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Toll-Free Phone: 1 (800) 781-4040

Emergency Helpline: (800) 781-4040

Customer Service Request: Submit a customer service request via a form on their website .

Visit STA in New York City: 722 Broadway, New York, NY, USA 10003

Hours of operation: Mon-Sat: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Closed Sundays

Website: www.statravel.com

Overview of STA Travel

STA Travel is the world’s largest student travel organization helping students travel in over 90 countries. They offer real value and flexibility, as well as genuine advice and first-hand experience. They are dedicated to providing young people with products and services that make travel fun, affordable, and safe. Site features include flight booking, hotels, hostels, travel insurance, global rail as well land tour products. Information on activities and destinations. Special deals, both domestic and international. STA Travel has more than 200 stores around the world, helping more than 2 million students annually.

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STA Travel - good or bad? - New York City Forum

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STA Travel - good or bad?

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As we are both under 26 I have discovered Sta Travel offer discounted flights and seem to be offering BA ones at £297 which is £100 less than BA's own website. However never having heard of them I wondered if anyone else has booked flights with them and had any issues with regard to restrictions or selecting seating etc??

If your booking an economy ticket with BA they are nearly always non changable once you have bought them regardless of where you buy them. STA are ok but i would check that the fare of £297 is actually available on the dates you want. It could be that they are advertising £297 but that its for a different time of year or not available when you want to go

I know BA have a price match garantee so going to check that out but I expect they will find some get out clause on the fact that you have to be under 26 to get it so not available to everyone etc etc

Hi Robin22257

I agree that I think whomever I spoke to at BA was either lying or ill informed as even when I challenged his suggestion, that an increase in booking was why the prices had gone up, by asking how it is possible to applt that theory to every flight between Nov and April - he stuck to his story! Bad customer service if you ask me!

STA is a student travel agency and,depending on your age and status, may not be willing to book you. I once happened to walk by their NY office and saw a very enticing fare advertised in the window and went in to inquire about it.. They told me to forget about it since I was way too old and not a student.

Hi thanks, I'm 24 so comes under their under 26 discount scheme. Just spoke with them and they seemed very helpful - although to get the low fare you can only fly certain times - but for a hundered pound saving I'm willing to compromise!

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Sta Travel » Travel Agencies

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STA is the world’s largest student travel agency specializing in cheap discount travel airfares.

Do you know that…

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STA Travel 20 E. University Drive, Suite 201 Tempe, AZ 85281

Phone: 212-473-6100

Email: [email protected]

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Benefits of Using STA Travel:

• World’s Largest Student and Youth Travel Company
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New York Fly & Hotel

Flug mit Singapore Airlines + 1 Woche Hotel im DZ

ab € 830

In den Sozialen Medien teilen

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Entdecke das Land der unbegrenzten Möglichkeiten – konkret, die Stadt, die niemals schläft! Ja, richtig gelesen: Hol dir jetzt deinen unschlagbaren Deal für Flüge nach New York mit Singapore Airlines und eine Woche Hotel im Doppelzimmer, im Zeitraum 28.12. - 30.06.24.

Das ist inklusive:

• Flüge ab/bis Frankfurt nach/von New York mit Singapore Airlines
• 1 Woche Unterkunft im 3-Sterne-Hotel im DZ inkl. Frühstück

Die vielfach ausgezeichnete Premium-Airline Singapore Airlines fliegt zweimal täglich von Frankfurt und täglich von München nach Singapur und vor dort weiter zu vielen faszinierenden Zielen in Asien, Australien und Neuseeland. Diese Faszination lässt sich bereits in unseren sorgfältig ausgewählten Reiseangeboten erahnen. Unser Partner Singapore Airlines wurde in 2023 bei den renommierten Skytrax World Airline Awards erneut zur weltweit besten Fluggesellschaft gewählt und begeistert Reisende mit einem Weltklasse-Service. Die Flugbegleiterinnen in Ihrem zeitlos eleganten Sarong Kebaya verkörpern die herzliche Gastfreundschaft Asiens und machen jeden Flug zu einem besonderen Reiseerlebnis. Willkommen an Bord! Ready for takeoff?

Willkommen im Opera House Hotel in New York City! In einem historischen Gebäude in der Bronx, nur 160 m von der U-Bahn entfernt, erwartet dich täglich ein kontinentales Frühstück. Die Zimmer bieten modernen Komfort mit Flachbild-TV, Mikrowelle und ihome-System. Der Bahnhof ist gleich um die Ecke, und beliebte Orte wie das Yankee Stadium und der Times Square sind in kurzer Entfernung. Starte hier dein New York-Abenteuer!

Angebotsbedingungen

Alle Preise verstehen sich pro Person bei 2 gemeinsam reisenden Personen auf Basis eines Doppelzimmers. Vorbehaltlich Verfügbarkeit. Preisbeispiel für den Reisezeitraum 28.12.2023 - 30.06.2024

Es gelten besondere Stornobedingungen - sprich uns einfach darauf an. Flüge sind umbuchbar - Gebühren können anfallen.

Veranstalter der Reise ist Explorer World of Travel GmbH, Unternehmenssitz: Hüttenstraße 17, 40215 Düsseldorf. Es gelten die AGB des Veranstalters.

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'We knew they were experts': STA Travel clients and staff look back

As company falls victim to Covid-19, travellers reflect on joy of experienced people helping to book holidays

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News that STA Travel has become the latest to fall victim to the Covid-19 pandemic has prompted an outpouring of sadness and nostalgia from former customers and staff.

