What‘s Included

What To Expect

Reviews

• Very disappointed

  Sevana A,

  Jul 1, 2025

  - Viator

  1.00

  I bought 5 tickets, 3 for my children, one for my elderly mother, and one for myself for Wednesday June 25 in order to get a tour of the city and listen to the history of New York as we are driving past it as it was our first time in the city. However, we were unable to do this, let alone enjoy our experience due to multiple disappointments with your service. First of all, the driver was very incompetent. He was unable to keep up with traffic and wasn't able to drive confidently in the streets. A tour that was supposed to last 1 hour and 35 minutes as stated in your website, ended up taking over 2 hours. We drove excessively slow to the point where he was causing traffic for other busses. Second, the audio was two stops ahead. When we were driving by a certain point, the audio tour was talking about something completely unrelated which made it hard to not only follow the audio but also understand what I was looking as we were driving by. Third, we wanted to sit at the top however due to the hot weather my elderly mother decided to sit downstairs as she was very dehydrated but upon going downstairs we realized that the downstairs part of the bus not only has no air conditioning but is hotter that the top outside part of the bus. Only the driver had a small fan for himself. None of the customers could stay in the bottom part because it was like a sauna. I am requesting a full refund because I bought this ticket in order to be able to see the city however due to all of these issues, I didn't even end up using my tickets and ended up paying to use other services. This unacceptable and I am very disappointed in your service.

• Worst HOHO experience - Sweltering 90° with no AC and 2 small windows - Requested refund

  Jeff S,

  Jul 1, 2025

  - Viator

  1.00

  I have done many HOHO Bus Tours in several different cities, and this one is definitely a standout as the worst I have ever experienced. I am not one to usually pan any excursion, but will definitely try to help someone else here. We were a group of 4, and one of our party was on portable oxygen, so we wanted an easy way to see the main sites of lower Manhattan. We got off the midtown ferry from Staten Island, and made our way to the closest stop. It was a very sunny, 90° day, and we’re looking forward to being able to get on the bus to get out of the sun. When the first bus came through, it did t even acknowledge us as we were waving for it to stop - we were standing at the Big Bus sign (probably full, and I have a feeling was the one bus mentioned later in my review…). The second bus came in not too long, and they did stop, and we got on, but immediately felt the stagnant heat of the bus. Most people were on top, which was full, but with the sun, and one person unable to handle the stairs anyway, we had to stay downstairs. There was only two windows on the whole bus that opened, and there was only a slight breeze from them between traffic lights, and the seats by them were all taken, and one of them was in the back, so it didn’t help the rest of the bus. We went one stop and had to get off due to the heat. We asked the driver if we waited for the next bus, would it have AC, and he told us that of the 15 or so busses running the route, only one had full air, and another one only had air in the back of the bus. We then requested a refund from the group selling tickets at the stop, and they told us since we had bought the tickets online through Viator, we would have to request a refund through them. I called Viator, and the agent was unable to connect with Big Bus Tours, and said they have submitted a refund request, and I should receive an update in 3-5 business days… This may be very good tour of the area, but only on a day that you can comfortably sit on the top deck when it isn’t so sunny and hot, or in the bus when it is much cooler outside. Big Bus Tours needs service their fleet more that just keeping the buses rolling and taking people’s money.

• Best way to see the city!...

  Natasha R,

  Jul 1, 2025

  - Viator

  5.00

  Best way to see the city! Safe and easy to understand! I suggest the 48 hour option and download the app to know the status of the buses!

• Easy way to get around !

  Denise H,

  Jun 30, 2025

  - Viator

  5.00

  Found it to be an easy way to get around and not have to use the subway. Takes you to most of the tourist spots/

• Not a Pleasant Drive Around the City

  Tammy L,

  Jun 28, 2025

  - Viator

  2.00

  The number of buses and the number of people don’t match up which results in long lines to board and no rooftop seats. Overselling results in people having to sit inside the stifling hot bus or, if there are seats on the top, you and your family don’t get to sit together because the seats are sparsely located. There is no narration as the pre-recorded message you can listen to with earphones gives a lot of history, but little detail as to what you are actually looking at. I found the workers to be indifferent and rude. The app was useful and accurate which was a positive. I have ridden hop-on-hop-off buses all over the US and Europe and this was not like any of those.