NYC Trip Testimonials
Kevin Jones was a terrific NYC Tour Guide/Operator for our group. His attention to detail was excellent; he was communicative and adaptable in the planning process, and energetic and enthusiastic throughout the entirety of the tour. Kevin's considerable knowledge of NYC makes him a go-to choice as a tour operator, and his extensive theatre background is an added plus for groups particularly interested in the New York theatre scene. I give Kevin my highest recommendation!
-Stefanie Niles
President, Cottey College
Kevin went above and beyond for our tour group. From start to finish, he made my job easier as the school administrator, allowing me to focus on spending time with our guests instead of worrying about trip logistics. His attention to detail in planning, combined with the all-inclusive nature of the trip, made it easy for our guests to relax and enjoy knowing everything was taken care of. Having led multiple group trips, this was one of my favorites. Kevin’s insider knowledge of the city and the theatre industry made it truly special. He’ll ensure your group has an incredible time!
-Randon Coffee
Vice President for Communications and Strategic Initiatives
Cottey College
Kevin Jones knows his favorite city very well, making for a fabulous and action packed five day Cottey on Broadway Tour. It's not easy to capture all that is the Big Apple, but Kevin did his best to share the essences of the great city that he loves. From historic to modern, Kevin brought home the city's vibrancy, sharing with us his take on this cultural melting pot featuring unbeatable views, key hot spots, subway experiences, verdant Central Park meanderings, a ride on the Staten Island Ferry and the bright lights of Broadway. The Belvedere Hotel was a perfect home base for this fast paced adventure. A surprising array of treasured places provided respite from the heat, including the Museum of the City of New York, the High Line, MOMA, and Rockefeller Center. We also enjoyed a variety of well know eateries, Katz's deli, Sardi's and Westway Diner being my favorites. Our evening entertainments on Broadway were a home run as well. Kevin chose a classic with Gypsy, and the new break out hit, The Buena Vista Social Club. Both selections were outstanding, and our exceptional orchestra seats provided for the best viewing possible. We were also fortunate to have an up close and personal meeting with an actor, who shared with the group his Broadway experiences. In closing, Kevin's energy and delight of all things NYC made for a very memorable and well thought out tour, and I would recommend him with five stars*****
-Christine Renner
It was lovely to hear and see a New Yorker point of view. The Broadway Plays were outstanding as well as the seat selection. The meeting with 2 actors was a bpnus. Kevin planned visits to the obvious venues and also local sites and small parks. He took us to the individual neighborhoods that make up this great city. Although we only were able to see a small portion, we got a well rounded selection of ethnicities and cultures. We learned the ins and outs of the subway system, local traditions, things to anticipate, things to avoid. Mostly just learning about the real New York. It is a fascinating city and very enjoyable to experience. I would recommend Kevin for your visit.
-Jana Beery
The private Cottey on Broadway tour of NYC, 6/24–29/2025, was absolutely the best tour,
even with the extremely hot weather the first two days, thanks to our excellent tour guide, Kevin Jones. Having lived in NYC and working in professional theater for 30+ years, Kevin knows the city inside out, including traditional tourist and non-traditional tourist sights. He arranged for our group of 35 to stay at the Belvedere Hotel, a great central location, being just a couple of blocks from the NYC theater district and Times Square. Our theater experience included two excellent musicals, Buena Vista Social Club and Gypsy (we had great orchestra seats). One of Kevin’s mentees was in
Gypsy, and we got to meet and talk with him afterwards, and Kevin also arranged for us to spend an hour with another theater person at a studio—Wow, both interactions were so informative!
A few of the other places Kevin took us to included the NY City Museum, MOMA, Central Park, Washington Park, the Highline, Brooklyn Bridge (walked across it), the Vessel, the Oculus, 911 Fountains, Trinity Church, and Staten Island by ferry from which we saw the Statue of Liberty and Ellis
Island. We also saw Little Owl coffee shop, the basis for the Central Perk coffee shop in the TV show Friends, and the smallest privately owned land in Manhattan— the Hess triangle, a triangular, 500-square-inch plot of private land in the middle of a public sidewalk at the corner of Seventh
Avenue and Christopher Street. Kevin lined up amazing restaurants for our meals. We always ate breakfast at Westway Dine before heading out each day. We ate at Katz Deli (When Harry Met Sally
movie location), and also experienced Italian, Thai, Asian, hamburger, and pizza places—all excellent. Kevin arranged for our last evening meal to be at Sardi’s, where all the celebrity caricatures are on the walls. Thanks to Kevin’s extensive knowledge of the area, we got around by walking and using the subway. In addition to his knowledge from living in NYC, Kevin obviously had done lots of extra research and was constantly sharing fascinating and informative tidbits related to where we were at the time in a great conversational way (i.e., not by rote memory!). This was my fourth time to NYC. I have always had a great time, and this fourth time was no exception thanks to the amazing leadership and planning of Kevin. I highly recommend any tours guided by him.
-Lura McAllister
Why Kevin? Because you not only want to experience NYC in so many unique ways, you want some details and contact. Kevin knows all the heartbeats of this city and his ability to connect with any guest is priceless. Whether you have never visited or you come often, being led by Kevin will be an experience that you will never forget. How would you like to go to a show and then talk to a performer about their personal journey? Kevin has worked with so many people in the Broadway scene and his relationships are special to him. Everything is taken care of and that makes a difference. You walk into restaurants with ease, have good tickets to shows, museum times are coordinated and so on. Worth every penny!
-Becky Murphy