So if you’ve been reading lately, you probably noticed I took a quick trip to NYC last week. It was one of the best vacations I’ve ever taken. I’d been before but this was my first time I had time to explore by myself and at my own pace. One of the great things about New York City is that it really is as big, flashy, and fantastic as everyone says. It can also be a little bewildering for new visitors, like me, though. So before I went I did my best to “research” the places I would want to see. Even spontaneous travelers have to plan a little bit!
Found some good tidbits from Styleabaad, Yelp, and NYC Insider Guide.
And now I’ll be compiling my own recommendations; specifically, recommendations for people whose pockets aren’t Gucci or lined in cash. NYC is expensive but not entirely unfriendly to us folks on a shoestring budget.
1. Lodging. It is way more fun to stay with friends (like I did) than in a hotel. Cheaper too. You can eat a couple meals in and borrow flip flops after your shoes completely fail you and give you huge blisters (true story). If you don’t have any friends, you might consider consulting www.Hotwire.com for hotels in the area and possibly seeing a therapist. I hear New York hotels are small and plenty are quite nice.Like that little place called The Plaza.
2. Get some new apps. I recently joined the 21st century by getting a smartphone with an affordable data plan. Thanks Virgin Mobile! Definitely one of the best investments I’ve made this year, not to mention a total lifesaver for getting around in New York. My favorite apps and the ones I used most were:
- HopStop: a free app for navigating cities. During my trip I used the subway/train only setting which tells you how to get from point A to point B with clear directions about which trains to take, how to get to said trains etc. A+ You can also do just walking directions which is nice because subway fare ADDS UP YO.
- Yelp: Yelp is the modern version of the yellow pages. For any youngsters reading, the yellow pages were, oh never mind. Yelp shows what your close to and you can search for restaurants, bars, coffee shops, banks, and more. It also includes reviews and lets you customize your search by how much you’re looking to spend and how far you want to travel.
- Prices are not fixed in many shops so it’s ok to suggest a lower price than the first (or second) one that is quoted. Charm goes a long way so be friendly and if you REALLY want to impress throw a little Mandarin around : “Dough shao chin” = how much is this?
- Eat noodles from “Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles” here’s the address/phone number: 1 Doyers St # 1, New York, NY 10038 (212) 791-1817 The name speaks for itself; it really is tasty and the noodles really are hand pulled.
- Get Dumplings at 106 Mosco Street. You’ll miss it and have to backtrack because it’s a completely unassuming place with poor signage. The dumplings though cannot be beat. They are delicious and cheap (5 for $1) and hot, greasy, and filling. Don’t bother asking for chopsticks, they don’t have any.
- Remember, every time you walk from the sidewalk down into the station to get on the train, it’s going to cost you $2.50. Transfer are free. There are little kiosks before each entrance to recharge your fare card. They accept both cash and credit cards. Best to carry cash, the credit cards don’t always work.
- Just ask someone if you get confused. Like the person waiting beside you. The stereotype about New Yorkers being rude wasn’t true in my case. And if they are rude, just let them know you have tuberculosis and you sincerely hope it’s not still contagious.
