Safety
New York is a safe city in the sense that over 50 million tourists visit each year. It’s the most visited city in the US because of its culture, arts, fashion, music as well as boasting it’s numerous tourist attractions including museums and landmarks. However, with the huge visitation status there is small forms of crime that takes place throughout the city which mainly takes place in forms of petty theft and scams that target tourists. In recent years there has also been a recent terrorist attack in 2017 but with this has brought an even larger police presence, making the tourists and residents of New York feel even safer. In this section I include 25 different scams and tips to protect your own well-being and personal safety while in New York. As there are so many points to cover I’ve organised them into categories dependant on the place or the general idea of the scam.
Times Square
Costumed Characters
Times Square is known as the “Crossworlds of The World” as there’s numerous attractions that attract tourists from all around the globe to “The City That Never Sleeps”. Although with this reputation many scam artists use this to their benefit by targeting unsuspecting tourists. While in Times Square you’ll see costumed characters, with many tourists taking photos with them, without the knowledge that these costumed characters expect a tip from taking a photo. This also happens in London where these costumed characters will get confrontational and intimidate the person posing for the picture to tip as this is expected. Do not feel pressured to take a photo with these costumed characters and if you do then go straight to a Times Square Safety Officer who will work in your favour to stop this from happening again.
Free CD Scam
The next scam is the “Free CD”, to which can be considered more of a tourist trap since these people target tourists walking past. The scammer will approach you offering a CD and start a conversation regarding what music the tourist likes, to which the scammer then offers to sign the CD as a good gesture. How sweet of them. Well this sweet attitude soon turns sour when the scammer then asks for payment for the CD that they’ve now signed, which is usually personalised by name to the tourist, which cannot be given back for that exact reason. The scammer will then pressure the person to pay for the CD and if lucky they’ll receive a couple of dollars but if not they will intimate the tourist into feeling guilty and handing over some money. If you do get pressured into buying a CD then when you finally put the CD on you’ll either find that the CD is blank or there’s low quality music on there - not what you were promised.
Restaurants
After avoiding all of these scams in Times Square you might find yourself hungry - well don’t sit down and eat at a restaurant there unless you want to pay for an overpriced meal and might be charged extra gratuity! There are a series of chain restaurants around New York which are safer options if you’re new to New York but the city is filled with smaller independent places that deserve the attention and recognition for their spectacular food. This food will often come in bigger portions and won’t break the bank, a perfect combination for saving money and experiencing the best of New York.
Souvenir Shops
The same rule applies to souvenir shops in Times Square - just don’t eat the magnets or t-shirts. The souvenir shops around this area will cost a lot more than other areas of New York. The worst part is when you get home the t-shirts that you thought you got for a bargain will end up being useless once washed as the quality can be abysmal.
Monks
The last thing to watch out for in Times Square is to be wary of the fake monks who are also found around tourist hotspots. A man dressed in an orange robe and modest clothing, resembling a monk, will walk around until they spot a target or a group of targets. The “monk” approaches and hands a piece of paper to the tourists stating they’re on a spiritual journey and need some money for their monastery so they can carry on their mission to spread peace to others. These “monks” aren’t just asking for a small donation but have the cheek to ask for upwards of $20 at times. If you dare ask questions regarding where this monastery is then the “monk” will pretend not to speak any English. What a shame. This isn’t just a scam but puts disrespect on the Buddhist faith and promoting a bad idea of genuine monks to which people may assume are scammers - this is simply not true.
Transport
Fake & Overpriced Taxis
New York has one of the most varieties of transport options, which ranges from the subway to ride share options which allows travellers from one area to transport to another area in no time. As New York is known for their yellow taxis, as it’s been a symbol of the city and seen in numerous films, it’s important to make sure that they’re legitimate. Unfortunately this scam happens both around the city but most commonly at John F. Kennedy Airport and other surrounding airports. The first sign of these scams beginning to happen will be the driver approaching you and asking if you want a ride, if you want a taxi you must hail one or you can wait in the taxi stand outside of the airport for one. The second sign that this is a scam is that there will be no meter in the taxi but the driver gives you a rough estimate to which they’ll quickly dismay once you’re on the road. A $50 journey can soon turn into a $300 journey with intimidation and pressure on the passenger to pay the fare. Other scams that may happen will be the driver switching the notes with a slight of hand trick if you hand over larger notes. Before getting into a taxi research the price of the fare and from there gather smaller notes and change to give to the driver to prevent this.
Bus Tours
The next tourist trap I’m going to mention is not a scam but will prevent tourists from spending money on an overpriced ticket to see New York which could easily be done with a $10 taxi ride and exploring attractions by foot. There are a range of different bus companies that offer tours of New York except for the fact that they don’t mention that you will be sitting in traffic for most of your journey and you may be waiting in long queues as these tours can become very popular. A one day ticket for a sightseeing tour can cost upwards of $40 - a lot of money for a tour that you can do by foot throughout your stay.
Bike Taxis & Pedicabs
Another form of transport that is a complete scam is the bike taxis and pedicabs. Some drivers have been known to charge tourists as much as $400 for a trip that would’ve barely cost them $3 on the subway or even $30 in a taxi. If you do have your heart set on getting in a pedicab then firstly study the rates, which is usually done per minute, and make sure that you can clearly see the drivers license. Take a picture of the rate card and while on your journey you can work out how much you will owe the driver by the end of your trip.
Panhandlers
If you decide to use the subway during your trip to New York then you will find that there are a lot of panhandlers (beggars) and some of them aren’t actually homeless. Some panhandlers will play on your heart strings by bringing a newborn baby with them or their children while they ask for money, if you refuse then you may be subject to a hurl of abuse. Panhandlers will often be spotted when they approach people asking for money for a train ticket, if you really do want to help this person then purchase a ticket for them rather than giving them money as it’s more likely that this money will be spent elsewhere.
Using The Subway/MetroCards
Once again if you decide to use the subway during your trip then make sure that you only purchase metro tickets from authorised sellers, such as the machines at subway stations as well as staffed ticket windows, never buy from someone selling a MetroCard. The first reason being is that it is illegal to buy or sell a MetroCard, if someone approaches you asking if you’d like to buy one then simply decline, walk away and inform a member of staff. The second reason being that you may believe that this person is leaving money on their MetroCard that they have no use for but in reality you will pay for a card that has nothing or a few cents on it.
Help With Using A MetroCard
Another scam regarding MetroCards will be the “friendly Samaritan” offering to help you use your MetroCard when in fact they will use a slight of hand trick to replace it with an expired one. As a tourist the scammer will expect that you don’t understand the logistics of using a MetroCard and will state that you will lose your money if swiped incorrectly, which is simply a lie, to which they ask to swipe your MetroCard for you. In seconds your topped up MetroCard will be switched and you’ll be none the wiser until you find out and the scammer is out of sight.
Food and Drink
Tipping
New York has some of the most incredible food I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating in my entire life. My holiday was mainly focused around finding the best food places to eat and where to get the biggest and best milkshake the city has to offer. I’m more than happy to tip remarkable food but more importantly impeccable service since workers rely on tips rather than being on a fixed wage like workers in the UK. As mentioned before there are some restaurants in Times Square and the surrounding areas that sell overpriced food but they may also add an unnecessary or increasingly high gratuity on your bill. A 15% gratuity is usually applied for parties of 8 or more but recent reports have seen diners of two or three being applied the same gratuity with the intention of getting more money out of tourists. Before paying for your bill quickly check that you are only paying for what you’ve ordered and that you aren’t being charged twice for a tip. On most receipts you will see information regarding how much 10% and 15% would work out to be for your specific bill, which is a guideline as to how much you should tip.
