Before you book a city trip to New York, or before you leave, it is wise to prepare well. From the reasons why you should visit this city to practical tips for navigating the crowds, this article provides an overview of everything you need to know before your adventure begins – including general and practical tips.
That's what Malou thinks Wereldreizigers.nl, completely happy on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City! Do you want to discover this amazing city just like her?
Our tip: Providers such as TUI and D-reizen can help you keep travel and accommodation costs as low as possible, so that you can spend that money in the city on fun things to do.
- Great price/quality ratio
- Flight + hotel
- Discover the #1 world city
- Great in spring and autumn
Why New York City?
- Recognition and why not? - Why not? That's what I usually say when people ask me why I do what I do. However, for New York City, I don't need to joke about the hows and whys. New York City is a city that everyone knows, without actually having been there. A city that many people have hanging on their walls at home and have seen in countless films and series. It is a city where you can walk around and recognize complete streets or parts from movies and series. It therefore quickly feels like a home, far away from home.
- Unique city – The bizarre amount of high-rise buildings alone makes this city a unique experience. I just had a stiff neck from all the looking up the first day, no joke! I've also been to Dubai and yes, some of the buildings are taller… But no city in the world has managed to cram so many gigantic buildings into such a small area. There are streets with buildings over 50 stories on either side, as far as your eyes can see. Bizarre!
- The Culture – The recognisability, the buildings and the mix of smells, colours, flavors and cultures make this bustling city perhaps the most popular city in the world to visit as a tourist. Every country, every faith and every culture is represented here. From the Dutch and English roots to Chinatown, Little Sri Lanka and Little Italy. All parts of the world come together here. That's why you really just have to be there once.
Why Avoid New York City?
As explained above, I think that everyone should visit New York City once in their life through a city break. But if you are looking for reasons to New York City especially did not I can easily name the three main reasons.
- the crowds – People are everywhere. And places like Times Square can get really busy at times. Thousands of people in just a few hundred square meters is no exception here.
- the noise – New York City is not suitable for people who have difficulty with sudden, loud or busy noises. The honking of the cars in the traffic jam and the loud banging and sometimes painful metal scraping of the subway rails in the winding tunnels, just to name two.
- The price – As owner of Wereldreizigers.nl I have been to many places in the world. I have already ticked off countless world cities and yet there is no city in the world where I have spent so much money in barely one week. In Tokyo, paris, Dubai, Singapore And especially Hong Kong you will soon spend a lot of money on simple things like transport, food, drink and accommodation. New York, however, goes a step further. It is partly due to the fierce inflation of the past two years, but the city is currently perhaps the most expensive in the world.
Transportation in New York City
Metro – New York and its boroughs (and parts of New Jersey) are easily accessible by subway. You can get everywhere you want to go via the metro. You need a MetroCard to get around and you need to put a minimum of $5,50 USD on the card. Fares for each trip are $2,75 USD. You can buy a 7-day unlimited MetroCard for $33 USD. That means you only need to use the metro 12 times to get your money's worth!
Bus – If you cannot get to your destination by metro, the bus will take you there. Like the subway, the fare is $2,75 USD, but an express ride is $6,75 USD.
Ferry – The Staten Island Ferry is an important piece of transportation for locals going to and from work. It works 24/7 and is free† The NYC Ferry Service is also a reliable way to commute, connecting Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx along the East River. The ferries make many stops along the East River and cost the same as the subway.
Bike – You can bike almost anywhere in New York City, especially if you want to explore the major parks like Central and Prospect. Citi bike is the bike sharing system. From $3,50 USD per 30 minute ride or $15 USD for 24 hours. There are about 10.000 bicycles scattered around the city, so there is always one within reach!
Taxis – Taxis are certainly not the cheapest option for getting around New York City. The minimum fare starts at $2,50 USD and quickly increases every minute depending on how fast you go and how far you drive (and you usually don't go very fast, so I'd skip them).
Ride sharing – Uber, Lyft, and Via are theoretically cheaper than taxis and are the best way to get around a city if you don't want to take a bus or pay for a cab. Via, Lyft, and Uber sometimes offer ride sharing as an option, where you share a ride with other people. This can save money, but will also take longer. Pay close attention to the price if you have to travel during peak hours. It is well known that prices skyrocket in these apps as demand rises and supply stays the same.
