The Big Apple is one of the top tourism destinations globally, and for a good reason! Every inch of this city has exciting energy about it if you’ve never been before. Although it’s expensive and crowded, it’s also a cultural hub for the arts and entertainment. If you’re planning on heading into NYC, these are the top things you should know.
Decide On Transit
Figure out your transit before you visit. If you’re driving yourself into town, this can be a great way to save money to some degree, but you’ll still have to pay for parking, and where you can go will be limited. For example, the Queens-Midtown Tunnel has a $7.50 one-way toll; although a taxi driver would know how to avoid this to save money, you may fall for it and have to spend $15 round trip.
Don’t Overplan
Going into NYC, you may think you want to do everything humanly possible: but you have to slow down and consider the limits. You’ll lose time in transit, and there’s just too much to do in this city to hit it all at once. So instead, try to plan either just a handful of things or stay in one area of the town to get in as much excitement as possible.
Figure Out Your Budget
What’s your visit budget look like? If you’re spending a day, you’ll probably want to take a taxi or Uber so that you don’t have to deal with the wait or struggle that comes with public transit. Eating out for every meal and the multiple stops and iconic exhibits you’ll want to check out will cost money.
When you’ve planned out everything you want to do in a day, jot down the price for everything, and then add a couple hundred on top of that for transit. Even if you’re driving yourself, this extra couple hundred is a nice buffer of money to have available.
Avoid Looking Like a Tourist
Although nearly 10% of employment in the Big Apple relies on tourism, most locals don’t like tourists. Some shops charge a little more if they spot a tourist, and people out of town are more likely to fall for scams or get robbed. So although you don’t have to go
shopping for New York apartments to fit in, you should try to be as inconspicuous as possible.
Pay Attention to Your Belongings
While you’re planning a trip, decide on where you’ll keep your belongings. If you carry a purse, try to get a cross-body bag that will be hard to pull off of you. If you keep your wallet in a pants pocket, keep it in your front pocket for this trip so that it’s harder to take from you.
Although it’s not your fault if you get robbed, taking a couple of precautions can keep you safer. Don’t carry much cash, and avoid bringing anything more than one form of ID so that if you get robbed, you don’t lose both your passport and your driver’s license.
Tips for Trip Success
Book Your Flight
Find an inexpensive flight by using Kayak, a favorite of ours because it regularly returns less expensive flight options from a variety of airlines.
Book Your Hotel or Special Accommodation
We are big fans of Booking.com. We like their review system and photos. If we want to see more reviews and additional booking options, we go to Expedia.
You Need Travel Insurance!
Good travel insurance means having total peace of mind. Travel insurance protects you when your medical insurance often will not and better than what you get from your credit card. It will provide comprehensive coverage should you need medical treatment or return to the United States, compensation for trip interruption, baggage loss, and other situations.Find the Perfect Insurance Plan for Your Trip
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