Food Vendors On The Streets of New York
If you decide you’d rather get food on the go rather than going to a restaurant then there are numerous food vendors on the streets of New York, which New York is also famous for. The huge majority of food vendors are licensed and operate legally with price lists easily in sight for potential customers to see. In spite of this there are some food vendors willing to deceive and overcharge customers just to make a few extra bucks. The scam goes as follows: the food vendor will find tourists who don’t speak much English or broken English and will hide the price list, which vendors are legally obligated to have in sight. Once they’ve taken their order the scammer proceeds to make food for them, whether it be a hot dog or simply a pretzel, to which the tourists will be charged extortionate prices. Unknowingly for the tourists they may have no clue regarding the currency and how much they are being charged for a hot dog that should be no more than $3 (when they’re being charged $10-15).
Selling Candy For A Good Cause
Speaking of being overcharged for items, the next scam is exactly that but in a simpler form. The scammers this time will be younger children who are pushed to sell candy by adults in on the scam and state that they’re raising money for a field trip or uniforms for a soccer team. If you take a minute to step back and think, no school would allow children to go out by themselves in such a busy city, especially selling unhealthy snacks. Once again these children will play on your heart strings to make you purchase a candy bar and make you think you’re doing something right-minded when unfortunately you’re not.
Attractions & Places
Staten Island Ferry
Before I travelled to New York I booked all of the attractions I wanted to see as well as planning what landmarks I wanted to visit during my stay. This not only saved me a lot of money as well as allowing me to plan around this but stops me from being scammed out of my hard earned cash. Instead of spending $20 to see the Statue of Liberty using cruise tours, I decided to use the Staten Island Ferry which is completely free and includes a view of the Statue of Liberty throughout its journey. Once again I’ll state that the Staten Island Ferry is FREE. The reason behind this being that scammers will stand outside of the ferry port and try to sell tickets to tourists wanting to use the Staten Island Ferry that look official but are no more than a printed bit of paper with a date, time and other information on it. These scammers may look official in the sense that they’re dressed in a uniform and may have some sort of badge on but this is just a hoax. If a tourist did fall for this scam, by the time they find out they have been scammed then the scammer and their hard earned cash would be well out of sight by now.
Empire State Building
Another scam regarding attractions would be a scammer dressed in uniform with a badge approaching tourists queuing outside of the Empire State Building who haven’t purchased their tickets yet. These tourists will be approached with an incredible offer (which of course is too good to be true) which they’ll be told tickets with the fastest route of entry is priced at around $55. Sounds like a good deal right? Wrong. These tickets are not express tickets, they have an added feature of a “SkyRide” option as well as being charged $69 for this. To my surprise the company promoting this scam apparently tells workers to push for a sale as they work for commission as well as this company overpricing for entrance tickets which are around $32 for a standard ticket.
Tours
Even though I never went on a tour while I was in New York I have heard from numerous people that there are scams regarding these tours. These tour companies will charge a lot of money and in return will give tourists a long wait for their actual tour to begin as well as being ill-advised on what the tour consists off. All in all these companies have led tourists to confirm that they’re a waste of money as well as leaving bad reviews across the Internet on sites such as Trip Advisor and on Google Maps. If you do want to go on a tour then there a range of companies with a strong reputation for pleasing customers and allowing customers to get their money's worth. More information can be found here: https://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/best-nyc-tours-and-walks. Always check the reviews and information regarding a certain tour before booking, better safe than sorry!
Canal Street
While in New York I did go to Canal Street, a place that prides itself in selling cheaper goods as well as knock-off goods and even stolen goods apparently. However, while writing this post I discovered that it’s in fact illegal to sell knock-off goods as well as many police being around the area to prevent this. The real scam in all of this is that some shops and sellers will claim that these knock-off goods are in fact genuine, to the naked eye they seem genuine, but a closer inspection you may see that the stitching is not precise as well as the material being slightly different. There’s even reports of illegal DVDs being sold which I believe come from a black market abroad as these DVDs have not yet come out at the cinema nor onto DVD. This brought me back to my childhood when I’d be having a family dinner in the pub when a lady would approach us asking if I wanted to see films that hadn’t even been released yet! As a 5-year-old girl thinking the world is all sunshine and rainbows, I always wondered how this personally magically had the DVD on them when I’d only just seen the trailer of it on TV and had begged my parents to take me to the cinema to see it.
Scalpers
The last scam I’m going to talk about for this section will be scalpers at Madison Square Garden - all I can say is DON’T BUY TICKETS FROM SCALPERS! If you really want to see a specific event, singer or band then buy tickets from a legitimate seller such as Ticketmaster or through the Madison Square Garden website. You can be scammed upwards of $100 for tickets that you believe to be an incredible deal but this excitement soon turns to disappointment as you realise these tickets are fake. Scalpers even have the audacity to do this in front of the police which adds to the fact that many people believe that these people are legitimate - this is simply not the case. If you want to buy last minute tickets then there are sites such as StubHub to which you’ll only pay a small premium on top of the original price.
General Scams
Pickpockets
As mentioned at the start of this section, New York attracts over 50 million tourists per year as well as growing population of just shy of 9 million people. In simple terms this makes New York a busy place, especially in tourist hotspots as well as on the subway, to which pickpockets see a golden opportunity. As always it’s crucial that you always have your bags in front of you and you’re always aware of your surroundings - a commotion can easily be used as a distraction for a pickpocket to open your bag and gain access to your valuables. This only takes a few seconds and will leave you without your purse/wallet, phone and any other essentials you may have on you. Don’t think about it too much or you’ll suspect everyone as a pickpocket - keep your belongings close to you and if you can put your hand over the zipper to prevent anyone gaining access.
Broken Bottle/Glasses Scam
Another scam in busy areas around New York is the broken bottle or broken glasses scam, even though the items scammers use are different, the scam is still exactly the same. It fools a large number of tourists as well as even fooling locals who have been living there for years. A scammer will walk past with a glass bottle or glasses and bump into you - making the item shatter or in the case of the glasses leave them scratched and dented. The scammer then creates a scene expressing to everyone and the victim how much money it had cost and demands that the victim pays for it at that moment. The victim, who by now feels guilty and is in shock for what they seemed to let happen, hands over money for what is described as an “irreplaceable item” when in reality it’s a cheap pair of glasses or a used wine bottle. The broken bottle scam can also be seen through the use of items such as a jar which contained ashes or an expensive vase handed down through generations. If this unfortunately happens to you then walk away no matter if you’re being shouted out and called out in front of everyone - go straight to a police officer and alert them to what had happened. You’ll find the scammer is out of sight - so much for getting money back for their broken glasses!
Free Newspaper - Don’t Mind If I Do! But I Have To Pay For It?
A scammer proudly announces they’re selling newspapers for just a dollar or two - what a bargain! Is it really though? Well yes, a newspaper that contains a range of information regarding what’s going in on New York as well as sections on entertainment, lifestyle and health - I wouldn't hesitate to buy! Well.. I’m sorry to tell you that the newspaper is actually free and you’ve just been swindled. In other instances people selling the newspaper have also claimed to be working for a service either benefiting the homeless or another charity in the area. I can understand why people fall for this scam, in the UK there is a charity called The Big Issue where people that are in poverty are able to gain employment by selling newspapers to passers by. When people travel abroad they may think nothing of it when they buy a newspaper for such a small price thinking their intentions and money will go to someone in need.
Money Exchange At The Airport
Exchanging money at the airport isn’t necessarily a scam, in a sense you’ll still be getting genuine dollars from your currency but you won’t be getting the best rate possible - if anything the rate given is one of the worst. While exchanging your money, the cashier behind the desk might count your money so slowly that since you’re in a rush to get into the heart of New York you’ll just take whatever they give you so you can get going. If you really need to exchange money then there are a range of places within New York to exchange your money, the first would be withdrawing your money through an ATM and the second being searching around for rates in the city itself. There’s another option, which would be using a prepaid travel card which holds specific currency, I reviewed the Revolut card which I now use on every trip I go on - more information can be found here.
