Tips for Traveling to New York City for the First Time
If it’s your first time going to a city as big as New York, NY, you’re going to need to do some research before you leave. Keeping yourself safe and confident is the key to having a good time in the city. Keep your cool by maintaining an air of confidence while you explore everything on your itinerary, whether it’s the Statue of Liberty or a Broadway show. By following these tips for traveling to New York City for the first time, you’ll avoid traversing the city as a nervous wreck so you can truly enjoy every moment spent in the Big Apple.
Take Note of Important Public Transportation Hubs
Any time you visit a city, you want to memorize two things: where your hotel is and which public transportation is nearest to your hotel. Once you know those two details, you’ll never get lost—you can always find your way back home via the subway or bus system.
You should memorize other important transportation hubs that are close to tourist attractions (whether or not you plan on visiting them) along with the public transportation stop closest to your favorite restaurant. However, you may only find a favorite restaurant if you stay there longer than a week.
Plan Out How You’ll Get Around the City in Advance
On the same note as public transportation, you should consider how you intend to travel around the city before leaving. Decide now if you need to purchase a Metropass or if you want to travel by taxi or another transportation service. Often, driving around the city takes longer than taking public transportation or walking, usually making it a better idea to leave the car behind at the hotel’s parking garage.
In some cases, you may need to drive around the city for your own sake. Whether it’s for your own comfort or due to a disability, make sure you understand the driving and parking laws of the city—including the unwritten rules of the road. If you do have a disability and have a handicapped parking pass, make sure you know where it’s valid in New York City before falling back on your out-of-state parking habits.
Book Early For Eating Out
There are so many great places to eat in New York. But if you want to make sure that you actually make it to the places you want to eat, you might find it a good idea to book for that as early as possible. If you can do that, you should find that you are going to have a much better chance of actually getting a table. This is especially important with busy areas, such as restaurants near madison square garden.
Buy All Attraction Tickets Ahead of Time
New York is one of the largest tourist hubs in the entire country, and it’s likely that thousands of people also want to do the same things you’re planning on doing. As a final tip for traveling to New York City for the first time, avoid an awkward, sudden change of plan by ordering any tickets you can online or on an app before you leave. Never assume that you’ll have the venue to yourself—millions of people live in the city, and anyone can go at any time.
