Everyone knows something about New York, even if you’ve never been there. You know there are skyscrapers, there are yellow taxis driving around and Blair Waldorf’s house is there. But there are also plenty of things you don’t know yet. Girl scene Emma lives and works in New York for six weeks and can therefore tell you a thing or two about the city. Here’s what you need to know before you go to New York!
New York consists of five boroughs
First of all: New Yorkers call the city New York City. This is because New York is also a state. But for the sake of convenience I will keep writing New York ;-). New York (the city, therefore) consists of five boroughs: Queens, The Bronx, Staten Island, Brooklyn and of course Manhattan. The New York you have in mind is probably Manhattan. All tourist attractions can be found here. During your trip you will therefore be in Manhattan a lot, but it is also definitely worth seeing the other parts of the city! Brooklyn in particular is a must do, this area is now almost as popular as Manhattan and if we are to believe the real New Yorkers, Brooklyn is even more fun!
New York is not a city
Technically it’s a city, but it doesn’t feel that way. New York actually consists of many different villages. One neighborhood is very different from the other neighborhood! For example, around Times Square (with the tall buildings) it is a world of difference with the cute West Village where Carrie Bradshaw lives. And the Upper West Side (left of Central Park) and the Upper East Side (right of Central Park) are completely different from each other too! So if you go to New York once, it’s nice to discover all the different neighborhoods and see where you feel most comfortable. For me the nicest neighborhoods are Greenwich Village and West Village anyway! The cute houses, the many trees in the streets and the cozy restaurants give me the ultimate New York feeling. But you may just feel at home in hip Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Good running shoes are a must
No matter how much you want to put on your most beautiful shoes, it is especially important that you wear shoes that you can walk in for a long time. The distances are a lot longer than in the Netherlands and you quickly misunderstand the duration. The high skyscrapers seem to be very close, but if you want to walk to them ‘just’ then you are on the road a lot longer than you think. It’s not bad at all, because that way you see a lot more of the city! New Yorkers also do everything on foot. Fortunately, sneakers are completely hip in the Big Apple, so you can walk in style on the New York streets ;-).
Public transport is ideal
The New York subway is fantastic for several reasons. For a real New York experience you should take the subway, not only to study the people (that’s quite entertaining, you will be amazed at how many people read a book on the subway. A real book!), but also for the many performances in the subways (not all equally good, but there are a lot of talented people who earn a little extra money). But the metro is also just super practical. The subways come very regularly and they are super fast. A week-long public transport card with unlimited travel costs just $30!
Walking can be difficult
If you’re under 21 and plan to go out a lot, then I’ll have to help you out. You have to show your ID everywhere, no matter how old you are. If you’re under 21 you can’t enter clubs and you can’t even go near a bar. You are also not allowed to buy a lighter under the age of 21. I think you understand the hint: going out under the age of 21 is very difficult and so always take your passport or driver’s license with you! It is also very normal in New York – in contrast to the Netherlands – to dress up when you go out. A casual outfit with ripped jeans and sneakers is a must in many places no go. So put on your best outfit and pumps and stock up on some blister plasters too ;-). And remember that you never have to fear that you overdressed bent!
It’s always busy
You don’t go to New York to relax, I can tell you that. It is always and everywhere busy. Doesn’t matter where you are or what time it is. That is not surprising for a city with almost 8.5 million inhabitants. As a city person I find this very nice and nice, but if you are not used to this it can be quite overwhelming. And it also means that you always have to watch where you walk, because before you know it you bump into someone. Believe me, that will happen often enough ;-).
New York is one of the most expensive cities in the world
The city is expensive. Very expensive. So a big piggy bank is not a bad idea when you go to New York. I would really save up before you take a trip to the Big Apple, after all you don’t get there every day and if you want to experience the city to the fullest, money is a must. must. And you don’t want to skip the Sephora, do you? ;-).
There are many things to do that are free (or with a big discount)
As expensive as the city is, there are also plenty of things you can do for free. The city has many sights for which you do not have to buy an entrance ticket. A walk over the Brooklyn Bridge, stroll through Central Park and take selfies in Times Square costs nothing. Museums also have certain days or times when a visit is free or that you can decide for yourself how much entrance you pay. Also keep an eye out for the Happy Hours and student discounts, these can add up quite a bit! As a tourist you also get an 11% discount at Macy’s department store. Oh, and if you are really a shopping addict then I would go to New York during Black Friday in November, then the discounts can be up to 70%!
Tax is added to the prices
The price on the price tag is what you have to pay at the checkout. That’s how it works in the Netherlands, but not in New York. With us, the tax is already included in the price, but in New York the tax (‘tax’) is added on top of the price. So don’t be surprised if you suddenly have to pay more at the checkout.
You should always tip
In the Netherlands we also tip, but usually not at the bar and if you are dissatisfied with the service, we leave it out. That’s not how it works in New York. The employees are paid very little and therefore live on tips. That is why they do their very best to provide good service. When your glass of water is empty, they immediately sprint to refill your glass. It is normal to tip 15 to 20% in a restaurant. If you order at the bar $1 per drink is normal and $2 for a cocktail. So don’t forget to calculate the tip on top of the price!
Useful apps are a must
It’s not difficult to find your way around New York thanks to the handy checkerboard pattern. Still, I recommend that you download some apps to make the trip even easier for you. Download Embark NYC (9292 for the subway, I use it every day!), Triposo for a map, addresses and lots of information and XE Currency for the exchange rate. Thank me later!
New York is very safe
A big city doesn’t sound like the safest place in the world. New York especially not after the stories of 9/11 and shootings. But New York (Manhattan) is a super safe city. There are always other people on the street and there are also many police officers on patrol. Of course, you should always keep your eyes open, but I’ve never felt more safe at night than in New York.
Some things require some planning
Getting to things on spec can be tricky in New York. It is possible, but there will be huge queues anyway. So if you have your eye on a restaurant where you would like to eat (at a normal time!), then you would do well to make a reservation well in advance. Even if you want to visit a TV show, you usually have to arrange tickets a month in advance.
You will see celebrities
New York is the playground for celebrities and you’re bound to come across one. I myself met Coco Rocha, Nigel Barker, Miss J. Alexander and Kate Mara. super cool! But celebs are generally left alone, just like the celebrities in Amsterdam.
You have WiFi everywhere
Internet addicts, don’t worry! New York is the city of WiFi, it’s no problem to find a place with an internet connection. You have free WiFi in all Starbucks, just like in all museums. Even outside you sometimes have WiFi, such as in Bryant Park. So you won’t have any problem Instagramming your New York shots and letting those at home know how great you are!
The weather can change in a day
A week’s weather forecast means absolutely nothing in New York. The weather can change in a day, it is not surprising that one day you are in the sun with 25 degrees and the next day you are shivering in 10 degrees with rain. Keep this in mind when packing!
You will have the time of your life
New York is the most popular city in the world for a reason. People from all over the world fly to the Big Apple to experience the city. It is a city where you probably have high expectations. I can only tell you one thing: those expectations are fully met! Enjoy!!!
No idea what to do and see during your New York trip? In this article you will find 34 ideas.
Have you ever been to New York?
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