time travel.
- Layered clothing. Monthly highs swing from 42F in January to 87F in July, so layers matter in spring and autumn especially.
- Rain jacket or umbrella. With all five days in one city, a wet stretch can follow you through half the trip.
- Tipping cash or card budget. Restaurant tips of 18 to 25 percent and taxi tips of 15 to 22 percent add up over five days.
- Theatre outfit. Broadway discounts through TKTS reach up to 50 percent off, tempting for a free evening in Midtown.
- Confirmation details. No pickup point is stated in the listing, so having the booking confirmation handy helps on Day 1.
Who It Suits And Who Should Skip It
A Good Fit If
- Travellers aged 18 or above who want five days in one city without repacking or changing hotels.
- Anyone who prefers an escorted structure with a group of up to 44 rather than planning alone.
- Visitors who value a set stay at the Sheraton New York Times Square for all four nights.
- First-time visitors happy to spend the whole trip in New York City itself.
Skip It If
- Families with children under 18, since the tour states ages 18 or above only.
- Solo travellers or pairs who want privacy and self-pacing, where the private self-guided option fits better.
- Budget-conscious travellers who would rather pay from $1,400 and arrange their own trip.
How It Compares With Similar Tours
The closest comparison on this site is the 10-Day New York Crosswise (Private, Self-Guided) from $1,400, which trades escort and hotel organisation for double the length and full independence. This Collette tour instead sells structure: a guide, set accommodation, and a five-day programme.
Pros
- Four nights at one named hotel, the Sheraton New York Times Square, removes the logistics a self-guided traveller handles alone.
- An escort and organised services across all five days suit visitors who do not want to plan.
- The five-day length fits travellers with one week of leave, unlike the ten-day self-guided alternative.
- Group travel from 2 to 44 gives solo or pair travellers a ready-made group.
Cons
- At from $2,899 it costs roughly double the self-guided option while covering half the days.
- All five days stay in New York City, so there is no wider regional travel.
- The listing does not state airport or hotel pickup, an open question the self-guided traveller answers for themselves anyway.
Plan The Day With Our Guides
Before locking in dates, read the four-day New York itinerary to see how the city's headline sights stack up against your free evenings on this tour. The article on escorted versus self-guided costs breaks down whether the from-price here beats arranging it alone. If a holiday departure tempts you, the guide to New York Christmas tours and prices covers the December window. Timing matters too, so skim the month-by-month visiting guide before choosing your departure.
Questions Before You Book
What is included in the price?
Accommodation, some meals, and the guided activities are included. That covers four nights at the Sheraton New York Times Square, breakfast on days two and three, dinner on days two and four, the locally guided city tour, the harbor ferry cruise, the Statue of Liberty visit, the Ellis Island and 9/11 Museum self-guided tours, and two Broadway shows.
Is food extra?
Partly. Breakfast is included on days two and three, and dinner on days two and four. The optional Greenwich Village walking tour with dinner on day three carries an additional cost. For anything beyond the meals named in the itinerary, check the booking page before departure.
How big is the group?
The listing gives a group size of 2 to 44 travellers, guided in English. Departure numbers within that range vary by date, and the booking page shows departures by month.
Can children join this tour?
No. The listing states ages 18 or above, so travellers under 18 cannot be booked on it.
Is pickup from the airport or hotel included?
The listing does not state pickup arrangements. Travellers should check the booking page for details on where the tour starts and how to reach the first hotel.
Where do we stay?
The tour uses the Sheraton New York Times Square for nights one through four. The listing notes that all accommodations are subject to change.
When is the best month to take this tour?
The listing shows departure dates and prices by month on the booking page, so availability varies. Monthly highs range from 42F in January to 87F in July, with April near 61F and October near 69F. Spring and autumn offer the mildest conditions for walking days, while December trips suit travellers chasing the holiday atmosphere. Check the month-by-month guide on this site before picking a departure.
What will I spend beyond the tour price?
The tour starts from $2,899 and covers accommodation, meals, and additional services per the listing. On top of that, expect transit at $3 a ride with a $35 weekly OMNY cap, plus tips of 18 to 25 percent at restaurants and 15 to 22 percent in taxis. Show tickets through TKTS run up to half price if a free evening tempts you. Independent estimates put mid-range city spending at $150 to $250 per day excluding lodging, a useful frame for free time.