Known for its enthusiastic staff and its budget round-the-world plane tickets, generations of students would flock to STA Travel stores to book gap years and summer breaks through the company – or simply to gaze longingly at the adventures it promised.

Its bright yellow and blue signage has been a familiar sight on high streets and university campuses for decades, but now after it confirmed it had ceased trading on Friday, 54 UK stores look set to close their doors, putting 500 jobs at risk.

Lowri Lloyd Owen from near Aberystwyth worked for the company for 10 years, first as a travel expert and then as a store manager. She said she felt “extremely saddened” when she heard the news. The job enabled her to move to Australia, where she lived for eight years and started her family.

“The 10 years I spent working for this company taught me so much, took me to places far and wide and I met lifelong friends along the way, many of whom are still employees and will be facing very difficult times ahead,” she said. “Selling travel is the most awesome thing you can sell someone.”

She was not surprised by the reaction to the news. “Whether you were an STA customer or an employee, it was a company that supported young people often at the start of their travels or career and that stays with you,” she said.

Tim Walker, who runs Beaumont Music and lives in West Sussex, was one of the company’s loyal customers when he was a student in the early 2000s. He used the travel agent from the age of 18 to 22 to book his gap-year adventure as well as summer trips while at university.

“I remember booking flights to Mexico and the staff member calling over a colleague who had just returned from their own trip. We were excited anyway but as this guy launched himself over the desk towards us, his enthusiasm was ridiculously infectious and all they wanted to do was to make sure we had a fantastic time.”

UK retail and hospitality job cuts on back of Covid-19 crisis

Marston's - 2,150 jobs 15 October: Marston's  - the brewer which owns nearly 1,400 pubs, restaurants, cocktail bars and hotels across the UK - said it would cut 2,150 jobs due to fresh Covid restrictions. The company has more than 14,000 employees. 

Whitbread - 6,000 jobs 22 September: Whitbread, which owns the Premier Inn, Beefeater and Brewers Fayre chains, said it would cut 6,000 jobs at its hotels and restaurants, almost one in five of its workforce

Pizza Express – 1,100 jobs 7 September: The restaurant chain confirms the closure of 73 restaurants as part of a rescue restructure deal.

Costa Coffee – 1,650 jobs 3 September: The company, which was bought by Coca-Cola two years ago, is cutting up to 1,650 jobs in its cafes, more than one in 10 of its workforce. The assistant store manager role will go across all shops.

Pret a Manger – 2,890 jobs 27 August: The majority of the cuts are focused on the sandwich chain's shop workers, but 90 roles will be lost in its support centre teams. The cuts include the 1,000 job losses announced on 6 July.

Marks & Spencer – 7,000 jobs 18 August: Food, clothing and homewares retailer cuts jobs in central support centre, regional management and stores.

M&Co – 400 jobs 5 August: M&Co, the Renfrewshire-based clothing retailer, formerly known as Mackays, will close 47 of 215 stores.

WH Smith – 1,500 jobs 5 August: The chain, which sells products ranging from sandwiches to stationery, will cut jobs mainly in UK railway stations and airports. 

Dixons Carphone – 800 jobs 4 August: Electronics retailer Dixons Carphone is cutting 800 managers in its stores as it continues to reduce costs.

DW Sports – 1,700 jobs at risk 3 August: DW Sports fell into administration, closing its retail website immediately and risking the closure of its 150 gyms and shops.

Marks & Spencer – 950 jobs 20 July: The high street stalwart cuts management jobs in stores as well as head office roles related to property and store operations.

Ted Baker – 500 jobs 19 July: About 200 roles to go at the fashion retailer’s London headquarters, the Ugly Brown Building, and the remainder at stores.

Azzurri – 1,200 jobs 17 July: The owner of the Ask Italian and Zizzi pizza chains closes 75 restaurants and makes its Pod lunch business delivery only

Burberry – 500 jobs worldwide 15 July: Total includes 150 posts in UK head offices as luxury brand tries to slash costs by £55m after a slump in sales during the pandemic.

Boots – 4,000 jobs 9 July: Boots is  cutting 4,000 jobs  – or 7% of its workforce – by closing 48 opticians outlets and reducing staff at its head office in Nottingham as well as some management and customer service roles in stores.

John Lewis – 1,300 jobs 9 July: John Lewis announced that it is planning to  permanently close eight of its 50 stores, including full department stores in Birmingham and Watford, with the likely loss of 1,300 jobs.

Celtic Manor – 450 jobs 9 July: Bosses at the Celtic Collection in Newport, which staged golf's Ryder Cup in 2010 and the 2014 Nato Conference, said 450 of its 995 workers will lose their jobs.

Pret a Manger – 1,000 jobs 6 July: Pret a Manger is to  permanently close 30 branches and could cut at least 1,000 jobs after suffering “significant operating losses” as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown

Casual Dining Group – 1,900 jobs 2 July: The owner of the Bella Italia, Café Rouge and Las Iguanas restaurant chains  collapsed into administration , with the immediate loss of 1,900 jobs. The company said multiple offers were on the table for parts of the business but buyers did not want to acquire all the existing sites and 91 of its 250 outlets would remain permanently closed.

Arcadia – 500 jobs 1 July: Arcadia, Sir Philip Green’s troubled fashion group – which owns Topshop, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins, Burton, Evans and Wallis – said in July 500 head office jobs out of 2,500 would go in the coming weeks.

