First Time in New York - Travel tips for New York Tourist

Tips for visiting New York City for the First Time

NYC for the first time toursit

You've decided to visit New York? Awesome! Now the fun begins: planning and gathering practical information. To give you a big step ahead, we've included a list of the fundamentals that'll get your bearings greased for your trip to NYC.

The Basics

  • Electricity: North America has a voltage of 115-120 Hz. That means if you are coming from overseas in countries other than Japan, China, Taiwan, you are going to need
    an adapter to charge your devices.
  • Hours: You would think that a city that never sleeps never closes. Well, that's simply not true. For shopping other than groceries or pharmacies/ hygiene products, Monday - Saturday, almost all the shops open from 10:00am to 9:00pm (21:00) and on Sundays from 11:00am to 6pm (18:00). Of course there are exceptions, and for neighborhood corner delis and bodegas in Manhattan, they are usually 24hours and even some pharmacies such as Duane Reade or CVS, are also open 24hours.

  • Flights Deals

    You'll score the best deals on flights in January and February. Outside of these periods, it pretty much peak season all year round. Luckily, New York City is quite charming during the freezing months and especially so in central park when covered in snow.

    For flights we find Priceline or Skyscanner consistently offer the best or equals deals compare to other booking sites. Using the "name your own price" option, you can even find cheaper fares - but just be aware that the fares for this option are non-refundable.

    Hotels

    Ahh.. a cozy retreat during your New York adventure. Whether it's trendy SoHo or Meatpacking District or centrally located in Midtown's Hell's Kitchen or Near Grand Central, generally speaking anywhere in from Midtown and below are quite convenient to all the attractions. Even Upper East Side or Upper West isn't so bad but beyond that, you can be spending up to an hour by commuting depending on your destination.

    There are options if you are looking for affordable luxury. However, the period just after the New Years (January, February, early March) is the quietest which means you may also find awesome rates even in a 5-star hotel.

    Head on here to see our NYC hotel recommendations.

    Travel Guide

    Look no further, all the interesting and exciting places to go in NYC are here. Check out some of the local favorites while you are here and discover something for yourself while in the Big Apple. Also useful is to have a plan or plans to keep organized with locations and inside knowledge handy. FreshNYC have expertly curated the best New York ideas, so just bookmark and go.

    Airport Transports

    Once you're through customs ( which can take FoorEverr... ) and officially in New York (New Jersey if landing in Newark) soil. You will not see any of the famous skylines until you get closer to the city. So what the best way into the city? Several options:

    • Official NYC Taxi: Easiest and most costly. You'll spot the famous yellow cabbies at a gathering stand just outside of the airport. Beware of the guys who offer taxi service in their private cars or limo and if you do go that route and not wait in line, just be aware that the standard rate is $60 from JFK, so negotiate if you don't want to pay more excluding tips.
    • Other options are flight or Uber. We have not tried it but some riders report better fares with Lyft.

    • Airtrain + Subway: Unless you are heading to Jamaica, Queens, this is the slowest way but also the cheapest:
    • We recommend shared van service like Supper Shuttle, which takes you door to door
    • or Airport Express Bus if your destination is near Grand Central, Port Authority Terminal or Bryant Park which takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour. Buses depart every 15 - 30 minutes and you can purchase tickets and hop on in the bus area just outside of the Aiport .


    Everything about the Subway in New York

    Subway is a life-saver in New York. Convenient, fast and everywhere. Do you want all the in's and out's? Everything you need to know about the subway in New York , costs to routes, we have collected for you. Go here to read our guide to everything about NYC subway

    Tipping

    Tipping is always tricky for tourists, for some it's an art form. How much and when?

    New York tipping rules? It's a constant debate even amongst New Yorkers but there is an unofficial-official standards that are good to know. Here, we have put together for you,a guideline to - how to much to tip? to who? and when? NYC Tipping Etiquettes