5 TIPS FOR TRAVELLING TO NY NY!

  New York is one of my favourite places that I have visited. I had decided to take a 10 days trip in NYC on October with my Australian friend, who was also going for the first time. Travelling to NYC can be a little stressful especially because there is a list of things you NEED and a list of things YOU SHOULD KNOW before going. There are endless attractions, as well as great neighbourhoods to explore and incredible food, but just wandering the streets and soaking up the atmosphere can be very memorable as well.

  When we arrived we took a cab to get to our Hotel and the taxi driver was so kind to recommend us so many places and things to do. He even didn't make us pay for the trip which was really unusual but awesome. 

So here are some tips that were actually helpful that I discovered while on the city:

1. Transportation

  You know in the movies where the hero calls a cab in New York and rushes to tell the one that he/she loves her/him? You won’t make it in time in real life. Taxis are generally very expensive in New York and if you’re in a rush, traffic will make it about the same speed (or slower) than the subway. Sometimes, walking is even faster.
The public transportation like subway is great and the cheapest way to get around. There are plenty subways passes that you can choose, depending on how long you are staying there. The week unlimited subway pass is definitely worth it if you’ll be taking the train a lot over 4-5 days.
  You need to know which entrance you need for the subway via the direction that you’re headed. Check always before you pay to get into the subway station as you might need to exit to get to the other side. The East Bound/ West Bound and Uptown / Downtown stations can be a bit confusing at first if the endpoint is in a different borough, but a good subway map should help you figure out the endpoint.

If you see someone doing this, run 

2. Save Money

  When we got in NY, we didn't know from where to start. The first day was such a confusion as we had a few hours, after our arrival to have a small scan of the city. We were so excited that we didn't manage to see more than central park where we saw a big rat crossing the street waving at us with a tiny hat (okay maybe just running around) which made us think that we were on the right place, but the amount of money that we spent just in one day got us figured that we need a BIG plan. So the taxi driver that drove us from the airport recommended us to check the New York CITYPass.

   If you’re looking to visit some of the most popular attractions within 2-3 or more days it's the cheapest. There’s also a ton of free things to do and you get to skip lines at some attractions and museums.

3. Apps

  If you would like to see a Broadway show, basketball match or a concert you can search on the Seat Geek web. There is also the app, that searches all ticket sites, gets the best deals and helps you discover events you love in lightning fast. 

Google Maps saves the day.

Uber. This app never disappoints wherever is available. It's a bit cheaper alternative to taxis to go literally anywhere.

4. Restaurant Options

 Our food choices at the time were mainly salad, pasta or other cheap food options just because we were always on the run. But there are so many options of different cuisines, vegan and I was lucky enough to discover a Greek restaurant right next to our hotel. All I am going to say is that the "Lahanodolmades" succeeded my expectations and I was really happy to find Greeks in the city and that my friend had finally overcome the frustration of not being able to find a decent coffee in the US. New York has so much to offer in regard to food options, but if you are on a budget, you can get quite limited. If you are in a central location, venture out a bit for different restaurant options and more reasonable prices. You’ll also find the famous New York pizza everywhere!

5. It might be easier to just walk

  New York by foot is more fun than you think. There is something around every corner and because of the constant traffic, it might be easier if you just put comfy shoes on and walk. It is a lot of fun being able to walk the streets and blend in. New York is also very popular for its walking tours and you can explore some of the most exciting locations. So walk and walk some more till you get blisters and till you bleed or just take the subway and forget all of these tips. 

Here are my favourite MUST SEE attractions that you can check even if you're jut going for a couple of days:

• Top of the Rock (it requires a booking prior of the time for your arrival) Also nightime is heaven!
• Walking down the Brooklyn Bridge!
• TIMES SQUARE at night.
• Central Park. 
• Museums:
  Museum of Natural History
  911 Memorial and Museum
  MoMa (for modern art)

I hope you have an AWESOME time like we did and I do appreciate every message so please share your experience. 

Lots of love,

x Katerina