If you are visiting New York City for the first time, then you’ll probably be overwhelmed with excitement. You may even find that you’re already planning everything that you want to do as well, but there are a few things that you need to be aware of before you embark on your journey.

NYC Taxis Can Be Slow

Taxis can be quite expensive in NYC. If you are in a rush, then traffic will make them slower than the subway. In some instances, it can be faster to walk as well, so make sure that you keep this in mind. If you do want to call a cab in NYC then you need to stand on the curb, put your arm up confidently, and wait for a cab that’s on duty (check the lights on top of the taxi cab). Keep eye contact with the cab when you do this, and they’ll pull over.

Public Transportation

You should never be afraid of the subway in NYC.  It’s a great way for you to get around and it can save you a lot of time too. When traveling in New York, you should note that there are express trains and local subway trains. You should never get on the express subway unless you are 100% sure that it is going to stop where you want it to. The local train will stop at nearly every stop, but the express will only stop at around 50% of them.  You also need to make sure that you know which direction to get out of the subway station as well. But you can easily find out if you use a subway map.

Don’t Bring Your Car

I wouldn’t recommend that you do not bring your car when visiting New York City. If you do, then you’ll be paying a small fortune in tolls to go over bridges, and you may even find it hard to park too. If you have to take your car with you then leave it in a car parking lot near to an airport. You’ll still be paying a small fortune, but not as much as you would if you took it into the city. If you are staying in NYC for a long period of time and don’t want mail piling up back at home, check out physicaladdress.com. This service is clutch when trying to keep your home safe and abreast of any important letters or packages.

Avoid Times Square

Unless you are a fan of Broadway, you should try and avoid Times Square for a night out. The main reason behind this is because it can be overpriced, and you’ll also find that the dining there tends to be chain restaurants. When you go during rush hour, you’ll find that this gets even worse. If you want to make the most out of your trip to New York then it helps to visit restaurants that are outside of the Times Square neighborhood. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​After all, they are often much more luxurious and way cheaper too, so this is always a bonus. If you aren’t sure where to start then you’ll be glad to know that there are so many apps out there that you can download, and when you do, you’ll be able to find out what the restaurants are rated and even maps to them as well. Be adventurous and try something off the main streets!

Using these tips for your stay in New York City can make things a lot easier and your trip less anxiety-causing. Have you visited my hood? Do you have any tips or questions to make your trip easier? Let’s continue our chat in the comments below. In the meantime, follow me on social here and here.

Until our next rendezvous…

XOXO

Trudy

This post was a collaborative effort.