I would like to start off by saying that NYC is a competitive choice to travel for any occasion- weekend, bachelorette, holiday, anniversary, you name it! Last time I went for 3 days and managed to fit in a trip to The Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and a Broadway show. I got a lot of messages about what we did and if I had any tips for those who are planning their own trips to the Big Apple.
DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU GO
Look on Pinterest, Google, Instagram, and ask friends on Facebook. Remember that many restaurants require reservations. Download Resy and Open Table for reservations on the go. When you choose a place to visit, make sure to look up the hours of operation. Weekdays are usually less crowded than weekends but that’s not always an option for travel. NYC offers a CityPASS which includes a ticket to either 3 or 6 attractions for one low price. The CityPASS is definitely worth looking into for your next trip. They are offered in cities all over the U.S.
DECIDE HOW YOU WANT TO GET AROUND
You can get a cab, an Uber, a Lyft, use the Subway, or simply use your own two feet. We used Uber and Lyft for our trip and had no issues whatsoever. Remember that if you’re ordering a Lyft or Uber to and from the airport you’ll need a larger vehicle for luggage depending on the number of people. Walking is my favorite option because it’s free!
BE FLEXIBLE
The last morning of our trip we had planned to go to brunch for my birthday. We arrived to our second choice because the first choice required reservations and was booked up when we called to make one. Our second choice had a long wait and was $30 a plate. We decided to look elsewhere and found a quaint little Italian-style brunch spot that was $18 for your meal and a mimosa. Score! In NYC there’s always something waiting for you around the corner. Don’t give up! More importantly, don’t think there’s only one good choice. There are hundreds.
SEE A BROADWAY SHOW
I promise this is one event that you will not regret. Shop around on different websites for ticket prices! Don’t buy the first ones you see. The first time I was in New York we went to the box office for a show last minute to see if anyone hadn’t claimed their seats. We ended up getting really lucky! There’s an article here that tells you tips and tricks for getting discount/ last-minute tickets to a show.
DON’T PLAN ON SEEING EVERYTHING
NYC is massive. There’s no way to “do it all” in a weekend. This is a city you could visit countless times and never do the same thing twice. Try to prioritize your “must-do” items and be forgiving with the rest. For this trip our “must-do” was seeing “Anastasia” on Broadway. That was the whole reason for planning the trip. If we did nothing else, we were going to be together and go see “Anastasia”. We accomplished what we set out to do.
My last tip is to not be intimidated by New York City. Don’t let the geographic size, crime rate, or population scare you. There are good people everywhere you go. If you can’t find one then be one. I’m not telling you that you don’t have to keep your eyes open. There are ways to travel safely wherever you go. I’m saying that you shouldn’t let what you’ve heard on the news or seen on a TV show deter you from visiting one of the greatest cities in the world.
Let me know your favorite place in NYC down in the comments!
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