While on the tour

On the tour

Time & Distance
All tours last approximately two hours. Our tours start ON TIME. We walk between one and two miles during these two hours. We maintain a moderate walking pace, stopping at various sites along the tour.

Why Reserve & Prepay if I Don’t Have To Do So?
We are resistant to using a “prepay or be turned away” policy. We know that our clients are split – some want to book in advance while others do not. Prepayment helps us determine whether or not we might need an additional guide on a public walk. We have always taken everyone who chooses to show up and join us. We also know that no one likes a tour in a really big group. We are often able to have an additional guide at a public tour, but that takes some advance planning. Booking in advance won’t get you special status or access – but it just might help make the experience for everyone more enjoyable.
Our refund policy is the most liberal in the business! Almost entirely refundable if canceling with 48 hours notice. Details on each tour description page.

Video/Audio Taping and Note Taking
Big Onion does not permit video or audio taping of any kind. We strongly discourage note taking. When taking still photographs please be considerate of others in group as well as those on the street you may be photographing.

Children
Children of all ages are welcome to join our tours. Some streets and sidewalks are narrow and may be difficult to navigate with a stroller. Some tours, for example, “Satan’s Seat”, Greenwich Village, and The “Official” Gangs of New York tours have some adult content. We do not charge for children younger than school-age on public tours. We do ask that if a youngster gets rambunctious or potentially disruptive on a tour that a parent/guardian step away from the group till settled down.

Dogs
Well behaved and leashed dogs are welcome on our walking tours. If someone does object, however, the dog owner will not be permitted to bring the dog on the tour. Dogs are not allowed in Green-Wood Cemetery.

Smoking
Although our tours are outdoors, we request that smokers step far enough away from our groups so no one in the group is affected by smoking. Smoking is now illegal in New York City Parks and on city owned property.

Tips
Gratuities are always appreciated, but never expected.

Cell Phones & Pagers
Please turn ringers and alerts to silent mode or turn them off so as not to disturb others on the tour.

Wheelchairs
Big Onion does not provide wheelchairs for tour-takers. Most of our tours are wheelchair accessible. Big Onion cannot guarantee that all curbs will have ADA compliant ramps. The Brooklyn Bridge & Heights tour has a flight of stairs. Central Park has stairs and a steep climb.

Bathrooms
Unfortunately, we do not stop for bathroom breaks during our tours. However, most of our tours do begin near public bathrooms or restaurants in which there are bathrooms.

Responsibility/Disclaimer Statement
“Tour Operator” and its affiliated entities and its employees, shareholders, officers, directors, successors, agents, and assigns, neither own nor operate any person or entity which is to, or does, provide goods or services for these trips or tours. Because “Tour Operator” does not maintain any control over the personnel, equipment, or operations of these suppliers, “Tour Operator” assumes no responsibility for and cannot be held liable for any personal injury, death, property damage, or other loss, accident, delay, inconvenience, or irregularity which may be occasioned by reason of (1) any wrongful, negligent, willful, or unauthorized acts or omissions on the part of any of the tour suppliers, or other employees or agents, (2) any defect in or failure of any vehicle, equipment, instrument owned, operated or otherwise by any of these suppliers, or (3) any wrongful, willful, or negligent act or omissions on any part of any other party not under the supervision or control of the Operator.