ABOUT VALERIE
My love affair with New York City began at a young age and has never ended. I spent my adolescence in Manhattan as a student at Balanchine's School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center, after which I got my B.A. in Art History from Columbia University. A 30-year career as a professional dancer and contortionist (yes, you read that right!) followed, as did an M.A. in Dance Education from NYU.
For the past 15 years, I've been managing high-end special events in and around the city, and for 12 of those years I've taught English as a Second Language at a private school for adults. When not working or taking a dance class, I can generally be found at a museum (The Met' is my "second home," but The Museum of the City of New York and the Frick are close runners up!) or out walking the world's most energizing, multicultural, and ceaselessly morphing streets .
I'm a gold-star licensed New York City tour guide. This town still takes my breath away and I'd love to show you why.
ABOUT YOUR TOUR
Your New York City tour can be as short as one hour or as long as you'd like. Whether you're a first-timer who wants to learn how to get to the Empire State Building, Wall Street and the Statue of Liberty from your hotel, or a seasoned visitor who wants to explore a niche topic in depth (see my list of Tour Suggestions below), I'll ensure that your tour is exactly what you want...and more. Would you like to spend a few days seeing the highlights of all five boroughs with your extended family, or would you prefer to spend an hour on your own discovering Hell's Kitchen's gay bars and clubs? Want to visit the best vintage clothing stores or the city's Revolutionary War mansions? Just tell me what you'd like to see and do and I will create a custom-tailored itinerary that you'll have a chance to review and approve beforehand.
I look forward to helping you discover the magic of New York City !
TOUR PRICING AND EXTRAS
Prices for Custom Tours
Whether you are traveling solo, with a friend, or with your spouse, kids and in-laws---it's always more interesting, educational and fun to see the city with a native. The more people you bring, the less expensive the tour is per person. Because I want your experience to be as personal as possible, the maximum group size is eight.
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~One hour for one person: $50. ~Each additional person per one hour: $10
Examples:
One hour for three people: $70
One hour for eight people: $120
Two hours for one person: $100
Three hours for two people: $180
Four hours for six people: $400
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Extras
If you are interested in English lessons to supplement and complement your custom tour, please let me know. I am a certified ESL teacher with 12 years of experience teaching all levels. If you would like to learn vocabulary related to art so that you can better appreciate a museum tour, or if you'd simply like to brush up on basic grammar, I'm available for private or group lessons (in person or via Skype). Pricing is the same as tour pricing.
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ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS?
Transportation costs and entrance fees, should there be any, are not included in the price of your tour. If the tour you choose involves subway, bus, tram, and/or ferry transportation, you will be responsible for paying for your own transportation (with the exception of the Staten Island Ferry, which is free). You will not need to pay for my transportation.
If the tour you choose involves museums, botanical gardens, or any destination that charges admission, you will be responsible for your own entrance/admission costs as well as mine.
Many museums have "pay what you wish" policies and many do not. Please don't hesitate to ask me about the specific policies of different museums.
HOW DO I PAY?
Your tour can easily be paid for in advance via Paypal.
WHERE DO YOU MEET US?
Based on your schedule and preference, I can arrange to meet you wherever you'd like.