nyc: Do you always need a metro card? How do you get one? Any tips on reading the maps? How much do things cost? Can you basically get anywhere in NYC by subway? Any NYC subway info would be much appreciated.|||You always need a metrocard (contrary to the spell check here it's one word). They are mostly purchased now days from "MetroCard Vending Machines" large ATM style units. the minimum in the $2.25 base fare, which gets you a paper card good for one subway ride, or one bus ride with transfer (it can't get you from one mode to the other). a $4.50 purchase gets you the acutal plastic card. these are normaly vaild for about 1 1/2-2 years. the experation date is printed on the back, and is not tied to the date of purchase. there are two types of cards, Pay Per Ride (or PPR) and unlimted cards. a PPR card can be loaded with up to $80at a time, and holds up to $100. an unlited can be purchased for one day, 7 days, 14 days and 30 days. there is also a seperate 7 day plus Express bus, you you will prorbly not need it. an unlimted card is useless at the end of it's active period, which begins when the card is first used. PPR cards can be used by up to four people at a time. each swipe gets you one free transfer between the subway and the bus within 2 hours and 20 minutes. when transfering to the subway, one must swipe 4 times. when trasfering to the bus, the card will deduct all transfers at once. These cards are also vaild on the Roosevelt Island Tramway, The Port Authority Trans Hudson (the PATH Train) and the Airtrain to JFK airport. unlimted cards are programed to be used by one person and one person only. after a card is used, it is locked out for 18 miuntes. when reading the map, note the following 1.The colors of the lines are meaningless, other than showing which main line in manhattan the line uses. the proper names are the letter or numbers displayed on the front and sides of the trains. 2. Just becuase a train is on the local or express track doesn't mean it will stay there. too many people get on the N at times sqaure wanting 28th, 23rd, 8th, prince streets, City hall, Rector street and Whitehall street. The N does not make those stops. it switches to Express and stops at 34th, 14th and Canal before heading to Brooklyn. 3. trains can be rerouted at any time for any reason. 4. while timetables exist for the subway, they are more guidelines than anything else. trains tend to ccome when they come. keep your eyes to yourself, nothing bugs us daily subway users more then someone staring at us.|||Yes, you always need a metrocard, you can buy one at any station (there may be an exception but I haven't found it). It's easy to buy, you can't miss the machines, and they work like an ATM, so just follow the prompts on the screen. There's also machines that tell you how much you have left on the card. As long as you have a credit card, it's easy - they take cash too. Also, it's not like BART, as long as you're within the system you pay one price, no matter how far you go. You won't get charged until you go through the turnstile exit. My tip, take a map with you (http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm鈥?/a> it just makes it easier. I like the subway to get around the city, but if you have more than two people a cab may work out to be cheaper depending on how far you're going.|||A successful subway trip? As opposed to what? The subway is not that hard to use. There are maps everywhere - before you pay, on the tracks, in the subway cars. Most New Yorkers are more than glad to give directions. As to the metrocard, you can buy a one time paper ticket kind of card, but if you are going to ride more than once, you might as well buy a real metrocard (you'll have to use the machine either way.) It's not hard. The machine will give you directions. The most important thing to remember is the direction you are traveling in. If the names of the streets are numbers and they are getting bigger, you are going UPTOWN (more or less north.) If the the names of the street are numbers and they are getting smaller, you are going DOWNTOWN (more or less south.) If you are going to a street that has a real name (like Wall Street) you are probably going DOWNTOWN, but consult a map to be sure. There is a great website called Hopstop.com in which you can type a starting address and a destination address and they will give you VERY specific subway directions.|||hello I am from Chicago but ive been in NYC about 3 times. The subway experience there is ok. Yes you always need a metro card. You get one there at the subway , I believe is about $5 all day pass. Yes you can basically get anywhere in the NYC subway, just make sure which stops exactly you want to get to. Reading maps are easy.|||Follow the link below to an excellent "How To Ride The Subway" webpage from the MTA's own website...