Depends on how adventurous you d like to be.The Grey Line is well established and has been a staple in NYC for years.Its simple and hits most if not all the spots a tourist might like to see.However,Public transportation is far cheaper and a real NY experience in itself, reliable and easier than you might think.For the things you listed public transportation would serve you just fine.I say if your budget allows it, do both. 1 day on the bus should do it.That way you wont miss anything and you can go off the reservation so to speak.Some of the best stuff is seen by walking.
A HOHO is only worth it if you re really interested in hearing the banter from the tour guide. An easier solution would be to get an unlimited metrocard and a map. Taking the subway is relatively easy and gets you to your end point quicky. The only downside is that you don t see any pretty sights along the way. You can take a bus, but if you re going a long distance you ll be sitting there for quite a while as the traffic in Manhattan can be outrageous.Titanic and Bodies are both easily accessable via subway. The circle line terminal (I m guessing that s what you were referring to) isn t near a subway line, but you can always either walk or take a bus.
You can use mass transit (Trains, not buses unless you got to), which are inexpensive, and if you know how to use map quest, or even call up MTA s transit information line at 718-330-1234, you can get information to get to and from anywhere you want to go in the city. If you really want to do a tour, I can t really tell you as I lived in this city all my life, and they all seem cheesy and crappy just by looking at them, and if one is considering them it almost could only be due to monetary reasons, as I would quit if I were getting paid to ride those stupid things, lmao.
If you have never been to NYC - by all means take a Grey Line tour. The banter from the Tour Guides is informative and you will see much more than if you take the subway. If history, trivia, movie locations and scandalous sites are not your forte - public transportation or walking is certainly an option in the city.See more with a tour but don t use the Gray Line as a mode of transportation only. Enjoy!
Grey Line Tour is worth the money. However, if you want to experiece NYC on your own, I would recommend getting a subway, purchase an unlimited MetroCard and ride the subway to the all the attractions.The fare on the subway is $2.25 and a 7 day unlimited MetroCard is $27. Subway maps are free at all subway stations.Good luck