Electronic Stores
Around a month ago I travelled to Gran Canaria where some of the electronic stores overcharge, sell fake merchandise and should be avoided at all costs have gotten to New York. If you’d like to see the full detailed post I wrote about the electronics scam I found once there, then click here. I found that some shops in New York charged extortionate prices for pieces of technology such as headphones that are priced at $60 in these shops whereas in generic supermarkets such as Walmart or Target these headphones cost around $25 or less. If you buy from a supermarket you’ll also be given the satisfaction of peace of mind knowing you can return your items if you find them faulty or if you simply don’t want them anymore. Additionally in most cases you will be given the option to purchase a warranty if one is not already provided with the product you’ve purchased. If buying from an electronics store then I’d doubt you’d receive a warranty or even given the peace of mind knowing that these shops will take back an item deemed faulty or nonfunctional. If anything you will end up being overcharged with a product that doesn’t work and end up being out of pocket - you don’t want this to happen and spoil your holiday. Walk past those signs stating that there’s 50% off - it’s too good to be true.
Accommodation
Rental Scam
If you’ve decided to get an apartment rather than go to a hostel or hotel in New York then make sure you don’t get scammed out of your money by going through unofficial sites. These sites can include Craigslist or even through a simple Google search onto a website or web page. I’ve heard countless stories of people being given a confirmation from the owner, which includes information such as a receipt of payment, an address to the apartment and even images as to what they’ll receive upon arrival. The unfortunate reality is that these scammers will require their guests to put forward a deposit or pay it in full to prove that they won’t back out and in turn won't allow the owner of the apartment to lose money. What the scammer is actually doing is getting as much money as they can before disappearing and failing to reply to emails and texts from the guests, once the guests arrive they’ll find out the address is for a shop or hotel - not the apartment they’ve paid for. If you have your heart set on getting an apartment then there’s two things you can do. The first would be using sites such as Airbnb as they’re a reputable company as well as being a company you can go through if you have any complaints or if the apartment wasn’t as promised in the images or description given. Even though you may pay that little bit extra, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your booking is confirmed and payment has been done through a secure site. The second thing you can do is that if you do find an apartment through Craigslist, at your own risk, then you can ask the owner if a person you know in New York can visit - if the owner replies then most likely the owner is legitimate. If you receive the address of the property then do as much research as you can into where it is and if it’s as described. If you’re using a website other than popular ones such as Airbnb then ask ahead and see if they’d take responsibility for both your booking and payment if it turns out to be a scam.
Times Square
Costumed Characters
Times Square is known as the “Crossworlds of The World” as there’s numerous attractions that attract tourists from all around the globe to “The City That Never Sleeps”. Although with this reputation many scam artists use this to their benefit by targeting unsuspecting tourists. While in Times Square you’ll see costumed characters, with many tourists taking photos with them, without the knowledge that these costumed characters expect a tip from taking a photo. This also happens in London where these costumed characters will get confrontational and intimidate the person posing for the picture to tip as this is expected. Do not feel pressured to take a photo with these costumed characters and if you do then go straight to a Times Square Safety Officer who will work in your favour to stop this from happening again.
Free CD Scam
The next scam is the “Free CD”, to which can be considered more of a tourist trap since these people target tourists walking past. The scammer will approach you offering a CD and start a conversation regarding what music the tourist likes, to which the scammer then offers to sign the CD as a good gesture. How sweet of them. Well this sweet attitude soon turns sour when the scammer then asks for payment for the CD that they’ve now signed, which is usually personalised by name to the tourist, which cannot be given back for that exact reason. The scammer will then pressure the person to pay for the CD and if lucky they’ll receive a couple of dollars but if not they will intimate the tourist into feeling guilty and handing over some money. If you do get pressured into buying a CD then when you finally put the CD on you’ll either find that the CD is blank or there’s low quality music on there - not what you were promised.
Restaurants
After avoiding all of these scams in Times Square you might find yourself hungry - well don’t sit down and eat at a restaurant there unless you want to pay for an overpriced meal and might be charged extra gratuity! There are a series of chain restaurants around New York which are safer options if you’re new to New York but the city is filled with smaller independent places that deserve the attention and recognition for their spectacular food. This food will often come in bigger portions and won’t break the bank, a perfect combination for saving money and experiencing the best of New York.
Souvenir Shops
The same rule applies to souvenir shops in Times Square - just don’t eat the magnets or t-shirts. The souvenir shops around this area will cost a lot more than other areas of New York. The worst part is when you get home the t-shirts that you thought you got for a bargain will end up being useless once washed as the quality can be abysmal.
Monks
The last thing to watch out for in Times Square is to be wary of the fake monks who are also found around tourist hotspots. A man dressed in an orange robe and modest clothing, resembling a monk, will walk around until they spot a target or a group of targets. The “monk” approaches and hands a piece of paper to the tourists stating they’re on a spiritual journey and need some money for their monastery so they can carry on their mission to spread peace to others. These “monks” aren’t just asking for a small donation but have the cheek to ask for upwards of $20 at times. If you dare ask questions regarding where this monastery is then the “monk” will pretend not to speak any English. What a shame. This isn’t just a scam but puts disrespect on the Buddhist faith and promoting a bad idea of genuine monks to which people may assume are scammers - this is simply not true.
Transport
Fake & Overpriced Taxis
New York has one of the most varieties of transport options, which ranges from the subway to ride share options which allows travellers from one area to transport to another area in no time. As New York is known for their yellow taxis, as it’s been a symbol of the city and seen in numerous films, it’s important to make sure that they’re legitimate. Unfortunately this scam happens both around the city but most commonly at John F. Kennedy Airport and other surrounding airports. The first sign of these scams beginning to happen will be the driver approaching you and asking if you want a ride, if you want a taxi you must hail one or you can wait in the taxi stand outside of the airport for one. The second sign that this is a scam is that there will be no meter in the taxi but the driver gives you a rough estimate to which they’ll quickly dismay once you’re on the road. A $50 journey can soon turn into a $300 journey with intimidation and pressure on the passenger to pay the fare. Other scams that may happen will be the driver switching the notes with a slight of hand trick if you hand over larger notes. Before getting into a taxi research the price of the fare and from there gather smaller notes and change to give to the driver to prevent this.
Bus Tours
The next tourist trap I’m going to mention is not a scam but will prevent tourists from spending money on an overpriced ticket to see New York which could easily be done with a $10 taxi ride and exploring attractions by foot. There are a range of different bus companies that offer tours of New York except for the fact that they don’t mention that you will be sitting in traffic for most of your journey and you may be waiting in long queues as these tours can become very popular. A one day ticket for a sightseeing tour can cost upwards of $40 - a lot of money for a tour that you can do by foot throughout your stay.
Bike Taxis & Pedicabs
Another form of transport that is a complete scam is the bike taxis and pedicabs. Some drivers have been known to charge tourists as much as $400 for a trip that would’ve barely cost them $3 on the subway or even $30 in a taxi. If you do have your heart set on getting in a pedicab then firstly study the rates, which is usually done per minute, and make sure that you can clearly see the drivers license. Take a picture of the rate card and while on your journey you can work out how much you will owe the driver by the end of your trip.
Panhandlers
If you decide to use the subway during your trip to New York then you will find that there are a lot of panhandlers (beggars) and some of them aren’t actually homeless. Some panhandlers will play on your heart strings by bringing a newborn baby with them or their children while they ask for money, if you refuse then you may be subject to a hurl of abuse. Panhandlers will often be spotted when they approach people asking for money for a train ticket, if you really do want to help this person then purchase a ticket for them rather than giving them money as it’s more likely that this money will be spent elsewhere.
Using The Subway/MetroCards
Once again if you decide to use the subway during your trip then make sure that you only purchase metro tickets from authorised sellers, such as the machines at subway stations as well as staffed ticket windows, never buy from someone selling a MetroCard. The first reason being is that it is illegal to buy or sell a MetroCard, if someone approaches you asking if you’d like to buy one then simply decline, walk away and inform a member of staff. The second reason being that you may believe that this person is leaving money on their MetroCard that they have no use for but in reality you will pay for a card that has nothing or a few cents on it.
