I'm no big city expert. I'm from the Midwestern suburbs, so city living is not something I experience on a daily basis. Before spring break last year, I hadn't tackled one of my ultimate vacation destinations: New York City. So in March, I piled in a car with four other people and set out for the Big Apple. Endless hours and arguments later, we arrived, and I had a pretty good time. In July, I returned to New York for an internship a little older and slightly wiser. In August, I returned even older and far wiser. So now I will share some of my knowledge. It's not the Bible of New York City vacations, but hopefully these guidelines will improve someone's trip:
1. Buy a guidebook, read the guidebook, trust the guidebook: The people who wrote these actually know what they are doing. Before I went to NYC this summer, I purchased a guidebook at the local bookstore. It instantly became my best friend. The book provided price ranges for all the appetizing restaurants, suggested the best places to shop for just about anything and shared helpful hints about visiting most of NYC's major attractions. For example, when taking the subway to catch the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, you have to ride in the first few cars because the platform isn't as long as the subway car. While others proved their tourist natures by madly scrambling between cars just before the train stopped, I sat back, content in my moment of superiority.
2. Ask lots of questions: Do not book a hotel room without speaking to an actual human being and asking a lot of questions. Important queries: How big are the rooms? Do the rooms have private bathrooms? Is the building air-conditioned? If you are traveling in a group and let someone else make room reservations, make sure they know to ask these things. While even the seediest of Midwestern motels are usually decent-sized and properly air-conditioned, this isn't a given for a reasonably priced New York hotel room. Trust me.
3. Take advantage of bargains: Almost everything in New York is expensive, so it's important to seek out any bargains thrown your way. When entering a museum, check to see if you are eligible for a student discount. Buy half-price tickets to Broadway shows at the TKTS booth in Times Square; the seats are still excellent. And while waiting in line, you can enjoy the hijinks of screaming girls attempting to gain access to MTV's "Total Request Live," which broadcasts from Times Square.
4. Enjoy cheap(er) public transportation: This suggestion is actually an extension of number three. The only time you should take a taxi during your trip is to and from the airport or late at night. Take the subway or the bus for everything else. Subways are clean, efficient and excellent for people watching. On your first day in the city, go to any terminal or another participating location and buy a MetroCard. For a comparably low price, you can buy unlimited access to both subways and buses for a week, a month, or on a ride-by-ride basis.
5. Do something by yourself: If you are traveling in a group, do not spend the entire trip as a cohesive unit. You'll end up spending more time than necessary deciding what to do. Take an afternoon, go to a museum or neighborhood and explore on your own terms.
6. Don't spend the entire vacation feeling vulnerable or invincible: I was surprised by how safe I ended up feeling in the crime mecca of the United States, particularly at how safe I felt by myself. Use the kind of behavior you would in any large city: Don't go to certain neighborhoods alone after dark and don't prance down the street yelling exactly how much money you have in your pockets. But don't spend the entire trip looking over your shoulder for potential pickpockets. If you practice good common sense, the trip will be trouble-free; or you'll be ready if trouble does strike.\nFinally, please don't spend your whole trip in the hotel or walking from one Gap to another. Seek out at least a few experiences you can only have in New York.
