Forget about hopping into the back seat and having some double-chinned, cigar-chomping, all-knowing driver slowly turn and ask nonchalantly, "Where to, Mac?" Nowadays most taxi drivers speak only an approximation of English and drive in engagingly exotic ways. Always wear your seat belt -- taxis are required to provide them.

The TLC has posted a Taxi Rider's Bill of Rights sticker in every cab. Drivers are required by law to take you anywhere in the five boroughs, to Nassau or Westchester counties, or to Newark Airport. They are supposed to know how to get you to any address in Manhattan and all major points in the outer boroughs. They are also required to provide air-conditioning and turn off the radio on demand, and they cannot smoke while you're in the cab. They are required to be polite.

You are allowed to dictate the route that is taken. It's a good idea to look at a map before you get in a taxi. Taxi drivers have been known to jack up the fare on visitors who don't know better by taking a circuitous route between point A and point B. Know enough about where you're going to know that something's wrong if you hop in a cab at Sixth Avenue and 57th Street to go to the Empire State Building (Fifth Ave. and 34th St.), say, and you suddenly find yourself on Ninth Avenue.

Always ask for the receipt -- it comes in handy if you need to make a complaint or have left something in a cab. In fact, it's a good idea to make a mental note of the driver's four-digit medallion number (usually posted on the divider between the front and back seats) just in case you need it later. You probably won't, but it's a good idea to play it safe.

Always make sure the meter is turned on at the start of the ride. You'll see the red LED readout register the initial $2 and start calculating the fare as you go. I've witnessed unscrupulous drivers buzzing unsuspecting visitors around the city with the meter off, and then overcharging them at drop-off time.

When you're waiting on the street for an available taxi, look at the medallion light on the top of the coming cabs. If the light is out, the taxi is in use. When the center part (the number) is lit, the taxi is available -- this is when you raise your hand to flag the cab. If all the lights are on, the driver is off duty.

Busses and Subway

The MetroCard is today's ticket for travel in NYC. Starting in 1997 the MetroCard can be used on any New York City Subway or Bus. Replacing the token in 2003, you can purchase MetroCards in many different ways, but for our trip, I would consider looking at Pay-Per-Ride Metro Cards,  the one day Fun-Pass, and the 7-Day Unlimited Ride card.

The rechargeable Pay-Per-Ride card can carry a balance of $4.00-$84.00 and is used like a debit card when using public transportation. Each subway and bus ride is $2.00 and up to 4 people can use the same card. When you purchase $10 or more at one time, you will receive a 20% bonus on your card. In this way for every 5 fares you purchase you will receive one free. This is the best case for a single traveler that will use the card less than three times during a day or less than 12 total single rides during the trip.

The 1-Day Fun-Pass is an unlimited ride pass good from the time it is first used through 3am the next morning. This $7 pass is the best choice for each traveler that plans to make more than 3 trips a day, but not more than 11 total trips. Unlike the Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard. This cannot be swiped more than once in the same station or bus in an 18 minute period. So if you are traveling with more than a single rider, you will each need your own.

The last choice, the 7-day Unlimited MetroCard is the best choice for the frequent traveler who will travel more than 11 legs during the trip. The $24 price tag is still cheaper than a taxi.