My wife and I have been on private tours before, but this one was remarkable. Sheldon, our guide, was probably the most knowledgeable and adaptable of any tours we have taken. Starting off, he was punctual for our tour (a treasure for NY city). We were greeted at our hotel lobby and promptly started. His flexibility was tested as our tour had to be cut short due to a flight change, but the adaptability Sheldon and his driver showed was great. Sheldon asked us to prioritize what we desired to know and see based on our new timeline, and once we gave him direction that we wanted to see un-traditional sites and little known facts, we started.
We toured areas well off of the known path, like the oldest candy store in NYC, Economy candy. Sheldon knew the family owners and introduced us, which gave a personal account of the store's history. We also saw FRAUNCES TAVERN, the site of George Washington's negotiation for the surrender of the British during the Revolutionary War. A real treat was when Sheldon took us to the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, a famous site of the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world. Sheldon explained that the Cathedral had been used for many famous events like fashion shows, MTV awards, and even James Gandolfini's (Tony Soprano) funeral. Sheldon impressed upon us that the inside of the Cathedral could comfortably fit the Statue of Liberty, standing upright. The fact that he was able to adapt the tour was a testament to his expertise of the city, knowledge of traffic patterns and his overall desire to maximize our tour time. We went through numerous areas of OUR interest, and he shared backstories and insights from both his in-depth knowledge and personal experiences of living in the area. We toured the ever-shrinking "Little Italy" and he told little known history and shared places of John Gotti and his crew. Oh, and I almost forgot, we stopped by one of the oldest delis in NYC and his recommended place for a Knish, which was delicious. A truly customized experience and a joy to be a part of.
By the end of it, my wife and I felt like we had a real sense of the 5 Burroughs appeal without the traditional tourist sites. We felt we had only scratched the surface of Sheldon's knowledge and depth, and therefore his tour is a MUST for our return to NYC.
The final note I will say; Mr. Sheldon was kind enough to ship my wife's jacket back to us in CA due to leaving it in the vehicle which further shows his commitment to provide world-class customer service. Thank you to Sheldon and team for making our New York experience truly memorable.