SSP Group – 5,000 jobs 1 July: The owner of Upper Crust and Caffè Ritazza is to axe 5,000 jobs , about half of its workforce, with cuts at its head office and across its UK operations after the pandemic stalled domestic and international travel.

Harrods – 700 jobs 1 July: The department store group is  cutting one in seven of its 4,800 employees because of the “ongoing impacts” of the pandemic.

Harveys – 240 jobs 30 June: Administrators made  240 redundancies at the furniture chain Harveys, with more than 1,300 jobs at risk if a buyer cannot be found.

TM Lewin – 600 jobs 30 June: Shirtmaker TM Lewin  closed all 66 of its outlets permanently, with the loss of about 600 jobs.

Monsoon Accessorize – 545 jobs 11 June: The fashion brands were  bought out of administration by their founder, Peter Simon, in June, in a deal in which 35 stores closed permanently and 545 jobs were lost.

Mulberry – 470 jobs 8 June: The luxury fashion and accessories brand is to cut 25% of its global workforce and has started a consultation with the 470 staff at risk.

The Restaurant Group – 3,000 jobs 3 June: The owner of dining chains such as Wagamama and Frankie & Benny’s has closed most branches of Chiquito and all 11 of its Food & Fuel pubs, with another 120 restaurants to close permanently. Total job losses could reach 3,000.

Clarks – 900 jobs 21 May: Clarks plans to  cut 900 office jobs worldwide as it grapples with the growth of online shoe shopping as well as the pandemic.

Oasis and Warehouse – 1,800 jobs 30 April: The fashion brands were bought out of administration by the restructuring firm Hilco in April, with  all of their stores permanently closed and 1,800 jobs lost.

Cath Kidston – 900 jobs 21 April: More than 900 jobs were cut immediately at the retro retail label Cath Kidston after the company said it was permanently closing all 60 of its UK stores.

Debenhams – 4,000 jobs 9 April: At least 4,000 jobs will be lost at Debenhams in its head office and closed stores after its collapse into administration in April, for the second time in a year.

Laura Ashley – 2,700 jobs 17 March: Laura Ashley collapsed into administration , with 2,700 job losses, and said rescue talks had been thwarted by the pandemic.

Walker says the demise of STA Travel was a “real loss” to future students wanting to go on their first big trips abroad as they won’t be able to benefit from STA’s experienced staff.

Ronke Adewa-Faboro, a wedding planner from Essex, was an international student studying at De Montfort University in Leicester in the 90s when she went to STA Travel to book her dream holiday. “I booked to spend Christmas in New York. I had always wanted to do it and I asked a couple of friends to go but they didn’t want to. So I was a little discouraged, but decided to go anyway.”

STA Travel made her feel more comfortable about going on her own. They produced flyers about solo travel for women, which Adewa-Faboro studied before going. “I was a solo traveller, aged 19, and my family in Nigeria thought I was crazy. But I thought I only live once so I just decided to do it. STA made me feel really safe about it. I had six magical days there.

“The team were amazing in making a foreign student from Nigeria’s dream come true. Money was tight so they booked me into two separate hostels to save me money. They were brilliant.”

It wasn’t just students booking gap years and post-university travels. STA Travel, founded by two Australian backpackers in Melbourne in 1979, originally stood for Student Travel Australia, but it branched out to a wider customer base and rebranded itself to become Start the Adventure.

Sophie Butler and her husband, Nick, booked their honeymoon with STA Travel in 2012 and have used them for other holidays since, including a trip to New York. “We chose them [for the honeymoon] because we were going to Australia so knew they would be experts. Also, for me, I never did the whole gap-year thing so it was my chance to travel as much as possible.

“I remember going to their store in Covent Garden and a lovely lady – Annie, I think – helped us plan out the whole trip.”

Butler, who runs the Sugar Tea Room in north London , said: “We were both sad to hear about STA travel closing because it wasn’t just for students, they had the best prices for long-haul travel.”

Afsaneh Parvizi-Wayne, the founder of the period product brand Freda, who lives in London, has fond memories of using STA Travel to go to the Gambia, Senegal and Guinea Bissau when she was a student more than 30 years ago.

She said: “We used to have an STA in the University of London Union in the 80s when we still had holiday brochures and you could discuss your trip in person with someone who’d probably done that trip already. It wasn’t just the student discount but also the student perspective and tips in a non-internet era. I’m so sad to see it go.”

Another former customer, Ellie Dix, a board game designer from Hertfordshire, has been reminiscing about Camp America, which she booked through STA Travel in the 90s.

“I was at Birmingham University from 1994 to 1997 and we had an STA Travel on campus. I remember going and just gazing at the options as a sort of escapism from student life. I did Camp America for two years running in 1996 and 1997 and STA dealt with the travel.

“I don’t remember actually thinking there was any other way to travel as a student other than with STA. It was STA or nothing.”

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A Complete Guide to NYC's Penn Station

How to get around, where to eat, and what to see in NYC's Penn Station

francois-roux/Getty Images

Penn Station- ATM

Pennsylvania Station (more commonly known as Penn Station) is the busiest rail hub in North America; half a million passengers journey through it each day. It serves three passenger railroad lines: Amtrak, New Jersey Transit, and the Long Island Railroad. The station also connects to  the New York City subway system , Penn Plaza, and Madison Square Garden, and is just a short walk from Herald Square in midtown Manhattan. There are a variety of food options in the station, most of which are grab and go style.

