Welcome to the city that never sleeps and my home for over 12 years. Any New Yorker can tell you they have a love-hate with this city, but overall New York is one of the most bucket-list-worthy cities to visit in the USA!
This travel guide covers everything you need to know about traveling to New York City and beyond. From New York travel itineraries, the Subway, photo locations, travel tips, Long Island, and beyond.
This comes with years of experience living in New York and my whole family being born and raised across the state!
Disclaimer: This page may contain affiliate links where I may earn a small commission at NO additional cost to you if you decide to click a link and make a purchase.
What to Expect
Language: English
Currency: The Currency is in USD.
Cards/ATM’s: Credit Cards are widely accepted and ATMs can be found everywhere. Smaller shops might ask for a minimum dollar amount purchase so it’s good to keep cash on you.
Tipping: Tipping is expected if it was not added to your bill. 15-25% is the average tip for sitting down at a restaurant. Even when the service is not that great, a tip is still expected since the servers work on tips.
Safety: In General New York is very safe. I went to college and lived in NYC and have always felt safe. That is not to say you shouldn’t practice general safety and precaution.
Power outlets: New York and the USA uses standards of voltage between 110 V to 120 V and the standard frequency is 60 Hz. I recommend using a universal adaptor.
Getting Around: It is very easy to get around New York City by using the NYC subway system.
New York boroughs (Queens, Bronx, Staten Island, Brooklyn) are still fairly easy to get around with public transportation, but depending on your destination you might have to rent an Uber or Lyft.
I would only recommend renting a car if you plan to go to Upstate New York, staying in one of NYC’s boroughs, or out on Long Island.
Useful Apps: Google Maps, City Mapper, LIRR on time (for Long Island), HERE WeGo (downloadable map if you don’t have service).
Additionally, if this is your first time in New York, here are 25 tips to know before visiting!
Best Time to Travel
New York is great all-year-round since you can experience all 4 seasons. The busiest time to visit New York City will be during the Summer and the Winter holidays. While the seasons have been crazy the past few years, Spring (April- June) tends to be around 45F – 80F.
Getting Here
Since New York is a large metropolis, getting there is not too difficult. JFK (John F. Kennedy), LGA (Laguardia), and EWR (Newark, NJ) are popular airports for flying into.
I’ve taken flights from all three, and I usually choose the one with the cheapest deals and the most direct routes.
You don’t need a car if you plan to stay in New York City. You can arrange for an Uber, Lyft, or car service to pick you up from the airport.
You can wait in line in the official Yellow Cab line. Do NOT accept rides from random people coming up and asking you.
You can also use public transportation as an alternative. Buses, subways, and air trams to Manhattan are available at all three airports.
You can get accurate directions by using Google Maps or City Mapper.
Sightseeing or City Pass
When visiting the City, you will likely want to visit a lot of paid attractions. If you plan to see at least 3, you will most likely save money by getting one of the City Passes. Therefore, you should check out the NYC Sightseeing, NYC City Pass, and the GoCity PASS.
See which pass covers all the attractions you want to see since they all work great.
NYC Sightseeing Pass Here | NYC City Pass Here | GoCity PASS (I find to be the best priced)
New York Travel Guides and Itineraries
Believe it or not, New York is a huge State! While most people come to visit Manhattan, there are tons of things to do in the surrounding boroughs and cities.
Below, find New York itineraries, tips, and guides for the best experiences in New York!
Where to Stay in New York
You can find tons of accommodations across New York City. I use Booking (dot) com for almost all my stays.
If you plan on staying in Manhattan, I’d recommend staying in Midtown, Chelsea, or Soho, personally.
I know most people want to stay in Times Square, however, it is extremely touristy around this area and you would have a better experience outside of it.