Help With Using A MetroCard
Another scam regarding MetroCards will be the “friendly Samaritan” offering to help you use your MetroCard when in fact they will use a slight of hand trick to replace it with an expired one. As a tourist the scammer will expect that you don’t understand the logistics of using a MetroCard and will state that you will lose your money if swiped incorrectly, which is simply a lie, to which they ask to swipe your MetroCard for you. In seconds your topped up MetroCard will be switched and you’ll be none the wiser until you find out and the scammer is out of sight.
Food and Drink
Tipping
New York has some of the most incredible food I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating in my entire life. My holiday was mainly focused around finding the best food places to eat and where to get the biggest and best milkshake the city has to offer. I’m more than happy to tip remarkable food but more importantly impeccable service since workers rely on tips rather than being on a fixed wage like workers in the UK. As mentioned before there are some restaurants in Times Square and the surrounding areas that sell overpriced food but they may also add an unnecessary or increasingly high gratuity on your bill. A 15% gratuity is usually applied for parties of 8 or more but recent reports have seen diners of two or three being applied the same gratuity with the intention of getting more money out of tourists. Before paying for your bill quickly check that you are only paying for what you’ve ordered and that you aren’t being charged twice for a tip. On most receipts you will see information regarding how much 10% and 15% would work out to be for your specific bill, which is a guideline as to how much you should tip.
Food Vendors On The Streets of New York
If you decide you’d rather get food on the go rather than going to a restaurant then there are numerous food vendors on the streets of New York, which New York is also famous for. The huge majority of food vendors are licensed and operate legally with price lists easily in sight for potential customers to see. In spite of this there are some food vendors willing to deceive and overcharge customers just to make a few extra bucks. The scam goes as follows: the food vendor will find tourists who don’t speak much English or broken English and will hide the price list, which vendors are legally obligated to have in sight. Once they’ve taken their order the scammer proceeds to make food for them, whether it be a hot dog or simply a pretzel, to which the tourists will be charged extortionate prices. Unknowingly for the tourists they may have no clue regarding the currency and how much they are being charged for a hot dog that should be no more than $3 (when they’re being charged $10-15).
Selling Candy For A Good Cause
Speaking of being overcharged for items, the next scam is exactly that but in a simpler form. The scammers this time will be younger children who are pushed to sell candy by adults in on the scam and state that they’re raising money for a field trip or uniforms for a soccer team. If you take a minute to step back and think, no school would allow children to go out by themselves in such a busy city, especially selling unhealthy snacks. Once again these children will play on your heart strings to make you purchase a candy bar and make you think you’re doing something right-minded when unfortunately you’re not.
Attractions & Places
Staten Island Ferry
Before I travelled to New York I booked all of the attractions I wanted to see as well as planning what landmarks I wanted to visit during my stay. This not only saved me a lot of money as well as allowing me to plan around this but stops me from being scammed out of my hard earned cash. Instead of spending $20 to see the Statue of Liberty using cruise tours, I decided to use the Staten Island Ferry which is completely free and includes a view of the Statue of Liberty throughout its journey. Once again I’ll state that the Staten Island Ferry is FREE. The reason behind this being that scammers will stand outside of the ferry port and try to sell tickets to tourists wanting to use the Staten Island Ferry that look official but are no more than a printed bit of paper with a date, time and other information on it. These scammers may look official in the sense that they’re dressed in a uniform and may have some sort of badge on but this is just a hoax. If a tourist did fall for this scam, by the time they find out they have been scammed then the scammer and their hard earned cash would be well out of sight by now.
Empire State Building
Another scam regarding attractions would be a scammer dressed in uniform with a badge approaching tourists queuing outside of the Empire State Building who haven’t purchased their tickets yet. These tourists will be approached with an incredible offer (which of course is too good to be true) which they’ll be told tickets with the fastest route of entry is priced at around $55. Sounds like a good deal right? Wrong. These tickets are not express tickets, they have an added feature of a “SkyRide” option as well as being charged $69 for this. To my surprise the company promoting this scam apparently tells workers to push for a sale as they work for commission as well as this company overpricing for entrance tickets which are around $32 for a standard ticket.
Tours
Even though I never went on a tour while I was in New York I have heard from numerous people that there are scams regarding these tours. These tour companies will charge a lot of money and in return will give tourists a long wait for their actual tour to begin as well as being ill-advised on what the tour consists off. All in all these companies have led tourists to confirm that they’re a waste of money as well as leaving bad reviews across the Internet on sites such as Trip Advisor and on Google Maps. If you do want to go on a tour then there a range of companies with a strong reputation for pleasing customers and allowing customers to get their money's worth. More information can be found here: https://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/best-nyc-tours-and-walks. Always check the reviews and information regarding a certain tour before booking, better safe than sorry!
Canal Street
While in New York I did go to Canal Street, a place that prides itself in selling cheaper goods as well as knock-off goods and even stolen goods apparently. However, while writing this post I discovered that it’s in fact illegal to sell knock-off goods as well as many police being around the area to prevent this. The real scam in all of this is that some shops and sellers will claim that these knock-off goods are in fact genuine, to the naked eye they seem genuine, but a closer inspection you may see that the stitching is not precise as well as the material being slightly different. There’s even reports of illegal DVDs being sold which I believe come from a black market abroad as these DVDs have not yet come out at the cinema nor onto DVD. This brought me back to my childhood when I’d be having a family dinner in the pub when a lady would approach us asking if I wanted to see films that hadn’t even been released yet! As a 5-year-old girl thinking the world is all sunshine and rainbows, I always wondered how this personally magically had the DVD on them when I’d only just seen the trailer of it on TV and had begged my parents to take me to the cinema to see it.
Scalpers
The last scam I’m going to talk about for this section will be scalpers at Madison Square Garden - all I can say is DON’T BUY TICKETS FROM SCALPERS! If you really want to see a specific event, singer or band then buy tickets from a legitimate seller such as Ticketmaster or through the Madison Square Garden website. You can be scammed upwards of $100 for tickets that you believe to be an incredible deal but this excitement soon turns to disappointment as you realise these tickets are fake. Scalpers even have the audacity to do this in front of the police which adds to the fact that many people believe that these people are legitimate - this is simply not the case. If you want to buy last minute tickets then there are sites such as StubHub to which you’ll only pay a small premium on top of the original price.
General Scams
Pickpockets
As mentioned at the start of this section, New York attracts over 50 million tourists per year as well as growing population of just shy of 9 million people. In simple terms this makes New York a busy place, especially in tourist hotspots as well as on the subway, to which pickpockets see a golden opportunity. As always it’s crucial that you always have your bags in front of you and you’re always aware of your surroundings - a commotion can easily be used as a distraction for a pickpocket to open your bag and gain access to your valuables. This only takes a few seconds and will leave you without your purse/wallet, phone and any other essentials you may have on you. Don’t think about it too much or you’ll suspect everyone as a pickpocket - keep your belongings close to you and if you can put your hand over the zipper to prevent anyone gaining access.
Broken Bottle/Glasses Scam
Another scam in busy areas around New York is the broken bottle or broken glasses scam, even though the items scammers use are different, the scam is still exactly the same. It fools a large number of tourists as well as even fooling locals who have been living there for years. A scammer will walk past with a glass bottle or glasses and bump into you - making the item shatter or in the case of the glasses leave them scratched and dented. The scammer then creates a scene expressing to everyone and the victim how much money it had cost and demands that the victim pays for it at that moment. The victim, who by now feels guilty and is in shock for what they seemed to let happen, hands over money for what is described as an “irreplaceable item” when in reality it’s a cheap pair of glasses or a used wine bottle. The broken bottle scam can also be seen through the use of items such as a jar which contained ashes or an expensive vase handed down through generations. If this unfortunately happens to you then walk away no matter if you’re being shouted out and called out in front of everyone - go straight to a police officer and alert them to what had happened. You’ll find the scammer is out of sight - so much for getting money back for their broken glasses!
