Getting around the Big Apple.

Getting into and around New York City takes some energy and skill. DO some homework ahead of time so you know your options. Make reservations when it's possible, especially on your first trip or if you are traveling with a group.

GETTING INTO THE CITY

Three major airports serve New York City; La Guardia and John F. Kennedy (JFK) International are both in Queens, an outlying borough; Newark is across the Hudson River in New Jersey. While the best way to arrive is to have a knowledgeable and adept New Yorker pick you up and drive you to Manhattan, most of us are not so fortunate. All airports provide several public methods of getting into and out of Manhattan at varying costs, and these are far better than trying to drive yourself. Traffic is heavy and drivers are aggressive; parking is expensive--if you can find any. Always allow plenty of time for this travel in case of heavy traffic or other delays. Ask your taxi driver or other carrier for an estimate of time and cost, add 15 percent tip (and sometimes tolls) to the estimated fare. The (free) Big Apple Visitor's Guide gives you a chart of estimated and maximum fares and distances. Once you collect your luggage at the baggage claim, follow signs to Ground Transportation. You will find reservation counters for shuttle services where you should check prices and special offers. Directly outside will be taxi and shuttle pickup points. Most shuffles cost about $15 and will take an hour or more t reach your destination. Shuttle operators will help you with your bags and they should be' tipped at least $1 per bag.

Olympia and Grey Line buses offer nearby shuttle service from the airports into Manhattan with stops at Grand Central Station, the Port Authority Bus Terminal at West 42nd Street, or your hotel.

If you're traveling with little children and lots of luggage, call a licensed car service ahead of time, Check the telephone yellow pages, but the number for Tel Aviv car service is [phone] from out of town, and [phone] when you get here. The highly advertised Carmel, [phone], has pretty good rates, and they often have specials.

Avoid gypsy cabs; only yellow medallion cars with numbers on the roof may pick up passengers. Yellow cabs should cost about $40 to $50 to get to your hotel, plus tip. This may be a bargain if you share the cost with other members of your group. Taxi drivers often will not help you with luggage. Taxis have limited trunk space, so a limo or a van shuffle maybe a better choice if you have much baggage. Many New York taxi drivers are immigrants who don't speak fluent English so be clear about your destination. The number of the cab must be visible to the passenger seat; make a note of it in case you leave something behind and must trace the lost item. Taxis may be hailed from curbside or by a doorman in front of a hotel. The initial fare-just to get into a taxi is $2, and the meter runs after that. You are expected to tip the doorman for his service, and the taxi driver for his.

There is a shuffle service between La Guardia and JFK airports; they and Newark have shuttle service during limited hours to nearby bus, train, or subway stations. Newark's PATH trains or NJ Transit will take you comfortably from Newark's Penn Station to New York'5 Penn Station for less than $2. New York's famous MTA subway and buses will do the same. Try to avoid travel with luggage during heavy commuting hours.

Train travelers arrive at Grand Central Station, Lexington Avenue and E. 42nd Street, or at Penn Station, Seventh Avenue and W. 33rd Street, then proceed by car or subway. There is a shuttle bus between the two stations. Bus travelers arrive at the Port Authority Bus Terminal between Eighth and Ninth Avenues and W. 40th to 42nd Streets, [phone], which is connected underground to the Times Square W. 42nd Street subway station.

New York's famously dirty, noisy, rapid, and convenient subway rumbles underground, and more than 3500 air-conditioned buses operate around the clock on the surface. Each ride costs $1.50 in tokens (or in small change for buses only) or by MetroCard. Purchase either at subway stations or at some newspaper and deli kiosks. You are allowed one free transfer to other lines such as bus to subway or downtown bus to crosstown bus.

There are helicopter services, commuter ferries, and connecting rail and bus services. Check the front pages of your telephone directory once you are in the city.

TRANSPORT IN THE CITY

New York is really easy to get around in even if you don't live right next door to the Joffrey or Alvin Ailey Center, Steps On Broadway, or the Dance Theatre of Harlem.