Car rental -
Sunnycars is based in the Netherlands and our favorite choice for car rental while traveling. At Sunnycars you can rent a car worry-free without having to worry about conditions and insurance. Sunnycars offers exclusively all inclusive car rental. This means that all prices you see include all other costs, coverage and insurance.
- All inclusive car rental
- Worldwide offer
- Rent a car without worries
Best time to visit New York City
Anytime is the best time to visit New York! Each season offers visitors plenty of reasons to visit the city. Early fall offers fresh breezes, bright sun and comfortable temperatures, while late fall and winter are merry with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and of course the countless Christmas decorations.
The winter – January and February – are cold, with temperatures between -7 and -5 °C. But coming in winter means better hotel rates, ice skating and hopping between cozy cafes and bookstores.
Spring – is glorious! New Yorkers celebrate the end of winter by taking to the streets, shopping at open-air markets, frolicking in Central Park, and dining al fresco. We were there at the end of March and with every ray of sunshine that came through it was just visibly busier on the streets and in the parks.
The summer – is hot (with average daily temperatures around 25-30 °C). In the summer there are many festivals, food trucks, packed parks and barbecues. But this is also the time when New York is sold out: literally. The prices are therefore considerably higher than in the early or late season.
Personally, I think the early and late seasons (April-May and September-October) offer the best New York City city break experience. There are fewer crowds and the weather is pleasant, averaging around 13-17°C in spring and 11-25°C in September and October. Walking around to take pictures is a great way to see the city, but when it's sweltering hot it can be challenging. However, if you like the heat then summer is the time to visit.
Safety in New York City
Opvallend relaxed en veilig! We hebben ons eigenlijk geen moment onveilig gevoeld tijdens onze stedentrip in New York City. Wel waren we niet ‘s nachts onderweg en waren we eigenlijk altijd wel weer voor 23:00u terug in het hotel. Je grootste zorg in New York City zijn waarschijnlijk zakkenrollers die in de drukke gebieden actief zijn.
Every now and then you come across a bum, but this was really not that bad for me. In Nijmegen, where we come from, I don't see that many anymore near the central station and I thought that was remarkable.
If something doesn't feel right or unsafe, leave. Trust your instincts. New York City and especially Manhattan, Harlem and Brooklyn are basically safe enough to just walk around without a plan.
New York City Hotels
Accommodation is expensive in New York and there are not many hostels in the city. If you're staying outside of Manhattan, accommodation costs can drop by 30% or more if you book in advance. These are my recommended places to stay in NYC:
Low price range (Pods and Yotel)
- Yotel New York City– View prices
- Pod 51 – priceen view
- Pod 39 – View prices
- Pod Times Square – View prices
Mid-range
- Hilton Garden Inn Central Park South – View prices
- Hilton Garden Inn NYC Financial Center/Manhattan Downtown – View prices
- DoubleTree by Hilton New York Downtown – View prices
Higher price range
- Hilton Garden Inn Times Square – Priview jzen
- Hilton Garden Inn West 35th Street – View prices
For more hotel inspiration, use the interactive map below.
Booking.comWant to know more about New York? Then also read:
New York | 30x the most beautiful places + things to do
New York | Everything about costs, budget and saving tips
Closing comments
Whether you are going for the first time or have seen New York before, it remains a fascinating destination. It has endless possibilities and it is difficult not to love the city. Hopefully this article will help you prepare for an unforgettable experience and you can enjoy everything New York has to offer!
That's what Malou thinks Wereldreizigers.nl, completely happy on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City! Do you want to discover this amazing city just like her?
Our tip: Providers such as TUI and D-reizen can help you keep travel and accommodation costs as low as possible, so that you can spend that money in the city on fun things to do.
- Great price/quality ratio
- Flight + hotel
- Discover the #1 world city
- Great in spring and autumn
Plan your vacation to America here
- Camper rental You can book this in combination with a tour Travelhome.
- Tours and Fly & drives compare to TUI, Americaplus, sawadee en Djoser.
- Flight tickets for America you book with TUI, KLM en Skyscanner.
- Rental cars : Sunnycars, Alamo en rental cars.
- Tours and Activities in America you book via GetYourGuide.
- Campsites in National Parks you book on RECREATION.gov.
- Travel insurance for America you will find at Allianz.
- Hotels & Resorts in America you can book with a discount Booking.com.
- SIM cards : USAsim en International sim.
- Parking at the airport you can arrange via Parkos, park care of iParking.
- travel items (suitcases, bags, world plugs, etc. can be ordered at Bol.com.