Free Newspaper - Don’t Mind If I Do! But I Have To Pay For It?
A scammer proudly announces they’re selling newspapers for just a dollar or two - what a bargain! Is it really though? Well yes, a newspaper that contains a range of information regarding what’s going in on New York as well as sections on entertainment, lifestyle and health - I wouldn't hesitate to buy! Well.. I’m sorry to tell you that the newspaper is actually free and you’ve just been swindled. In other instances people selling the newspaper have also claimed to be working for a service either benefiting the homeless or another charity in the area. I can understand why people fall for this scam, in the UK there is a charity called The Big Issue where people that are in poverty are able to gain employment by selling newspapers to passers by. When people travel abroad they may think nothing of it when they buy a newspaper for such a small price thinking their intentions and money will go to someone in need.
Money Exchange At The Airport
Exchanging money at the airport isn’t necessarily a scam, in a sense you’ll still be getting genuine dollars from your currency but you won’t be getting the best rate possible - if anything the rate given is one of the worst. While exchanging your money, the cashier behind the desk might count your money so slowly that since you’re in a rush to get into the heart of New York you’ll just take whatever they give you so you can get going. If you really need to exchange money then there are a range of places within New York to exchange your money, the first would be withdrawing your money through an ATM and the second being searching around for rates in the city itself. There’s another option, which would be using a prepaid travel card which holds specific currency, I reviewed the Revolut card which I now use on every trip I go on - more information can be found here.
Electronic Stores
Around a month ago I travelled to Gran Canaria where some of the electronic stores overcharge, sell fake merchandise and should be avoided at all costs have gotten to New York. If you’d like to see the full detailed post I wrote about the electronics scam I found once there, then click here. I found that some shops in New York charged extortionate prices for pieces of technology such as headphones that are priced at $60 in these shops whereas in generic supermarkets such as Walmart or Target these headphones cost around $25 or less. If you buy from a supermarket you’ll also be given the satisfaction of peace of mind knowing you can return your items if you find them faulty or if you simply don’t want them anymore. Additionally in most cases you will be given the option to purchase a warranty if one is not already provided with the product you’ve purchased. If buying from an electronics store then I’d doubt you’d receive a warranty or even given the peace of mind knowing that these shops will take back an item deemed faulty or nonfunctional. If anything you will end up being overcharged with a product that doesn’t work and end up being out of pocket - you don’t want this to happen and spoil your holiday. Walk past those signs stating that there’s 50% off - it’s too good to be true.
Accommodation
Rental Scam
If you’ve decided to get an apartment rather than go to a hostel or hotel in New York then make sure you don’t get scammed out of your money by going through unofficial sites. These sites can include Craigslist or even through a simple Google search onto a website or web page. I’ve heard countless stories of people being given a confirmation from the owner, which includes information such as a receipt of payment, an address to the apartment and even images as to what they’ll receive upon arrival. The unfortunate reality is that these scammers will require their guests to put forward a deposit or pay it in full to prove that they won’t back out and in turn won't allow the owner of the apartment to lose money. What the scammer is actually doing is getting as much money as they can before disappearing and failing to reply to emails and texts from the guests, once the guests arrive they’ll find out the address is for a shop or hotel - not the apartment they’ve paid for. If you have your heart set on getting an apartment then there’s two things you can do. The first would be using sites such as Airbnb as they’re a reputable company as well as being a company you can go through if you have any complaints or if the apartment wasn’t as promised in the images or description given. Even though you may pay that little bit extra, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your booking is confirmed and payment has been done through a secure site. The second thing you can do is that if you do find an apartment through Craigslist, at your own risk, then you can ask the owner if a person you know in New York can visit - if the owner replies then most likely the owner is legitimate. If you receive the address of the property then do as much research as you can into where it is and if it’s as described. If you’re using a website other than popular ones such as Airbnb then ask ahead and see if they’d take responsibility for both your booking and payment if it turns out to be a scam.
Accommodation
When researching where to stay in New York, I had hundreds upon hundreds of choices of hotels, apartments and B&B's. However, the one downside about New York is that it is very expensive - even if you book your accommodation at a low rate. As I was there for 9 nights the prices started going into the thousands, it's safe to say I felt overwhelmed while looking at these prices. There were numerous factors I had to consider too: what the hotel offers, the reviews of the hotel, the location, different transport links as well as making sure that I wasn't too far from the heart of New York. For example, I didn't want to be right on top of Times Square or be in an area that's deemed unsafe after a certain time. As New York is the city that never sleeps, I hoped that I would be the one that actually got some sleep! As I had planned to go during July, I would be there for Independence Day (4th July) which also bumped up the prices of accommodation around New York. Could I find somewhere to stay amongst all of these factors as well as without breaking the bank? I could! I found a hotel which was located just one block from The Empire State Building as well as being just a ten minute walk to Times Square, Madison Square Gardens and being surrounded by shops - including the largest department store in New York - the world-famous Macy's. The idea of this hotel got even better when I discovered it was of the Hilton chain which boasted a three star rating. Luckily this hotel wasn't located on a main street but one that was surrounded by other hotels, restuarants and shops - making it very quiet both during the day and at night. Even though I was within walking distance of numerous attractions and landmarks, there were more than enough transport links surrounding the hotel. These included 34th Street-Herald Square Station which connects with lines B, D, F, M, N, Q, R and W which goes all around New York and even better the station is located less than a minutes walk from the hotel itself. There are numerous bus and coach stations which includes bus/coach routes QM2, QM10, QM12 QM20, QM24, BxM2 M5, M7 and M55. This hotel is The Hilton Garden Inn West 35th Street - a hotel I would recommend for tourists visiting New York City who want to enjoy the city but enjoy the peace and quiet from within their hotel. I would also recommend this hotel to those who want to have a luxurious stay with a highly respected company without breaking the bank and their budget.
The Hilton Garden Inn West 35th Street has a 24 hour reception, this not only being handy for people who arrive during all hours of the day but also for those who have experienced the city that never sleeps. If you do need anything throughout your stay then the Hilton Garden Inn has you covered - there's a 24 hour access to a computer and printer as well as a 24 hour convenience pantry which is useful for guests not wanting to leave the hotel but get the essentials they need to enjoy their stay. The staff that worked on reception were friendly throughout our stay and helped us with numerous problems that we had, these included finding a hospital as I needed urgent care and sending someone to come and fix our fridge when it suddenly stopped working during our stay. The staff were very polite, with us departing from the hotel and arriving back with a smile and a welcome from the staff each time. If you arrive before the check-in time or you're leaving New York later during the day then The Hilton Inn does give guests the opportunity to store their bags safely in a secured baggage room. Upon check-in the hotel gave us two bottles of water, as there was two of us, which was a God send as we had just made a 10 minute walk in the scorching heat with two suitcases to the hotel from Penn Station. There was only one issue I experienced during check-in which was the hotel had asked for a debit/credit card to place a security deposit on which turned out to be $150. On their website they don't state this precaution at all which meant me and my friend both had to use our spending money to pay for this but it was returned on the 7th day of our stay. From there we were given our room keys and explained how to use the elevator: you can only use it if you have your key card - simply insert it into the lift and press the button for your desired floor. The elevators were very spacious and could easily hold three people with six items of luggage at a squeeze. The only fault I had was that the elevators did take their time during busy periods such as early morning and late at night but either way a little wait never hurt anyone.
