We visited NY July 11-14 and used Big Bus to tour the city via the red, blue and yellow (night tour) lines. BAYNES was a terrific guide pointing out all the landmarks and places that make New York, New York on the red and blue lines. Super friendly and very knowledgeable. He checked in with everyone when you got on the bus and offered headphones and a rain poncho if rain was in the area. He lets you know when landmarks are coming up well in advance so you are ready to take a picture. Willing to answer ANY question and will provide directions when exiting the bus.
We planned out the places we wanted to see and made sure the stops that the Big Bus made would get us there. For other points of interest not on the routes or not close enough, we did use Uber or walked. Our package included the 3 day bus, night tour, and Statute of Liberty. If you have never been to New York like us, traffic and congestion is everywhere so if you need to get some place quick, the tour bus may not be the best choice for you. The three of us did not have a problem finding a seat upstairs on any of the buses we took. Not all of the buses have a/c. If you do not want to listen to the guide, you can opt to listen to a music channel.
By planning what we wanted to see and do, Big Bus was the right choice for us. We definitely got our money's worth using the bus for three days and seeing the Statue of Liberty.
Do your homework! It is not Big Bus' problem that the weather in New York is hot and sunny. Be prepared: wear a hat, bring a paper fan, and a cold bottle of water. If your headset does not work, wiggle the wire or let your guide know. Big Bus is not Uber, it is a tour of the city which means the bus is not going to go fast bypassing all the wonderful sights of New York and will make stops at all the locations noted on the map.