Buses and subways run every few minutes until 1:00 A.m. and then less frequently. Request a map from a subway or bus attendant and use it to find routes, connections, and transfer points. MTA's Web site, www/mta.myc.ny.us/nyct /Subway, shows routes, timetables, and temporary closings due to construction. Read all the signs about rerouting of lines during the summer repair and replacement cycle. Note that not all stations are open all hours or on holidays or weekends. Watch for lighted circular signs that indicate that a station is open. "Uptown" trains are generally northbound, while "downtown" trains are generally southbound. Hint: If you are lost, look for a subway station and check its neighborhood map. They are the best.

Keep about $20 with you in case of emergencies; use taxis instead of the subway after 11:00 P.M. depending upon where you are, and how far you must go. Stay in well-lit areas with groups of other people. Wait for the train where the MTA sign suggests, then ride in the conductor or operator car. Most stops are in view of a subway ticket attendant or are on video security cameras. There are also emergency speakerphones in case of illness or distress. Good street maps of the city are easy to download from the Web, may be tailored to your needs by your auto or travel company, and can be purchased at depot booksellers. If Manhattan is completely foreign to you, look for the Rough Guide's New York in paperback from Penguin.

STAYING COOL

After classes are finished for the day, there is always Chelsea Piers, our new sports/play/shopping experience. It can be very hot and humid in New York in summer. This complex, located on historic piers at W. 23rd Street and the Hudson River, is air-conditioned but a little pricey. There you will find the enormous Sky Rink ice-skating venue; a roller rink; a field house for gymnastics and other sports; shops; restaurants; and lots you can play or climb on, in, and over. For more details, access www.chelseapiers.com. or [phone].

PLASTIC

New York banks have many outlets with ATMs, and all major credit cards are honored, but you will need some cash immediately for tips and travel. Traveler's checks are a safe way to carry funds, but you must have proper identification to convert them to cash. Carry these and emergency telephone numbers in an inside pocket rather than in a bag or jacket that could be lost or stolen.

There are public telephones on nearly every other street corner. Calls cost 25 cents and calling cards are accepted, but the noise level on a New York street encourages YOU to keep calls short. There are often public telephones inside hotel lobbies, and it is cheaper by far to place your calls there than from your hotel room. Many hotels charge you each time you use the telephone. Prepaid phone cards are good, especially if you are using a friend's telephone.

PUBLIC RESTROOMS

Sometimes you need a public restroom during all that walking and sightseeing and going to class. Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center has bathrooms for the public that are clean and nearly always open. There is no fee. Many department stores also have public bathrooms, most now without towel attendants who must be tipped. Restaurants, as a rule, won't let you use their facilities unless you are a paying customer, but a coffee or soft drink will suffice.

COST CUTTING

Pay less for tickets to Broadway and some off-Broadway shows at TKTS, a "twofer" or reduced-price ticket booth sponsored by the Theatre Develop-ment Fund. Stand in line at Times Square or in the air-conditioned World Trade Center. For details you can call up their Web site at www.nyctourist.com/ tkts_about.htm. Some performances have student rush or standing-room tickets for sale at theater box offices. With valid ID cards, junior or senior high school students can get $5 tickets to cultural events through any NYC or NJ Ticketmaster, or contact the HighFive office at [phone] or their Web site at www.high5tix.com.

DANCEWEAR AND SHOES

A visit to New Yorks prime showrooms will allow you to explore fit and fashion that is just right for you. Try different styles of tap or pointe shoes, for example, where you can be fitted and instructed by experts. Explore the great variety of cuts and sizes of dancewear and support garments and find the perfect fit for your body. Capezio stores are at W. 51st Street and Broadway, and W. 57th Street and Broadway, Freed's is on W. 58th Street and Seventh Avenue, La Ray is at 250 West 57th Street, Sansha has new digs at 1717 Broadway at W. 54th Street on the second floor, and Danskin is on Columbus Avenue at W. 67th Street, as well as at other locations.

If you are streetwise, full of ambition and determination, dancing and dreams, you can have a wonderful summer in New York City.

Mme. Peff Modelski is a New York dance teacher, coach, and writer.