So if you know me or read my last post you’ll know I visited New York last August. Obviously I posted pictures and shared my travels on social media and the main things people commented on was how it looked like we had an amazing time (we did!) and how they couldn’t believe how much we had done.
People kept saying ‘can I take you with me on my trip’ or could I plan it for them, so I got the idea of narrowing it down to 10 ways to help you have the best trip.
Before I get onto those just a bit of background. I’m lucky that my trip in 2017 with my mam and dad for my 21st Birthday was my second having previously visited in 2013 with my grandparents and cousins.
So because it was my second trip I knew exactly what I wanted to do and when I was determined to make it so we could all have the time of our life.
Ok enough chit chat, it was hard to narrow down and it may be a bit wordy but sometimes you’ve just got to haha anyway .. here’s my top 10 tips in no particular order…
#1 – Get Good Flight Times
- Obviously this is key for any holiday but New York is on it’s own time zone as in it really is the city that never sleeps, so you’re going to want to make the most of it! Personally I think it’s perfect to land at earlier so you can get to your hotel, unpack and still have the full afternoon and night! Also having a night time flight on the way home is ideal as you get a full last day and can sleep on the flight.
#2 – Pick Your Hotel Suited For The Type Of Holiday You Want
- This seems pretty obvious but New York has so much choice, on my first trip I stayed down on 2nd Avenue close to the East River which was not touristy at all and was a more chilled vibe in the city. This time I stayed closer to Times Square which was more fast paced but still a nice distance from the hustle and bustle.
#3 – Book As Much As You Can Before You Go
- So I would definitely say this is key to making sure you’re trip is exactly what you hope it will be. If you’re doing a specific tour with limited spaces, a show and if you want to visit a certain attraction on a particular day/time then the only way to guarantee is book as soon as you can. The only things I would suggest booking when you get there are attractions such as The Empire State Building as it’s really simple to do and doesn’t have to be done really far in advance.
#4 – Don’t Rely On Your Email..Print Out All Your Information
- While technology is our best friends these days you don’t want to rely on this for confirmations and tickets! It’s really not worth the risk on the off chance it doesn’t work and some places you do need paper tickets. So print off all your information to make sure there’s no worry.
#5 – Be Traditional..Buy Travel Books
- I couldn’t remember the last time I bought a travel guide before this trip but would highly recommend it! They have all the usual information you need such as tips, maps, general info etc. It makes it all a lot easier to understand and choose the best options for you all from the summarised advice.
#6 – Have A Detailed Itinerary
- A lot of people make a plan but if you know everything you want to do it’s so important you have an exact plan for every day. Key things are needing to factor in how much time you need to do something and getting from one place to another etc. I would also say stick to it as much as you can but obviously it will change so go with the flow.
#7 – Don’t Underestimate Food Chains
- Especially in New York you are beyond spoilt for choice for restaurants and food stops. I think because of this people want to avoid chains or franchises, I personally love these type of restaurants anywhere I go but in particular like other things New York does them best. We did eat at these places, such as Hard Rock Cafe and Planet Hollywood and also independent restaurants .. so the best of both worlds!
#8 – If You’re Ever Stuck..Just Ask!
- Once again this one sounds pretty obvious but due to its fast pace some people feel there’s no one around to ask but that’s so not the case! People are so friendly and more than happy to help, there were many occasions where people approached us to see if they could help us with directions. So never worry about being lost.
#9 – Always Have A Camera/Phone Out
- There is so much to see and so much happening you’ll definitely want to capture these moments! Plus New York is somewhere that anything can happen and it would be hard to believe without evidence haha! So make sure you can get it easily.
#10 – Finally..Have The Time Of Your Life!
- New York is an amazing city and you’re bound to have one of the best trips! So make sure you do as much as you can and tick off must sees. It is like living in a film as it is exactly as you imagine but bigger and better.. so enjoy every minute
So this is quite a long post thanks for sticking with it and I hope it is helpful and enjoyed reading a few handy tips!
You must be logged in to post a comment.