The room we stayed in was on the 8th floor and we didn't have much of a view as we had decided not to pay extra to get a view of the Empire State Building. Either way we didn't come to New York to look out of the window. I was simply amazed by the size of our room, it was massive! We had reserved a double room which came with two double beds, which were sized more like queen sized beds as I could roll myself with the duvet numerous times before falling from the bed. The room also came with a desk area, a cupboard which included hangers and a safe as well as another storage area with an iron and ironing board. The room then had even more storage compartments underneath the TV and next to the AC we had a cupboard, coffee machine, microwave, mini fridge as well as being provided with cups and other necessities needed for making coffee. The safe was very easy to operate and I had no troubles storing my items throughout my stay - with the password being easy to reset when needed. The only fault I had was that for two people staying nearly 2 weeks, we would need more than 8/9 hangers as my friend had to share mine and we struggled to fit everything on. The room was so large that me and my friend had more than enough space to put our suitcases and shopping so that they were out of our way throughout our stay. The AC produced a small noise but then again I'd prefer going into an air conditioned room with a small noise rather than being stuck in the heat. There's settings for the AC on the wall allowing people to change the temperature of the room and if needed to turn it off. The desk area in the room was perfect when I needed space to look over notes I had written as well as being enough space to store documents. There's more than enough charging ports throughout the room, with most of them being connected to the lamps on the desk and the night stand between the two beds. The nightstand itself had a drawer and space underneath to store pyjamas and other items we needed throughout our stay such as portable chargers, towels and adaptors. The bed itself was one of the most comfortable beds I've stayed in - it had three large pillows and I felt as if I was melting into the bed - the duvet felt like silk as it was just so soft and I slept like a baby throughout my stay. The curtains in the room blocked out all sunlight, allowing me to have a well deserved lay in but the alarm next to my bed made sure I was able to wake for the activities I've booked. Another small fault I had was housekeeping trying to come in my room at 9am and on other days the housekeeping wouldn't arrive until 1/2pm - maybe it's bad on my part for not putting the sign in front of my room to "Do Not Disturb". Maybe it was a mistake as 9am does seem early but then again with over 200 rooms to clean no wonder housekeeping wanted to make a head start. The bathroom itself was very large and had more than enough space to allow us to comfortably move around. There was a bath and shower - giving choice to guests staying there which many hotels don't offer. Everyday we were given three towels and three face towels as well as two smaller towels next to the sink. I was amazed and delighted to see that there was Neutrogena products given to guests which included shampoo, conditioner and body lotion which were refreshed each day by the housekeeping. There was a hairdryer included - a powerful and full sized hairdryer rather than a small one connected to the wall. The WiFi was complimentary and required guests to simply sign up using their surname as well as their room number. This WiFi was fast enough to watch Netflix without any buffering as well as allowing me to check social media without an issue and run my website from the comfort of my bed. There is an option to purchase WiFi which starts at $3.95 per day, which is optional, but for me the complimentary WiFi was more than good enough for my stay. Additionally, there is an option to purchase breakfast which costs $30 a day (I believe), per person. I opted out of this and decided to buy breakfast myself which ended up being cheaper but then again it's up to the individual. I would recommend Andrew's Coffee Shop, Paris Baguette and other smaller chains in the area for breakfast if you decide not to eat at the hotel.
The hotel was $2,100 (approximately £1,690) for nine nights, which worked out to be $1,050 per person, as there were two of us - this then works out as $116 per night, per person. Considering that this hotel holds a 3 star rating as well as being of the Hilton chain and featuring all of the amenities mentioned, I consider this to be incredible value. I chose not to stay in the heart of New York mainly because of the hefty price tag that came along with it as well as the reminder that New York is the city that never sleeps. Hotels that are in locations such as Times Square and Chelsea boasts price tags that weigh in at around $300-400 a night purely because of the location and factoring in the star rating, which in these areas are usually very high. If you want a hotel that will fulfil all of your needs and allow you to have a pleasant stay while in New York then The Hilton Garden Inn/West 35th Street is the one!
The Hilton Garden Inn West 35th Street has a 24 hour reception, this not only being handy for people who arrive during all hours of the day but also for those who have experienced the city that never sleeps. If you do need anything throughout your stay then the Hilton Garden Inn has you covered - there's a 24 hour access to a computer and printer as well as a 24 hour convenience pantry which is useful for guests not wanting to leave the hotel but get the essentials they need to enjoy their stay. The staff that worked on reception were friendly throughout our stay and helped us with numerous problems that we had, these included finding a hospital as I needed urgent care and sending someone to come and fix our fridge when it suddenly stopped working during our stay. The staff were very polite, with us departing from the hotel and arriving back with a smile and a welcome from the staff each time. If you arrive before the check-in time or you're leaving New York later during the day then The Hilton Inn does give guests the opportunity to store their bags safely in a secured baggage room. Upon check-in the hotel gave us two bottles of water, as there was two of us, which was a God send as we had just made a 10 minute walk in the scorching heat with two suitcases to the hotel from Penn Station. There was only one issue I experienced during check-in which was the hotel had asked for a debit/credit card to place a security deposit on which turned out to be $150. On their website they don't state this precaution at all which meant me and my friend both had to use our spending money to pay for this but it was returned on the 7th day of our stay. From there we were given our room keys and explained how to use the elevator: you can only use it if you have your key card - simply insert it into the lift and press the button for your desired floor. The elevators were very spacious and could easily hold three people with six items of luggage at a squeeze. The only fault I had was that the elevators did take their time during busy periods such as early morning and late at night but either way a little wait never hurt anyone.
The room we stayed in was on the 8th floor and we didn't have much of a view as we had decided not to pay extra to get a view of the Empire State Building. Either way we didn't come to New York to look out of the window. I was simply amazed by the size of our room, it was massive! We had reserved a double room which came with two double beds, which were sized more like queen sized beds as I could roll myself with the duvet numerous times before falling from the bed. The room also came with a desk area, a cupboard which included hangers and a safe as well as another storage area with an iron and ironing board. The room then had even more storage compartments underneath the TV and next to the AC we had a cupboard, coffee machine, microwave, mini fridge as well as being provided with cups and other necessities needed for making coffee. The safe was very easy to operate and I had no troubles storing my items throughout my stay - with the password being easy to reset when needed. The only fault I had was that for two people staying nearly 2 weeks, we would need more than 8/9 hangers as my friend had to share mine and we struggled to fit everything on. The room was so large that me and my friend had more than enough space to put our suitcases and shopping so that they were out of our way throughout our stay. The AC produced a small noise but then again I'd prefer going into an air conditioned room with a small noise rather than being stuck in the heat. There's settings for the AC on the wall allowing people to change the temperature of the room and if needed to turn it off. The desk area in the room was perfect when I needed space to look over notes I had written as well as being enough space to store documents. There's more than enough charging ports throughout the room, with most of them being connected to the lamps on the desk and the night stand between the two beds. The nightstand itself had a drawer and space underneath to store pyjamas and other items we needed throughout our stay such as portable chargers, towels and adaptors. The bed itself was one of the most comfortable beds I've stayed in - it had three large pillows and I felt as if I was melting into the bed - the duvet felt like silk as it was just so soft and I slept like a baby throughout my stay. The curtains in the room blocked out all sunlight, allowing me to have a well deserved lay in but the alarm next to my bed made sure I was able to wake for the activities I've booked. Another small fault I had was housekeeping trying to come in my room at 9am and on other days the housekeeping wouldn't arrive until 1/2pm - maybe it's bad on my part for not putting the sign in front of my room to "Do Not Disturb". Maybe it was a mistake as 9am does seem early but then again with over 200 rooms to clean no wonder housekeeping wanted to make a head start. The bathroom itself was very large and had more than enough space to allow us to comfortably move around. There was a bath and shower - giving choice to guests staying there which many hotels don't offer. Everyday we were given three towels and three face towels as well as two smaller towels next to the sink. I was amazed and delighted to see that there was Neutrogena products given to guests which included shampoo, conditioner and body lotion which were refreshed each day by the housekeeping. There was a hairdryer included - a powerful and full sized hairdryer rather than a small one connected to the wall. The WiFi was complimentary and required guests to simply sign up using their surname as well as their room number. This WiFi was fast enough to watch Netflix without any buffering as well as allowing me to check social media without an issue and run my website from the comfort of my bed. There is an option to purchase WiFi which starts at $3.95 per day, which is optional, but for me the complimentary WiFi was more than good enough for my stay. Additionally, there is an option to purchase breakfast which costs $30 a day (I believe), per person. I opted out of this and decided to buy breakfast myself which ended up being cheaper but then again it's up to the individual. I would recommend Andrew's Coffee Shop, Paris Baguette and other smaller chains in the area for breakfast if you decide not to eat at the hotel.