History and Future of Penn Station

The original Penn Station — heralded as a "pink marble architectural masterpiece" — was built in 1905, opened to the public in 1910 and designed by the legendary McKim, Meade, and White in the Beaux Arts style. For more than 50 years, New York's Penn Station was one of the country's busiest passenger train hubs, but train travel declined dramatically with the advent of the jet engine.

As a result, the under-utilized Penn Station was demolished in the 1960s to make way for  Madison Square Garden  and the new, smaller Penn Station. The destruction of this New York architectural landmark caused outrage and is said to be the main catalyst for many of New York's current landmark preservation statutes.

In 2018, construction began on a brand-new train station in the magnificent Farley Post Office Building (a landmark also designed by McKim, Meade, and White). According to current plans, the state-of-the-art train station — to be dubbed  Moynihan Station  after long-time New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan — will move into the post office's enormous old mail-sorting room once restoration is complete in 2021.

Getting There

The main entrance to Penn Station is located on 7th Avenue between 31st and 33rd streets, but there are also entrances via subway stations on 34th Street and 7th Avenue and on 34th Street and 8th Avenue. Penn Station is always open.

Penn Station is easily accessible by subway. The 1, 2 and 3 trains will take you directly to the station on the 34th Street stop. The N, Q, R, B, D, F and M trains drop passengers off one avenue east on 34th Street and 6th Avenue, right next to the Macy's. The A, C, and E trains will drop you off one avenue west on 34th street and 8th avenue, with underground access to Penn Station. The 7 train stops at 34th Street in Hudson Yards, which requires a bit of a walk to get to Penn Station. The M34 Bus Service is the only MTA city bus that connects directly to Penn Station.

All taxis and car ride services know how to get to Penn Station. Make sure to tell your driver exactly which service you are using (ex. Amtrak) so they can drop you off at the closest entrance. The station is big, and this will save you a lot of time. New York City also has an Accessible Dispatch Program which is designed to make hailing accessible taxis easier for people with disabilities. You can book online , through their app (available on iTunes and Google Play ), or call the dispatch center at (646) 599-9999. There is no additional charge for using the Accessible Dispatch Program. You will only pay the cost of the metered fare.

On the upper concourse level, travelers can find the New Jersey Transit and Amtrak tracks, ticket booths, and a few shops.

The lower concourse level houses the Long Island Rail Road tracks and ticket stations as well as the 1, 2, 3, A, C, and E subway lines.

Fast food restaurants, delis, and concession stands line the central corridor of the lower level if you’re looking to snag your morning  bagel  or cup of coffee. See more detailed information on each concourse below.

Of all the stations Amtrak uses, New York's Penn Station is the busiest. Over 10 million customers board an Amtrak station from this location every year. Popular destinations include Philadelphia , Washington D.C ., and Boston but you can get as far as Chicago.

To get to the Amtrak station inside Penn Station enter at 8th Avenue between West 31st and West 33rd streets. Easily readable signs will lead you to the Amtrak Hall. There is a 24-hour waiting room where those with a ticket can relax while waiting for their train. There is free Wi-Fi in the room but no food or drink. Amtrak recommends getting to the station at least 45 minutes before your train departs.

There is also a ticket counter and numerous self-service kiosks where you can buy a ticket, retrieve a ticket you bought online, and more. They are all located in a central location, so you can't miss them. An easy way to navigate the space is to download Amtrak's free FindYourWay app available in the Apple app store and Google Play Store. Amtrak also has a Red Cap service. Red Cap agents will be able to assist you with your baggage or help guide you to your train. They also operate any ramps or lifts needed to safely board the trains and can escort you to your station if you have a disability or are older. The service is free but you're welcome to tip if you'd like and are able. Remember to only accept assistance from official Red Cap agents. You can easily identify them by their red shirts and red caps.

Amtrak is currently building a new hall to better serve its passengers. There will be a sunlit atrium (a big improvement from the poorly lit, musky space); a new ticketing and bagging area; a lounge; a reserved customer waiting room; and more retail and food shops. It is expected to be completed by late 2020.

Long Island Railroad

The Long Island Railroad (called LIRR by locals) is a commuter rail system that goes through the southwestern part of New York State. It goes from Manhattan to the eastern tip of Suffolk County on Long Island. Many people use it to get to the Hamptons as well as Jamaica Station where you can access John F. Kennedy Airport via the AirTrain.

There is no specific LIRR waiting room, but the LIRR ticket counter, kiosks, and platforms are located close to the Seventh Avenue entrance of the station in between 32nd and 34th Streets. There are multiple ticket counters and self-service stations where you can buy your ticket, but they can get very crowded, especially on Fridays and during the summer months or holidays. It's advisable to buy your ticket in advance on the LIRR website .

LIRR doesn't announce their platforms in advance, so sometimes there can be a rush to get on a train once the platform is announced. Stay calm and know that there are ample seats for everyone.

New Jersey Transit

New Jersey Transit (known as NJ Transit) is a public transportation line that serves the state of New Jersey as well as parts of New York State and Pennsylvania. It makes local stops, and many New Yorkers use it to travel to Newark Airport or Philadelphia.

To access NJTransit trains enter Penn Station at Seventh Avenue and 31st Street or Seventh Avenue and 32nd Street. Signs will direct you to NJTransit ticketing office as well as platforms. There is no waiting room for these trains, and the waiting area can get quite crowded and hectic. Its advisable to buy your ticket ahead of time on the website and then find a nice spot in a cafe to wait. Alternatively there are ticket offices and vending machines located throughout the concourse.

