Travel Tips & Tricks!
New York…The City of Amazing Views & Expensive Shoes
By Erin Delligatti of Never Grow Up Travel
New York, and Manhattan in particular, looks straight out of a movie. An extraordinary skyline, monuments and some of the top names in retail make Manhattan very unique.
I have always dreamt of taking my daughters to New York on their 16th birthdays for shopping sprees. Since “spree” in my world might buy one scanty pair of Jimmy Choo shoes, I have since reevaluated that dream, but there is still a lot to do in New York, even on a non-New Yorker’s budget.
Top Sights to See
- Top of the Rock: Rockefeller Center is legendary, and you will see the famed tree, as well as the outsides of Radio City Music Hall and the Rainbow Room. Top of the Rock is several stories on top of Rockefeller Center, and may be a better choice than the Empire State Building. For $20 per person, we entered, had no line, an exciting and somewhat psychedelic elevator ride up, and took in the spectacular views at our leisure. Some were with no glass barrier, so you can take wonderful photos. Not only did we have amazing views of Central Park, but also of the Empire State Building itself, and it was a lot less of a hassle.
2. The Metropolitan Museum (The Met) and Central Park: I combine these two because you can do them on the same day. Although you can spend days at The Met, decide ahead of time what exhibits you’d like to visit. You CAN take pictures, but no flash and no video. Don’t miss the extraordinary Egypt section, complete with a temple, and the American Colonial section has staged rooms that are incredibly detailed. Central Park is easily combinable with visiting The Met. If possible, take a carriage ride. My top must-dos in the park are Belvedere Castle, Cleopatra’s Needle (ancient Egyptian obelisk that will take your breath away) and the Alice in Wonderland statue.
3. Take a Walk: I know this isn’t a specific sight to see, but there are many places just to stroll. If you choose Greenwich Village, make sure to hit the Magnolia Bakery, and have the best pizza on the planet at John’s Pizza on Bleeker Street (be there before it opens for lunch, because five minutes after opening the tables are full!) I also suggest just strolling up 5th Avenue. Teeming with shops, New York life, and buildings such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral, it is a worthy stroll.
4. Shopping: If you have some cash to spend, don’t miss Barney’s and Bergdorf’s, as they are New York staples. Even those on a tighter budget should visit Tiffany & Co., because on the third floor you will find sterling silver jewelry, and you can pick up a famous “key” necklace for $150 or under, packaged in the signature robin’s egg blue Tiffany’s box. There is a World of Disney store carrying park merchandise and a lot of New York Disney gear. There are also dozens more…Prada, Versace and Gucci just to name a few.
5. Take a water cruise to the Statue of Liberty: Great photo opps, but if you want to actually get into the Statue, an appointment is necessary.
Top Tips for Touring New York
- Be prepared for walking! Go into your trip thinking you will walk a ton, and then triple the amount you expect.
- Transportation costs a lot. Make sure you add taxis to your budget. It will cost at least $45 from the airport, and $8-$10 for closer trips around Manhattan. It adds up very quickly! You will be accosted at the airport with offers for transportation…choose wisely, or let your travel agent arrange transport for you in advance.
- Act like you know where you are going. Out on 5th Avenue, taking pictures and looking at a guidebook is okay, but if you are walking through an alley or a less populated area, put the camera away and act like you know where you are going.
- New Yorkers are NICE. Yes, I said that. We encountered nice everywhere we went; people holding open doors, smiling, and generally being helpful and pleasant with the exception of one gentleman that offered to everyone around to “call his buff” (we of course declined, although curious as to what “the bluff” was.)
- Act like a New Yorker and try hot nuts or a hot dog from a corner stand, thoughts of hygiene be darned. They are all required to have sinks and soap, and when in Rome…do what the New Yorkers do.
- Plan it out. Get a guidebook, or let your travel agent help. When possible, buy attraction tickets in advance. Decide on your priorities in advance, or you may miss them!
New York can be a magical place to visit, but it is very unique, and you should arm yourself with knowledge before your trip.
