There is no dearth of guides when it comes to what you should be doing in New York City. In all fairness, you have the luxury and liberty to commit a few mistakes on a holiday and there is no wrong way to explore New York City. However, you can always try to avoid decisions that you may regret later. Here are some of the most common mistakes most tourists commit in New York City.
- Hailing a taxi is one of the worst moves in the city. Cabs are expensive, they will get stuck in traffic and you will not have a pleasant time trying to navigate the routes. Forget the maps and location based routing. You cannot avoid the traffic and you will pay a hefty fee. Take the subway. It is cheaper, faster and more convenient.
- Many tourists spend a lot of time at Times Square. It is a tourist hotspot and you should swing by to marvel at the giant signs and upscale stores. There is a lively touristy spirit here. But there is nothing that should keep you at Times Square for even half an hour, unless you are a photographer and want to test your mettle or you don’t mind spending big bucks on things you may not need.
- Everyone wants to gaze at the skyline of the city. It is romantic, thrilling and satiating in every way you can imagine. However, the Empire State Building is not the ideal place to enjoy the views. The observation deck is a tourist hotspot, scores of people lineup at every odd hour and you would have to pay fifty bucks if you want to avoid the queues. There are many rooftop bars all over the city wherefrom you can get just as amazing views of the skyline.
- New York City has plenty of places you should explore. You should not confine yourself to any one neighborhood. You should definitely visit Manhattan but you should also check out Brooklyn, Staten Island, Bronx and Queens. Many tourists rarely explore anything beyond Manhattan. It is not all that the city offers.
- The Statue of Liberty looks best from the shore and when you sail by on a ferry. You don’t need to stop over at the island and then climb up the stairs to the crown. You should know that fewer than three hundred people are permitted to take the stairs every day so it is likely you wouldn’t get tickets so it is pointless to stop by at the island.
- Avoid everything that is overpriced, be it the fancy bus tours or the otherworldly restaurants. You don’t need to dine at Applebee’s or Olive Garden to get a taste of New York City. There are dozens of amazing small to medium size restaurants, cafes and bars. The experience you would have at these places coupled with the affordable prices will leave you more than satiated.
- You should visit the most frequented places in the city but not at the cost of the less popular ones. There are numerous smaller museums, art galleries and theatres where you don’t need to spend a fortune and the exploration can be just as adventurous.
- Don’t take pedicab from streets of Manhattan. If you do not want to get rip off read carefully this article about New York City Pedicab or you can book Official Central Park Pedicab Services