The hotel was $2,100 (approximately £1,690) for nine nights, which worked out to be $1,050 per person, as there were two of us - this then works out as $116 per night, per person. Considering that this hotel holds a 3 star rating as well as being of the Hilton chain and featuring all of the amenities mentioned, I consider this to be incredible value. I chose not to stay in the heart of New York mainly because of the hefty price tag that came along with it as well as the reminder that New York is the city that never sleeps. Hotels that are in locations such as Times Square and Chelsea boasts price tags that weigh in at around $300-400 a night purely because of the location and factoring in the star rating, which in these areas are usually very high. If you want a hotel that will fulfil all of your needs and allow you to have a pleasant stay while in New York then The Hilton Garden Inn/West 35th Street is the one!
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Where to visit & What to do
Before travelling to New York I had already planned what I had wanted to do and already paid for the majority of the attractions and tours I had planned to go on. However, as I developed a UTI while in New York, I was limited to what I was able to do but regardless, I’m still going to mention places that are worthwhile to visit. As I used the subway to get to nearly every attraction, even though my hotel was near the city centre, I’m going to add information regarding the transport links rather than the address of attractions and landmarks.
Times Square
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Nearest Subway Station: Times Sq - 42 St (1, 2, 3, 7, A, C, E, N, Q, R, W & S)
Ticket Prices: Times Square is a location in New York, therefore it's free. Even though there's hundreds upon hundreds of different places and attraction to visit in Times Square, I'm only going to include the most popular and worthwhile attractions that I found interesting. Places such as Madame Tussaud's didn't interest me so I never visited, therefore I cannot comment on it or include it on my blog. If you're visiting Times Square and would like more information on what there is to do and visit then visit the Official Times Square Website by clicking here. The bright lights and the energetic crowds make Times Square a popular tourist attraction, for a range of different reasons. There's the Broadway Theatre District which has hit musicals such as Chicago, The Lion King, Wicked, The Book of Mormon and Mean Girls - there's hundreds of others with tons of shows happening throughout the day. However, if you prefer to go to a comedy club then Times Square won't disappoint with places such as LOL Times Square Comedy Club, Gotham Comedy Club and Caroline's on Broadway. If you want a break from the crowds and want to relax then I would recommend spending an evening listening to a range of comedians with a relaxing atmosphere. These comedy clubs also promote up and coming comedians as well as comedians who are widely recognised and praised for their humour. If comedy clubs and a theatre show is not your cup of tea then there's AMC Empire 25, a cinema located in the heart of Times Square which shows both mainstream and independent films with the choice of IMAX viewings for certain showings. Tickets are as low as $9 for an adult, an incredible price and it gets even better as the US has films premiered before certain countries, such as the UK, I was able to watch Spider-Man: Far From Home when it had just come out and I believe it came out a few days later in the UK. Either way it was a great film and there are more than enough choices for everyone as well as frequent showings throughout the day - if you have a few hours to spare then I would recommend seeing a film! Times Square is profoundly known for it's vast variety of shops that allows tourists to shop until you drop - I shopped here so much that my suitcase ended up being overweight and I struggled to wheel it throughout my journey. There's good discounts to be had throughout Times Square such as in Forever 21, one of my favourite shops in the UK and when I visited in Times Square I was far from disappointed. There's numerous floors with numerous sales on - I got loads of clothes at an unbeatable price and there's even a photo booth to get a photo souvenir to remind you of the time that you broke the bank and immediately regretted it. Other clothing shops in the area include the Hard Rock Souvenir Shop, Adidas, H&M, Disney, Apple and many others - at all of these shops you can get branded goods and electronics at a price that will make you look twice. Just remember in some instances that tax will be added on at the register - for visitors to New York this will be 8-9% so if you want to quickly calculate it when you pick up an item just add 10% from the price and then take away some small change. Midtown Comics in Times Square is a comic book store I wish I'd visited more throughout my time in New York as this hidden gem holds both vintage and newly released comic books. You could easily spend hours in here just browsing the colourful array of comic books and collectables - even if you're not a massive comic book fan you'll certainly enjoy yourself. If you have a sweet tooth then there are choices for you too! M&M's World has 25,000 square feet of pure M&M's and merchandising. There's every flavour you could imagine in this store and you have the choice to either buy sealed packs of M&M's or make your own with all your favourite flavours - just remember to check the price before you buy! Hershey's Chocolate World is heaven for me - I had to restrain myself from buying a gigantic chocolate bar that I could barely pick up even though it just seemed destined for me. The merchandise sold in Hershey's Chocolate World would make good souvenirs or gifts for friends and family but the only thing you would have to be careful with is making sure it doesn't melt by the time you get back to your hotel or when you fly back home. If you're not the biggest fan of chocolate then Times Square still has you covered with Dylan's Candy Bar which really does look like a scene from Wreck-It Ralph with the vibrant colours and candy going as far back as the eye can see. There's even an option to grab some ice cream at the Soft Serve Ice Cream Mini Bar. If you have a ticket to Madame Tussaud's then you're able to visit the 7th floor and get options upon options at the Full Sized Candy Bar - the name is enough to make you want to purchase tickets. I will warn those going to chocolate shops and candy stores that it's very expensive unless you can find merchandise on sale or discounted items. I would recommend that tourists become familiar with the tourist traps and scams of Times Square, for example the person handing out a "free" CD as they push people into buying it once they've signed it. Another tourist trap is when characters across Times Square will come up to you and ask for a picture but then will expect a tip afterwards and can become very pushy if you don't give them one. If you're visiting Times Square then be careful of pickpockets and be prepared to not get anywhere in a hurry. I visited Times Square at 6pm and could barely move - it took me around 15 minutes to get to the subway station which should've taken me a 5 minute walk. If you want to buy souvenirs then I wouldn't recommend buying them in Times Square as they can be overpriced depending on who you visit, if you want souvenirs then take a trip to China Town. |
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Empire State Building
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Nearest Subway Station: 34th Street - Herald Square Station (B, D, F, M, N, Q, R and W)
Ticket Prices: Ticket prices range between $36 and $460 depending on the type of experience you'd prefer while visiting. The most popular tickets are the Main Deck - 86th Floor ($36) which is a Standard Pass. There's a reduced rate of admission for Seniors and Children. More information can be found here - https://www.esbnyc.com/buy-tickets. The Empire State Building is more than just a popular landmark in New York but an immersive experience with spectacular views that will leave you simply speechless. The building itself is 102-stories high and stands an impressive 1,454 feet when including the antenna spire which makes it the 5th tallest skyscraper in the US and a holds a place as the 29th tallest skyscraper in the world. When visiting you won't be able to miss it and you may hurt your neck if you look up at it for too long as it's just simply gigantic. Before travelling to New York one of the first attractions I booked up was a Standard Ticket to visit The Empire State Building, which granted me an entry time of 4 hours within a specific time frame. As I've heard that The Empire State Building can get quite busy throughout the day, I made the decision to visit as soon as it opened (8am), to which I was surprised to find that people were already queuing up to get inside. Either way I was one of the first to enter and before even going up to the actual observation deck, there's an informal photo opportunity, to which there were crowds beginning to form as soon as I had my picture done. As there was a handful of people already there I took my time, got my photo, and took a leisurely stroll to security. The security there were friendly but gave no direction as to what had to be placed in the tray - I was unsure whether phones were supposed to be separated from bags and what was permitted as well as what wasn't. Either way I made it through security, got a professional photo done and then made my way to the lifts which took you up to the 84th floor - while walking along this floor there is a wide range of information regarding The Empire State Building. This information includes when it was completed (May 1, 1931) as well as the design for the building when it was being planned. The Empire State Building has even been named as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers - giving it the recognition and a sense of importance to the building. There's references to The King Kong movies