The Y’s Way and Wherefores of New York

Y’s Way International has introduced its 1998 packages for economical visits to New York City. They include accommodations at your choice of two YMCAs.

The Vanderbilt YMCA (224 E. 47th St., New York, NY 10017; telephone [212] 756-9600) is located on Manhattan’s fashionable East Side, in the same neighborhood as the United Nations and Grand Central Station. It has 370 rooms, each with air-conditioning and a television. Bathrooms are shared. There’s a restaurant, gift shop, tour desk, two swimming pools and fitness facilities. The closest subway station is Grand Central Station.

The West Side YMCA (5 W. 63rd St., New York, NY 10023; tel. [212] 787-4400) is just off Central Park West, close to Lincoln Center, the American Museum of Natural History and Broadway. It has 500 rooms with air-conditioning and televisions. There are shared bathrooms. There’s a restaurant, gift shop, tour desk, fitness facilities, a swimming pool, plus racquet ball and handball courts. The closest subway station is Columbus Circle.

Three-day Y’s Way to See New York packages include two nights’ accommodation, two continental breakfasts and entrance to the Empire State Building. It also includes entrance to the American Museum of Natural History and local walking tours conducted by the Y. The cost is $139 single or $101 per person for double accommodations.

The four-day version includes three nights’ accommodation, three breakfasts, one dinner, a Double Decker Tour, a 90-minute harbor cruise and entrance to the Museum of Natural History. The cost is $215 single, $159 per person, double.

The five-day package adds a 3 1/2-hour Circle Line boat cruise and a tour to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. The cost is $278 single, $204 per person, double.

Y’s Way packages include daily YMCA membership, so you can use the health and fitness facilities. For more details, contact the Y’s Way at 224 E. 47th St., New York, NY 10017; tel. (212) 308-2899, fax (212) 308-3161.

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The Montreal Youth Hostel has just introduced a new site on the Internet with hostel and city tourism information. You can take a virtual tour of the hostel through posted photos, or learn more about the sightseeing opportunities, such as pub crawls, skate and sled rentals, and local festivals. The Montreal Youth Hostel is located at 1030, Rue Mackay, Montreal H3G 2H1, tel. (514) 843-3317, fax (514) 934-3251. It offers dormitory accommodation (in rooms shared by four to 10) for $13 per night. Beds in a double room are $18.25 and a single room is $36.50. Members of Hostelling International can receive up to a 20% discount. You can find the new Web site (in French and English) at: https://www.hostellingmontreal.com.

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In response to the negative image created by some bankruptcies of recent student travel operators in North America, a new association has been formed. Called the Student and Youth Travel Assn. of North America (SYTA, pronounced SIGH-ta), it’s made up of tour operators, retail travel companies and other travel industry suppliers who focus on the student travel market.

SYTA has been created to serve as a clearinghouse for information on student and youth travel, including vacation and educational tour operators, study-abroad programs and retail travel services. The association defines a youth as under 26.

SYTA membership requires proof of financial stability and a commitment to consumer protection. All active tour operator members must participate in an established travel industry consumer protection plan for a minimum of $450,000 for use in reimbursing consumers in case of bankruptcy. They must also adhere to a code of ethics and supply industry references.

The 20 charter members include Contiki Holidays, Gerber Tours, USA Student Travel, Hostelling International and STA Travel.

For information, contact SYTA, 1730 I St., Suite 240, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Izon is a Toronto-based freelance writer. She can be reached at https://www.izon.com.