What you need to know to get the most out of your time in New York City

New York, the infamous concrete jungle and ‘City of Dreams’. It’s an incredible place to visit, full of inspiring art and design, history and of course delicious food. You’ll find endless recommendations for places to visit and things to see and do, but it’s also important to understand the practicalities of visiting such a big city. All travel has an element of risk, you may lose your passport, have something stolen, or you could even get in an accident. To make sure you have a safe and enjoyable trip, it’s best to be prepared, just in case something goes wrong during your travels. It’s sensible to research and plan for these situations before you travel. There are plenty of people who can be a point of contact in these situations, click here for a Long Island PI law firm. 

Here are a few practical tips from making the most of your time in NYC…

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Give yourself time to get from A to B

It’s a big city and although it’s easy to walk (the grid-like road system makes it easy to navigate) sometimes it’s easier to hop on the subway or hail a classic yellow cab – plus, that’s part of the true New York experience! However, it’s important to note that the city can get gridlocked with traffic and the subway can often be delayed, so always allow more time to get from A to B as you travel around the city, particularly if you’ve got tickets to a Broadway show.

Keep on the move

One sure way to frustrate a local is to wander aimlessly around the streets, stopping to take photos in the middle of the sidewalk. New Yorkers are usually in a hurry and the city moves quickly, so to avoid frustrating locals, it’s best to step away from the crowds to take your snaps of the sights.

Understand the tipping culture

Tipping is always hard to get right in any city, but you’ll easily offend in New York if you don’t tip. It’s a must for taxi drivers, restaurants and other services. Generally, it’s best to add a tip of around 15% – 20% to your restaurant bill. Click here for more tips on tipping in NYC.

How to hail the famous yellow cab

You’ve seen it on TV shows and in the movies – it seems easy, right? Just step on to the edge of the sidewalk, wave your arm and the cab will come running…the reality is much less glamorous. To successfully hail a cab, keep an eye out for the light on the top of the cab, if this isn’t on then the cab is usually full already.

Explore the areas around Manhattan

There’s so much to see beyond commercial Times Square and tourist hotspots such as The Empire State and Rockefeller Centre. Look to explore boroughs such as Brooklyn and Queens for a taste of real-life with quirky and independent boutiques and inspiring food-stalls and restaurants.