Does anyone have any tips about traveling in New York City?

Question

I'm taking a missions trip to NYC for about a week, and I'm not sure what to expect. I've never been to such a large city. Any suggestions on what to take and how to handle fianances while I'm there? Or, any random advice would be great!

Answer 1

Public transportation in New York is excellent. Cabs are readily available most of the day and they are useful especially for East-West journeys. But if you are really in a hurry, take the subway (especially up- or downtown).

Answer 2

The person above says you need pepper spray??? What the heck. You don't need pepper spray. New York is one of the safest cities in North America. It's ranked in the top ten in safety. If you cross the river into Jersey then you're in trouble. The only real sketch parts are South Jamaica Queens or Upper Spanish Harlem but I doubt you will go there.

If you are on a mission trip, I'm sure you'll be with a group of people so you will be safe. That person answering above me is trying to scare you. You'll be safe! Especially when their will be what seems to be a billion people in the streets at all times.

Carry your digital camera for pics. If you want to save money, don't eat anywhere around Time Square, cause all food prices are inflated their. The restaurants know that many tourists visit that area so prices are jacked up. The weather is quite nice, 85 but humid. Bring good walking shoes, a bottle of water, a subway map and you should be good. People are friendly and if you get lost, just ask someone because they will always help you.

Answer 3

Depends upon your budget, and what you will be doing on your missions trip. If you are paying for it yourself, and are looking for a reasonably priced hotel, I would suggest the Pickwick Arms Hotel, East 51st Street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. Great central location in Midtown.

If you have free time, there is plenty to do. Off-price tickets (same day) for Broadway shows at the TKTS Booth located at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square. Go to the website for the New York City Convention and Visitors Bureau for further information in general (NYC and Company).

Getting around is easy. Get yourself a MetroCard from any subway station. You can buy unlimited weekly MetroCards for, I believe $30. Normal per ride cost is $2. These are good for both subway and bus. Taxis are significantly more expensive

Keep your credit / debit cards secure and don't carry TOO much cash with you. Debit cards are the best.

Hope this helps. Good luck!!

Answer 4

I've taken a few trips alone (before I moved to the metro area)...
... and NYC is one of the few cities a woman can wander around in and feel safe.
China town has some cheap places to eat... I would reccommend ordering appetizers at the bar instead of meals. Nothing really exceptional as far as eating around Times Square - it's really touristy and alot of chain restaraunts.

The first time I went.... it can be overwhelming and exhausting!!! Take your time and don't try to pack too much in a day. Coming from a really small town, the first time it was really draining to be so overstimulated until my senses adjusted (about 3 days).

I've also saved money by picking up fruit or a diet/nutrition bar at the Duane Reed (convienence store) for breakfast, eating an appetizer for lunch, and either going out with some guy I'd met for dinner or eating at a place located on a side street (which doesn't get alot of traffic, thus real estate is cheaper and so is food).

The Brooklyn Diner on 57th street is actually fairly cheap, and the food is GOOD (surprisingly good hummus). Cowgirls on Hudson Street is also affordable and a really cool place to eat. There are some decently priced restaraunts on 8th ave around 10-30th streets.

Wear good walking shoes, carry your heels in your purse :) If you walk, you'll see alot more scenery and save $$ on taxis anyway. I think a good walk is down Broadway to Battery Park (where the statue of liberty is). You get to see Greenwich Village, SoHo, Chinatown, Wall Street.... and alot more (depending what side streets you wander off on before getting back on track). It's a really nice walk (though you might want to splurge on a taxi back to midtown, or take a subway :).

Answer 5

Not sure what you are looking for exactly. NYC is great. Dont believe all the hype about rude people. Most of the rude people I met were tourists. The residents were very helpful in giving directions and suggestions for what to see and do. As you are gonna be on a missions trip I am assuming you will be chaperoned. Take what you feel comfortable in. The summer time can be quite warm. Be sure and get a Metro card, best value for getting around NYC. Use it on both the bus and subway. As for finances. If your room and meals are supplied. Then pretty much just spending money and sightseeing money provided you are gonna have time for anything but mission work. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

NY is a great city, I was born there. Just don't act like a tourist, you know gawking at everything. Stay with the group and have cell numbers handy if you get seperated. Be prepared to experience a faster pace, New Yorkers talk and walk faster because of the pace of life there, but most are good people. Be careful in subways, stay back a bit from the tracks. be careful with your purse, a shoulder bag is best. Have a good time.

Answer 7

To save money, walk and use the subway (cabs get to be expensive). Canal street has all the knockoffs you could ever want. The village is where you can get tattoos, piercings, and fake id's. Time Square is very crowded, and it is where MTV is. Central Park is the sports center of the city, there is also a zoo in central park. Don't worry about finding things to do, you won't have enough time with all the stores, museums, and just about everything else, on just about every street.

Answer 8

i just recently got back from new york city.. it was my first trip there and i stayed with friends.. since i was just there for 4 days, they advised me to get the 7 day metro card bec we will be taking the subway a lot.. so it's a lot cheaper to do that than pay for each ride. if you are planning to see a broadway show, i suggest you buy tickets from TKTS. it is by Times Square and they sell tickets with discounts for as much as 50%. If you are planning to see a show at night, you'd better be in line at the TKTS booth before 3pm. my friends and i saw mary poppins (which i was very apprehensive of). but it turned out to be a great show.. i paid $73.50 for my ticket.. there's no sales tax for clothes.. have fun!

Answer 9

I am an New Yorker. I know how to travel

Subways and Buses is cheaper. Buy metrocard in stores with an pic of them or u can buy in the subway stations. If u traveling by bus be sure use exact change {no dollar bills and pennies}. It cost $2 $5 for express bus.

Answer 10

Cancel New York, go to Chicago instead