Madison Square Garden Access

Madison Square Garden is one of New York City's premier concerts and events venue. You can see everything from famous musicians to live hockey there. It's located right above Penn Station, and you can get to the garden without even going outside.

Take the 1, 2, 3, A, C or E trains (all accessible for those with disabilities) to 34th Street Penn Station and follow the signs to get the Madison Square Garden underground. If you are in Penn Station simply follow the signs to these subway stations and then follow the signs to Madison Square Garden.

Accessibility

Metropolitan Transportation Authority, or MTA, has a comprehensive list of the accessible stations across all public transit systems in the New York City area. Search the web page for the name of the transit agency you are interested in (ex: "Long Island Railroad") to locate the information you need quickly. Additionally, travelers can check MTA's elevator and escalator status page to plan around any outages. This tool can be especially helpful for those who use mobility aids and require elevators to access their station.

Reduced-Fare MetroCards are available for people with disabilities and those age 65 and older. For wheelchair users or people with service animals a Reduced-Fare AutoGate MetroCard might be more appropriate. This card permits automatic entry and exit through designated gates, and also works on all other turnstiles. You can submit a Reduced-Fare MetroCard application by mail or in person.

Where to Eat and Drink

Hungry while you're waiting for your train? Penn Station hasn't always been known for its food options, but now there are some fun choices.

• One of Penn Station's newest and best additions is The Pennsy NYC, a high-class food hall located on top of the station. Vendors serve craft tacos, pizzas, salads, sliders, even sushi. There is a delicious cocktail and wine bar to make your travel day even more enjoyable.
• For one of the best burgers in the city look no further than Shake Shack. It's located in the lower concourse at Penn Station. If you're in a hurry you can even download the Shake Shack app and order ahead of time. Don't leave without getting a milkshake and fries to go.
• If you're in the mood for sushi Wasabi Sushi & Bento prepares high quality snacks to go. It's located in the plaza concourse level and is open from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Monday to Friday, open from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m. on Saturday and open from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. on Sunday. Sushi for breakfast anyone?
• For a fresh sandwich, head to Pret A Manger. It's located next to the LIRR concourse. It has salads and snack bowls along with sandwiches.

Penn Station Tips & Facts

• The most important tip we can give is: buy your ticket ahead of time online. It will save you a lot of time and hassle. Lines can get very long at this station, so avoid them where you can.
• Make sure to use the right entrance to get to your train. It will save you a lot time and keep you from walking in circles around the station.
• Find a seat in a cafés or restaurants. They are much more comfortable than waiting in the hallway or concourses (there is limited public seating and the only other option is the floor.)
• Interesting Fact: Architect Louis Kahn passed away in one of the restrooms at Penn Station in 1974.
• Fun Fact: More people pass through Penn Station a day than all three New York City airports combined.
• History lovers will be glad to know that parts of the original Penn Station still remain from statues to small tiles to a cast-iron waiting room partition. There are guided tours available to show you all the original pieces.

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Thanks so much for ur response.

Thank you for replying.I did.they don't seem too good.The only adv is I paid a deposit and will pay the full amount for the tickets 30 days before departure.is this legit or is STA not to be trusted.regards

are you talking about STA travel through universities? They're popular with college kids, and are normally fine, but its very easy to plan your trips with the help of many online resources....I wouldn't forfeit any type of deposit, but you can do the rest on your own...

Many thanks.much appreciated!

This post was determined to be inappropriate by the Tripadvisor community and has been removed.

Duplicate posts just get all your posts removed as spam.

If she'd booked directly with the airline , it would have been much simpler.

They’re not always the cheapest either. I done

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Solar eclipse path across New York and how long will it last: Explore these interactive maps

The first total  eclipse over New York in 99 years  will be visible April 8. It's a sight not to be missed. Should you skip this one, the next total solar eclipse that can be seen in the United States will be in 2044 (visible in North Dakota and Montana) and 2045 (crossing from California to Florida.)

In addition to New York, the eclipse will travel through 11 other states. Two others (Tennessee and Michigan) will see small parts of it.

The shadow will be traveling at an average of about 2,300 miles per hour across New York state and will only take about 10 minutes, from one side of state to the other, said Dan Schneiderman, of Rochester Museum & Science Center.

Across North America, notable cities in the path of totality include Mazatlán and Torreón, Mexico; San Antonio, Austin and Dallas, Texas; Little Rock, Arkansas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Cleveland, Ohio; Buffalo and Rochester, New York; Burlington, Vermont; and most of Montreal, Canada.

Follow the path of totality for solar eclipse 2024

What time will eclipse be on april 8, 2024, in westchester and new york city.

The Hudson Valley will not be in the path of totality but will see between 88 and 99 percent coverage. Starting at 2:11 p.m. April 8 in Westchester County, the moon will begin to appear to move in front of the sun. Maximum coverage begins at 3:25 p.m. By 4:36 p.m. the moon will have moved past the sun returning the light to normal.

2024 total solar eclipse arrival times in US

What happens during total solar eclipse.

The moon will line up perfectly between the Earth and the sun, blotting out the sunlight. It will take just a couple hours for the moon's shadow to slice a diagonal line from the southwest to the northeast across North America, briefly plunging communities along the track into darkness.

Among the cities smack dab in the action: Dallas; Little Rock, Arkansas; Indianapolis, Cleveland, Ohio; Rochester, Buffalo, New York; and Montreal — making for the continent’s biggest eclipse crowd.

