New York Travel Tips

New York – the city that never sleeps – is the perfect destination for anyone who wants to take a bite-sized chomp of the Big Apple. NYC is famous for its energy, urbanity, world-class night life, and round-the-clock entertainment. But it can also be scary, especially for first-time visitors.

Well, fret not. I’ve put together 5 New York travel tips to help you get into the NYC groove in no time at all!

1. Move smart, move fast! Everything in NYC moves fast; so should you. This means having your MetroCard ready even before reaching the turnstile, moving out of others’ way when you get to the top of the stairs or off the elevator, and keeping to the right of the road, to leave others room to pass. If you must gawk at buildings, do it where there’s no human or vehicle traffic.

2. Eat with the world on your menu! Don’t even think of eating in a McDonald’s or an Appleblee; check out NYC’s ethnic enclaves. There, you will have the world on your plate – from authentic Italian meals in Arthur Avenue to the soul food in Harlem. Or, if you’re feeling lazy, go for food cart action. Middle Eastern falafels, Greek gyros, Italian hot dogs – you name it, NYC’s food vendors have it.

3. Make reservations! Almost everything in New York is run by appointment and reservations. If you want to check out the hottest places in town, make your reservations at least two days to a week beforehand.

4. Walk – the city is best seen on foot! New York is built on a grid so it’s logical to figure out which roads lead to what. Most locals are nice too and are willing to help out. Just be quick with your questions because they’re a) busy, b) wary of scams, and c) irritated by slow-moving tourists.

5. Take the public transport. Traffic is horrendous in Manhattan. On-street parking is virtually nonexistent and parking garages charge $30 or more per day. So, stick to public transport. You can buy subway or MetroCard tickets from vending machines or from subway station attendants. Or, if you’d rather take a cab, simply step to the nearest curb and raise your hand. Look for cabs with the letters or numbers on their rooftops lit.

New York is a city like no other. It pulses with life and beats with incredible energy. And, if you follow the 5 New York travel tips I shared, you can make the best of each New York minute!