If you are planning a trip to New York City then you are probably very excited. This city is known worldwide for having a lot to offer and many people travel there every single year. Of course, just like with any other city, there are some things that you need to know before you go. This includes everything from knowing how to get about the city to knowing where to eat.
To help you with this, we thought we’d put together a list of some of the things that you should know about visiting NYC. Keep reading to find out more.
Flights Should Be Booked In Advance
One of the most important things that you should know about visiting NYC is that any flights that you are taking should be booked well in advance. This is a very popular city and so you might find that the flights get booked up and increase in price as they become less available. If you are flying from outside of the US, from Canada for example, you might want to book your flights to New York a few months in advance.
When booking flights, it can be useful to look online at prices and compare them. Don’t just book the first flights that you see as you could end up spending more than you need to. You can find plenty of flights to New York through the following link: https://www.flyporter.com/en-ca/book-flights/where-we-fly/usa/new-york
Street Food Is Cost-Effective
When you visit NYC, you will probably come across plenty of expensive restaurants. This is because New York is one of the food capitals of the world and there are plenty of top chefs who are opening restaurants there every day. While it can be great to taste all of these dishes, it can be very expensive.
Luckily, there are some ways that you can save money on food and drink in NYC including by using street vendors. New York is known for having plenty of hotdog and burger stalls and you’ll even get some sandwiches out there that are pretty tasty. While you might not want to buy all of your meals from a street vendor, you can pick up a lunch here and there and save some money. Look out for those with large queues as these will likely be local hotspots.
The Subway Is Your Friend
One of the most popular ways to get around New York City is by the classic yellow cab. While this can be a great experience and you’ll feel as though you are in the movies, you will find that you don’t get around very fast due to all of the traffic. It can also be very tricky to get a cab in NYC as they don’t stop for everyone.
The good news is that the subway system in New York is very advanced and there are subway trains to many of the different areas in the city. You can hop on and off throughout the day with your ticket and you will save money and time. Make sure to get a subway map and this will help you to figure out how you are going to get around.
You Don’t Need To Stay In Manhattan
Another thing that you should know about visiting New York is that you don’t always have to stay in Manhattan. Travel agents will try to get you to stay in the centre of the city in order to put the price of your trip up but it is entirely possible to have a good time when you stay in the other boroughs.
Why not plan your trip to have a stay in Brooklyn? This area has lots to do and has a bit more character than Manhattan where you’ll mostly find lots of tourists. Take a look at the hotels on offer and try to find an Airbnb that might be comfortable for you. Don’t be afraid to stay outside of Manhattan and you’ll have a great time in NYC.
Book Tickets Before You Go
When you are heading to New York for a big trip, you will probably want to check out all of the fantastic tourist attractions that this city has to offer. To access these, you will need to make sure that you have tickets and these can be quite expensive if you are buying them all on the day.
If you are planning on taking a trip to the Statue Of Liberty of the Top Of The Rock, you will want to make sure that you are buying your tickets in advance. You can usually find websites online that allow you to buy tickets before you go and you might even be able to get a package deal. A simple bit of research should help you to figure out where you can get your tickets and where you can pick them up. Make sure to give this a try because it could save you both time and money.
You Need To Tip
In all of the USA, tipping in restaurants and bars is very important. The servers expect a tip as this usually makes up the rest of their wages. If you have received good service then it is generally expected that you are tipping the staff a decent amount of cash. In NYC this is especially important.
If you are planning on tipping in NY, you will want to make sure that you are tipping at least 15%. Most people tip 20% and this is something to consider when you are putting together your tip. Tips might not be something which are as important around the world but in NYC they are expected. Don’t fall into the trap of forgetting to tip as this can be problematic for you.
You Can Ask For Help
While the people of New York often get a bad reputation for being rude and always busy, you will find that plenty of people will be willing to help you if you need it. For example, if you were struggling to find a tourist attraction, you might find a New Yorker who knows exactly where it is. You might also be able to find another tourist who has just been there and can direct you.
Asking for help will get you around much quicker and you won’t miss out on anything. Ask anyone in the street, ask vendors and you might just find that you can get the help that you need.
Final Verdict
When you do plan your trip to NYC, you will find that you have a great time. This city has a lot to offer and most of the other people there will be friendly to you when you have a chat with them. If you are planning your trip, make sure to consider everything that we have discussed in this article. Think about booking your tickets before you go and don’t forget to compare the prices of flights online before booking them.
If you can follow our advice and do some more research of your own then you should be able to have a great trip in the Big Apple in the coming year.