But, practically everyone on the continent can catch at least a partial eclipse. The farther from the path of totality, the smaller the moon’s bite will be out of the sun.

How to safely view the eclipse

Do not look at the sun directly during the eclipse. Sunglasses will not protect your eyes, only use International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers  from a trusted source .

The American Astronomical Society states on its website:

• Always inspect your solar filter before use; if scratched, punctured, torn, or otherwise damaged, discard it. Read and follow any instructions printed on or packaged with the filter.
• Always supervise children using solar filters.
• If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on. Put your eclipse glasses on over them, or hold your handheld viewer in front of them.
• Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright Sun. After looking at the Sun, turn away and remove your filter — do  not  remove it while looking at the Sun.
• Do  not  look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device.
• Similarly, do not look at the Sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewer in front of your eyes — the concentrated solar rays could damage the filter and enter your eyes, causing serious injury.
• Seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device; note that solar filters must be attached to the  front  of any telescope, binoculars, camera lens, or other optics.

Specific to the April eclipse:

• If you are inside the path of totality, remove your solar filter  only  when the Moon completely covers the Sun’s bright face and it suddenly gets quite dark. Experience totality, then, as soon as the bright Sun begins to reappear ,  replace your solar viewer to look at the remaining partial phases. Note that this applies only to viewing without optical aid (other than ordinary eyeglasses). Different rules apply when viewing or imaging the Sun through camera lenses, binoculars, or telescopes; consult an expert astronomer before using a solar filter with any type of magnifying optics.
• Outside the path of totality, and throughout a partial solar eclipse, there is no time when it is safe to look directly at the Sun without using a special-purpose solar filter that complies with the transmittance requirements of the  ISO 12312-2 international standard .

One can also indirectly view the eclipse through a pinhole projector, where one views a projected image through a small opening made in an index card or a piece of cardboard paper. Need to know how to make one? The  Jet Propulsion Laboratory  has instructions.

Hartriono B. Sastrowa r doyo contributed to this report

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A Retro Look At Underground Travel Through The Years

Posted: November 24, 2023 | Last updated: November 24, 2023

Going underground

London's first underground trains

Preliminary designs for a subway system in New York City

An early shot of London's Trafalgar Square

A metro station in Budapest

Boston's Park Street station

Construction of City Hall subway station in New York

Flash forward to the early 1900s and work on New York City's subway was well under way. City Hall, pictured here under construction, was part of the very first line, which ran 9.1 miles from here to 145th Street in Harlem.

The first passengers on New York City's subway

New York City subway tunnels

Women's carriage on New York City's subway

Women-only carriages were debuted on the Uptown Hudson Tubes in 1909. The last car on each train was reserved for female passengers and became nicknamed the "suffragette car." One such car is snapped here – notice the multiple "women-only" signs and the impressive Edwardian-era headgear.

A London Underground advert

A District Line carriage on the London Underground

A London Underground ticket hall

A ticket booth along the New York City subway

Tottenham Court Road station in London

Inside 1920s Tottenham Court Road station

Escalators were a novelty in the early 20th century. The first escalator was introduced to the London Underground at Earl's Court station in 1911. Commuters are pictured here in the mid-1920s riding down an escalator at London's Tottenham Court Road station. You can spot charming vintage ads lining the wall next to them.

Passengers relax at London's Waterloo station

Ticket stations on the London Underground

An early Moscow Metro map

A U-Bahn station in Berlin

Outside a U-Bahn station in Berlin

There's something warm and inviting about this night-time scene in Berlin, with Französische Straße U-Bahn station shining like a beacon at the center. The glittering hotel signs and corner cafés add to the ambiance. The station pictured is shuttered today.

Passengers on the Buenos Aires Underground

An Eighth Avenue subway car in New York

A man at a Chicago "L" station

Early Chicago subway passengers

Commuters at a metro station in Paris

Today, the Paris Métro, which opened right at the turn of the century, is renowned for its striking Art Nouveau-style subway entrances and its perpetual buzz – it's tipped as one of the busiest subway systems in the world. It's even bustling in this circa-1940 photograph. The shot shows the Place d'Italie metro station heaving with commuters.

Turnstiles at a Toronto subway station

Passengers read papers on a Glasgow metro car

Crowds at Komsomolskaya metro station in Moscow

A subway station in Osaka, Japan

Japan's first subway system opened in Tokyo in 1927, and Osaka soon followed suit in 1933. This photo dating from 1956 shows thronging crowds as far as the eye can see at an Osaka station.

On the subway in 1960s Tokyo

Passengers on the Moscow Metro

The NYC Transit Authority inspect new subway cars

The oldest cars still in operation on the New York City Subway are the R32 'Brightliners,' which were introduced in 1964. This photograph shows New York City Transit Authority officials checking out the new cars at the Budd Company Railway Division plant in Philadelphia, prior to their launch.

A subway station in Washington DC

The USA's capital was surprisingly late in establishing a subway system, when compared with other major cities like NYC and Chicago. Ground was broken for Washington DC's metro in 1969, with the first line opening in 1976 (the Red Line from Farragut North to Rhode Island Avenue). Early commuters wait on a metro platform in this photo from the same year.

Now read on for the world's most beautiful subway and metro stations

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Billy Joel talks 100th MSG show, getting to 'hang out' with Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran

With his first new song in 17 years, a performance at the Grammy Awards and his last Madison Square Garden residency show approaching in July, Billy Joel has been unusually ubiquitous of late.

