Are you looking to travel to New York City sometime soon?
When most people plan for a trip or vacation, they think about the things they will do as they arrive at their destination. When the destination is the Big Apple, their jaws will drop as they take in their first sight of this amazing city.
New York is a big city with tons of things to do. Instead of worrying about what you’ll do next, discover some New York travel tips so you won’t worry about getting to where you need to go.
With how big the city is, it’s easy to get lost if you don’t know what you’re doing. Read on to learn about the essential travel tips when going around New York City.
1. Bring More Than You Expect to Spend
The one thing you must never skimp on when you’re in New York is your money. Always bring more than you think you will spend while you’re out. You’ll be in for a surprise when you discover how much New York will charge you.
New York lives in a bubble where it has its own economy. The cost of living in New York is beyond any other city in the USA. While there are some places that can give you a reasonable price for what you want, they’re few and far between.
So, don’t be afraid of bringing more cash when you go out. You only need to keep it safe on your person.
2. Familiarize Yourself With the Neighborhoods
What most tourists don’t know is that New York has five different boroughs. These are Manhattan, The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.
Familiarizing yourself with these is key to not getting lost in New York. This is because some boroughs have streets with the same names. You can avoid wasting your precious time during your visit by knowing where you must go.
3. Find a Convenient Hotel and Check-In
When you book a flight to New York City, you’ll land in one of the three airports in the city. You must plan the rest of your trip around which airport you’ll land in to make it easier for yourself. There’s JFK Airport in Brooklyn, LaGuardia in Queens, and Newark Liberty across New Jersey.
Once you know where you’ll land, pick a good hotel close to that airport. Doing this makes the rest of your vacation easier. This is because you will often have a return flight at the same airport.
4. Use Public Transportation
The best way to get around the city is by using public transportation. Most tips for visiting New York City will tell you to avoid them because taxis will rip you off. While it’s true that some do, it’s still cheaper than hiring a private ride to get around.
You only need to know which taxis to use to avoid getting ripped off. Use apps like Lyft and Uber to hire taxis to take you places. You can also use the subway for a real New York City experience.
5. Keep Yourself Moving or Stay on the Right
There’s an unspoken rule in New York that you should never cause any foot traffic. It’s tempting to stop and take pictures of the landmarks that you see, but do it while standing on the right.
The right side of the sidewalk is the designated place for slow walkers. Doing this means you won’t pose any issue to the locals trying to make their way through the city.
6. Plan Your Outings
Accept that you won’t get to do everything you want to do in one day. Most people burn themselves out by trying to do more than it’s possible in a day. This ruins the experience, so make a schedule and stick to it.
It’s an excellent way to make the most of your trip. It ensures you don’t miss anything and enjoy your time in the city.
7. Dress Right
What you wear can help you out a lot in the city. The first way it can help you is by keeping the eyes of taxi drivers off of you. Most cab drivers look for tourists to rip off, and dressing like a local is a good way to avoid them.
Remember that you must also dress in layers if you plan on going on at night. Temperatures drop during the night. It can even go down to temperatures that warrant winter clothes.
8. Keep a Map Handy
New York is a big city, and it’s even bigger than what most people imagine. Bringing a map is a good idea for many reasons. One of them is to help you find your way in the city.
New York is big, but it has many streets labeled well on maps. You only need to find a street corner and find it on the map. You will find your way soon after.
It’s also to help you avoid scam drivers. Many cab drivers take their passengers for a ride around the town without their knowledge. A map could help you by telling you if the driver made a wrong turn.
9. Don’t Carry Too Much on Your Person
Stereotypes are horrible, but there’s a reason that people think New Yorkers are pickpockets. The streets and sidewalks often become grounded in the city. Pickpockets use this time to steal from unsuspecting individuals.
It’s wise to store some of your luggage while in town. The folks over at Radical Storage NYC can help you, for example.
10. Enjoy the Food of New York City
Many New York travel tips tell you to sample the food in the city. This is a must because New York has a bigger flavor profile than most people think. Each borough has excellent cuisine to try out.
Enjoy your stay in New York, and try all the food you come across. It’s the best way to make your trip memorable.
Use These New York Travel Tips Today
Travel to New York City and get lost in all its beauty today! Don’t get lost for real, though, and use these New York travel tips to keep yourself on track.
Want to learn more about the great city of New York, or other topics like this? Check out more of our blogs for additional articles you don’t want to miss.
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