They say variety is the spice of life, and nowhere is this truer than in New York City: the iconic
bustling metropolis home to countless restaurants, cultural attractions and no less than nine
million people (as well as many well-known fictional characters from movies and TV). For this reason, I’ve prepared some New York City travel tips for you.
Besides other considerations such as booking flights, making hotel reservations and arranging insurance, it can also help to know a few other tips so that you can get the most out of your trip.
Stay Connected
Making sure you have a good internet connection is a must for staying in touch with
companions, booking reservations or for travel arrangements such as checking timetables.
There’s a number of ways to do this, but one of the most reliable is to use a service like eSim New York to help you stay connected wherever you are.
Travel By Train
While yellow cabs are undeniably iconic, they can also be expensive and prone to getting
caught up in traffic. Instead, make use of public transportation such as CitiBikes or the bus and subway network. Yes, delays and technical hitches do happen (as you’ll likely hear of from local residents!) but overall this is the cheaper, more eco-friendly way to get about.
Know Your Etiquette
New Yorkers get an unfortunate reputation for seeming a little brisk – but it’s largely down to
developing a tough exterior. It helps to be courteous, no matter where you are – but in NYC,
there are a few extra rules to remember:
● Stopping in the middle of the sidewalk in New York is the equivalent to braking in the
middle of the freeway. If you need an “emergency lane” to pause in, duck into a cafe or
bar, but otherwise, walk with purpose.
● On the subway, avoid wearing your backpack (it takes up space and makes you
vulnerable to pickpockets). Allow people on and off, and give up your seat to disabled,
elderly or pregnant passengers.
● You might see some unusual goings-on around the city, but unsolicited photography (or
staring at people) can quickly get you into trouble. If you want to take someone’s picture,
ask politely. Otherwise, avert your gaze and keep it moving.
● When ordering food, know exactly what you’re getting and don’t dally at the counter. If it
happens to be a pizza slice, eat folded with your hands, and never with a knife and fork
● Most places will take cards, but it can help to have a little cash on you for tipping service
staff at bars and restaurants.
Dress for the Occasion
While fall and spring are relatively pleasant, the seasons on either side of this are either hot,
humid and muggy or windy, wet and cold. Depending on when you’re traveling, check the
weather and pack accordingly: layers and waterproofs for winter, and light, breathable fabrics in summer. For all seasons, leave the heels at home and pack comfortable shoes you can walk in.
Tour On Foot
On the topic of walking, guided tours can be found throughout the city. Besides familiar sights
such as Manhattan and Times Square, tours around smaller neighbourhoods and even a few
unexpected nature spots like the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens can show you NYC from a
different perspective.
I hope these New York City travel tips were useful! Let me know in the comments what would you add.
Planning a trip to USA? Read these posts next:
- 5 Most Famous Highways in America
- 6 Things you should NOT do on a USA Road Trip
- 10 Free Things to Do in Buffalo, NY
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