Ask him how he’s feeling after this thrust back into the spotlight and he laughs.

“A little overwhelmed. I’m not used to the whole megillah that comes with releasing a new record,” Joel says.

He’s talking about “ Turn the Lights Back On ,” the single released in January that was his first to hit the Billboard Hot 100 since 1997.

Along with those accomplishments, he’s winding down his record-setting run at Madison Square Garden , which began in January 2014 and will conclude July 25.

Even though Joel has played the storied New York arena close to 150 times in his six-decade career, his March 28 concert marked the 100 th show of his residency , a milestone commemorated onstage with pals Jerry Seinfeld and Sting.

That whole megillah is now known as "Billy Joel: The 100th – Live at Madison Square Garden," a two-hour event that will air at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) April 14 on CBS.

But even without a monthly appearance at The Garden, Joel will still continue to trot around the country, filling sold-out stadiums with his sometimes-acidic, sometimes-introspective, always-vivid anthems such as “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant,” “Pressure,” “Uptown Girl,” “My Life” and the immortal “Piano Man.”

Joel – laid back, self-deprecating and quick-witted – chatted with USA TODAY about singing with Sting , making mistakes and why he actually likes his new song.

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Question: How have you felt these past few months with everything swirling around you?

Billy Joel: I forgot how much work it is. I used to do this on a regular basis: You go on the road, go back home and write, record the songs, then make the video, promote it, yadda, yadda, yadda. I hadn’t done it in so long. It’s head spinning and different from what I remember.

How was your Grammys experience? ( Joel performed “Turn the Lights Back On” and “You May Be Right” to close out the awards broadcast.)

That was a unique experience. I wasn’t a nominee, I was just there to play my song and there was a whole generation of musicians I wanted to meet.

Ed Sheeran , Taylor Swift , Olivia Rodrigo – a bunch of people I respect. I met them under completely different auspices. I just wanted to hang out.

You filmed the concert for the CBS special at the end of March. Did show 100 feel any different than the other 99?

Well, yeah because there were a bunch of cameras on stage! I’ve been playing (Madison Square Garden) since the ‘70s. The 100 just happened to be a round number and happened to coincide with a Garden show I was already doing.

What’s your history with Jerry Seinfeld, who was there for the banner-raising of your historic night?

I wasn’t aware he was going to be there until the last minute. They said, we’ll have a banner-raising thing and Jerry is gonna do it. I said, "Wow, great." He bought my old house in the Hamptons in 2000. We made a deal, no brokers, just us. He said, “How much?” and I said a number and he said, “OK.” It was really serendipitous. He’s a good guy, a fellow Long Islander. But also, Sting, he bought my apartment in New York City.

I sense a theme here.

I know. All of my real estate clients were at the show. It’s like Joel Realty.

You’re doing some stadium dates with Sting, but you also did a lot with Stevie Nicks last year and you have some with Rod Stewart this year, so what made Sting the right person to be part of this show?

I’ve known him quite a while, since he was in The Police. We became friends right away and I always admired his musicianship. We respect each other as musicians. It’s very easy for me to work with him. It doesn’t require a long rehearsal process. I hate rehearsal. I’m OK with making a mistake. A lot of the fun of it is in the spontaneity of the recovery. He and I have great bands, and if you’re working with good musicians it makes life so much easier. I’ve written songs with Sting in mind, like “Big Man on Mulberry Street,” which we do in this show.

You rarely play that song live.

It’s such a high key, but Sting has this wonderful tenor that he’s been able to maintain.

Probably from all of his yoga.

Or from that tantric stuff . He can hit those notes and nail them because it’s jazz. It was a lot of fun to do.

You also play (The Police hit) “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic” with him in this show and you came out for “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around" while on tour with Stevie. What do you enjoy about those duets?

I always enjoy mixing it up. God knows how many times I’ve done Billy Joel songs. That’s why I loved touring with Elton. I could play a lot of Elton John songs . Since we’ve been at The Garden, all kinds of people dropped in – Miley Cyrus , Paul Simon , John Fogerty , Bruce Springsteen , Olivia Rodrigo , it goes on and on. And the band gets to have fun.

More: 'Eternal symphony of rock': KISS sells catalog to Swedish company for $300 million: Reports

Let’s talk about “Turn the Lights Back On,” specifically the video. What did you think when you were first approached with, hey, let’s use artificial intelligence to morph you into ‘70s-era Billy and then the ‘80s and ‘90s?

I was open to it . I’m not a big fan of doing videos. I don’t like them. I didn’t sign on as an actor – I’m a piano player. I’m not comfortable in front of the camera. When I’m singing, I think I look like Cary Grant and then when I see (the video) I go, oh, it’s me. (Song co-writer) Freddy Wexler had the idea, and I thought, I don’t have to be an actor, this is great.

What did you think of the final result?

I liked it. I said, "Hey, I remember that guy!" I don’t know how they do it technically, but it was fascinating. It was sort of an out of body experience, like wow, that was cool.

Has it been weird being back on the charts almost 50 years after you first did so with “Piano Man”?

It’s a totally different world. I don’t how the charts work. There’s the streaming, the lite rock, the AC, AOL, AOR, rock, urban, hits, I don’t know what it is anymore and I don’t keep up with it. But I didn’t hate the song. Back in the day I’d record a song and come back into the control room and I hear my voice. I never liked my voice and wanted to sound like someone other than me. I’ve found out that’s how a lot of recording artists think. Everyone is trying to copy Ray Charles or Mick Jagger. But my first reaction to hearing the song was, “I don’t hate it” because my normal go-to is, “Jeez, it’s me.” Now when I sing (1974's) “The Entertainer” (with the lyrics) “I won’t be here in another year if I don’t stay on the charts” and “You heard my latest record, it’s been on the radio.” Normally, I shake my head “no” when I sing those lines. Not any more.

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Live updates, tiktoks barred at this popular barcelona subway station — here’s why.

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No TikToks allowed!

Recording TikTok videos has been banned at the Sagrada Familia metro station in Barcelona.

“POV: they put a sign saying no filming with a man telling you off for doing it, so you can’t do the viral TikTok escalator video,” read a TikTok video posted by @thatonegirldarcie on April 4.

The subway station leading to the popular attraction recently posted signs warning that recording videos within the public transportation stop is indeed prohibited.

The reason: a viral trend encouraged tourists to place their phones on the escalator steps to record the view as visitors emerged above ground with a beautiful view of the Sagrada Familia in the background.

Authorities worried that the social media distraction was crowding the station and could lead to injuries.

No such incidents have been reported yet, but non-TikTokers complained of related “inconveniences” at the station.

The decision was made by the public transportation department — the Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) — and the church had “nothing to do with the decision, as it’s something that happens outside the premises,” a representative told Thrillist .

“To avoid a security problem and any accident, because there are many visitors around the Sagrada Família, the sign has been put up and security personnel have been placed on site,” a TMB spokesperson told Thrillist of the signs, posted at the beginning of the month.

@zuzia_bankiewicz the prettiest metro exit ever🫠 #barcelona #sagradafamilia #fypシ #dc #view ♬ original sound – driptunes

Tourists will not be fined but will be stopped by local authorities.

However, travelers wanting to show off on TikTok can still recreate a similar version of the trend by holding their phones out with their hands, a selfie stick or a friend’s help.

Construction of the Sagrada Familia Basilica is believed to have begun in 1882 and is expected to finally be finished in 2026, the church announced earlier this year .

The church was originally built by famed architect Antoni Gaudi but was only about 10% to 15% completed when he died in 1926.

However, the unfinished monument has become one of the world’s most well-known Roman Catholic churches and tourist attractions earning a UNESCO World Heritage site designation in 1984.

The church reported that more than 4,7 million people visited the Basilica last year alone.

Once completed, the Sagrada Familia will become the world’s tallest church — overtaking Ulm Minster in Germany.

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Hundreds of Tesla Owners Flood Charging Station

The total solar eclipse was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for millions of people, but traveling home from the event quickly turned into a challenge for hundreds of Tesla owners.

The moon was positioned for a few minutes on Monday so that the entire view of the sun was blocked in several states , plunging millions of people into darkness during the early afternoon.

The path of totality started in Mexico and extended across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine before heading over the North Atlantic.

The spectacle drew crowds from around the nation as people headed to areas in the path of totality to witness the event. Meanwhile, officials across the country voiced concerns about stretched public safety resources and an "enormous strain" on local hospitals and congested roadways.

Several organizations, including the New York State Police, warned visitors against traveling in cars that couldn't withstand long delays, such as electric vehicles (EVs).

"If from out of the area, don't use vehicles that can't travel for 10-plus hours without charging—stranded EVs in traffic will be towed," the New York State Police warned in a statement.

Many Tesla owners returning home after the event quickly learned that finding a charging station and topping up their vehicle would add significant time to their trip. The Livesey family from Massachusetts noticed the battery on their Tesla was low after traveling to view the eclipse in Vermont. When they located a station that was open, they found dozens of vehicles already waiting to charge, according to a report by WCVB.

"I got there with 1 mile [left] only to find out there were about 60 cars waiting to be charged," Monica Livesey said, according to the report.

The family joined forces with another and began assigning numbers to Tesla owners waiting to charge their vehicles. After four hours, the family finally had the chance to charge their Tesla. They had just handed out ticket No. 189, and more vehicles were still arriving.

"I don't know where all these people came from. I didn't know there were that many Teslas," said Livesey's 13-year-old daughter, Jessica, according to the report.

At a Tesla Supercharger, it can take approximately 15 minutes to top up the vehicle to a 200-mile range.

Newsweek has reached out to Tesla by email for comment.

• Car companies cutting EV prices as they try to compete with Tesla
• Scientists may have found way for EVs to go further on one charge
• Tesla disaster as cars won't charge in freezing cold

Multiple studies have named the lack of access to public charging infrastructure as one of the largest obstacles to battery-electric vehicle adoption in the U.S. Despite the hassle, Livesey said the spectacle was still worth the challenge of getting home.

The last total solar eclipse to darken America's skies occurred on August 21, 2017, in Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina. The previous one to that in America was in 1979.

The next time a total solar eclipse crosses over several states won't be until 2044.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer

Anna Skinner is a Newsweek senior reporter based in Indianapolis. Her focus is reporting on the climate, environment and weather but she also reports on other topics for the National News Team. She has covered climate change and natural disasters extensively. Anna joined Newsweek in 2022 from Current Publishing, a local weekly central Indiana newspaper where she worked as a managing editor. She was a 2021 finalist for the Indy's Best & Brightest award in the media, entertainment and sports category. You can get in touch with Anna by emailing [email protected] . Languages: English.

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