throughout the years, with the posters featuring King Kong on The Empire State Building. Not only did The Empire State Building see it's feature in The King Kong Movies but it also starred in Love Affair (1939), An Affair To Remember (1957), Empire (1964), Love Affair (1994) and more recently The Amazing Spider-Man (2012). From there there's the main lift you need to take, which takes you to the 84th floor. Staff try to put a reasonable amount of people in each lift but in the heat it can make it very sweaty and soon unbearably hot. Although I understand why the staff do this as that want to cut the queue times as well as allowing a steady flow of people up to the 84th floor. During this short ride, which takes around 30 seconds to a minute, there's a video that plays on the ceiling of the lift which looks so realistic and adds an element of enjoyment to a standard ride. Once you get to the floor you'll be ushered towards the many exits onto the platform to enjoy the view. The views are simply breathtaking - there's no other way to say it. It's incredible to see such an enormous city from a view that makes everything seem so small and peaceful. Even though I got there super early, when it first opened, it started to become busy at around 9am as there were a range of families and schools visiting. People will take up a lot of space when taking pictures and some people can become very rude if you get in their area while they're taking a picture. Take your picture and then make space for other people to do the same - you don't need 102 photos of you doing the same pose! Additionally parents will push their kids in front of you so they can get a better view - just be prepared to wait if you visit during a busier period such as midday or late afternoon as well as visiting for sunset. The gift shop is moderately priced and you can buy professional photos which are printed and digitally downloaded via a website for $18 (per print). If you want to get the most out of your experience there's an app that The Empire State Building offers guests, which can be downloaded throughout the building using the free WiFi. The name of the app is called The Empire State Building Guide which gives visitors information regarding the featured tenants, construction and even stunning photographs of the Tower Lights. There's even two quizzes regarding building trivia and pop culture - this app would be perfect if you're stuck waiting in a queue to get to the 84th floor and need to kill some time. The app supports 8 languages including English, Spanish, French, Dutch, Italian and Japanese. The idea behind this app was to become an audio and visual companion for visitors to get a fully immersive experience and I can attest to that! The app was a knowledgeable feature that kept me entertained as I walked through the building. Just a word of warning - be careful with your phones and cameras! If they drop from the 84th floor I can assure you it will be in a million pieces and swept away by the time you get back down there. |
Statue of Liberty & Staten Island Ferry
Nearest Subway Station: Whitehall Street (1, R & W)
Ticket Prices: The Staten Island Ferry is FREE, which gives visitors a beautiful view of the Statue of Liberty but does not let passengers depart and visit the Statue of Liberty. Tickets can be booked if you wish to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island - https://www.statueoflibertytickets.com/Statue-Of-Liberty-Tours/.
The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of hope and freedom for millions of people when they emigrated to the US, is one of the most popular attractions in New York. It currently stands at 115 feet and has a very extensive and rich history behind it, which makes the visit even more important for those visiting New York. A French political intellectual and anti-slavery activist named Edouard de Laboulaye first proposed that a statue be built for the United States. The Statue of Liberty was then created by a French sculptor named Frederic Auguste Bartholdi in 1870 with the idea that the statue would be "Liberty Enlightening the World". Even though the Statue of Liberty was originally designed to be a symbol of friendship between France and the US, it's now globally recognised as a symbol of freedom and democracy. For over 10 million immigrants arriving to New York, the first thing they would've seen would be Lady Liberty to which people would cry, rejoice and hug each other - with excitement filling their hearts with the promise of freedom and the dream of a new life suddenly becoming a reality. Even during World War I and World War II The Statue of Liberty symbolised and represented what soldiers were fighting for - that liberty, equality, and fraternity are ideals to live by. The US continues to be a country that's fascinating with strong ideals in the pursuit for happiness as well as being a country that is diverse. While reading this information it made me realise how lucky I am to be in a country without fear and needing to flee as well as the privileges that I have. Many hundreds of thousands to millions of people do not have the same privileges as most of us, with their right and fight for a better life, we must remember to treat others with kindness and respect - the good in humanity needs to shine more light on the darkness.
The Staten Island Ferry is completely free. Avoid people trying to sell tickets - no matter how much they explain that the Staten Island Ferry is an attraction you have to pay for, this is simply untrue. Upon entering the entrance it was clear what times the ferry would be departing, which is every half hour, as well as what door it would be departing from. I arrived just after 1pm, meaning I had just missed the 1pm ferry departing, but meant I was near the front for the 1:30pm ferry. By the time the ferry had come there was so many people standing there - as far as the eye could see. As soon as the members of staff working there opened the doors people began pushing and shoving to try and get on. As I was at the front I was able to get onto the ferry first and get a spot on the right hand side of the ferry. There was more than enough space for everyone but some people will push their children to the front so they can get a good view. If you leave your spot for a second don't be surprised when someone else takes it.
The ferry itself was clean and spacious - with areas for tourists to stand as well as places to sit down if you decide you've seen enough of Lady Liberty. On the way to Staten Island I chose to stand on the right hand side of the ferry and got incredible views of both Lady Liberty and the Manhattan Skyline both when departing and arriving back at Manhattan. Even if you don't have much interest in seeing Lady Liberty then this is a great way to spend 25 minutes out of your day to relax and get a free ferry journey! Once you arrive at Staten Island there are a range of restaurants and shops avaliable to passengers while they wait another 30 minutes for the next ferry to depart to make the return journey. There's free WiFi avaliable both on the ferry and at the terminal - both with very fast speeds and enough to check social media or emails while you wait. On the ferry there's a snack bar where passengers can buy all types of food and drinks - I'd recommend buying food and drink before getting onto the ferry to save money and giving you more time to enjoy the view. Considering this ferry journey is completely free it's incredible! You can even make a day out of it by going to Staten Island and visiting the shops nearby as I saw many people coming back with tons of shopping bags. There's a shopping outlet called Empire Outlets, which would be a great way to spend a day as well as saving money.
Ticket Prices: The Staten Island Ferry is FREE, which gives visitors a beautiful view of the Statue of Liberty but does not let passengers depart and visit the Statue of Liberty. Tickets can be booked if you wish to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island - https://www.statueoflibertytickets.com/Statue-Of-Liberty-Tours/.
The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of hope and freedom for millions of people when they emigrated to the US, is one of the most popular attractions in New York. It currently stands at 115 feet and has a very extensive and rich history behind it, which makes the visit even more important for those visiting New York. A French political intellectual and anti-slavery activist named Edouard de Laboulaye first proposed that a statue be built for the United States. The Statue of Liberty was then created by a French sculptor named Frederic Auguste Bartholdi in 1870 with the idea that the statue would be "Liberty Enlightening the World". Even though the Statue of Liberty was originally designed to be a symbol of friendship between France and the US, it's now globally recognised as a symbol of freedom and democracy. For over 10 million immigrants arriving to New York, the first thing they would've seen would be Lady Liberty to which people would cry, rejoice and hug each other - with excitement filling their hearts with the promise of freedom and the dream of a new life suddenly becoming a reality. Even during World War I and World War II The Statue of Liberty symbolised and represented what soldiers were fighting for - that liberty, equality, and fraternity are ideals to live by. The US continues to be a country that's fascinating with strong ideals in the pursuit for happiness as well as being a country that is diverse. While reading this information it made me realise how lucky I am to be in a country without fear and needing to flee as well as the privileges that I have. Many hundreds of thousands to millions of people do not have the same privileges as most of us, with their right and fight for a better life, we must remember to treat others with kindness and respect - the good in humanity needs to shine more light on the darkness.
The Staten Island Ferry is completely free. Avoid people trying to sell tickets - no matter how much they explain that the Staten Island Ferry is an attraction you have to pay for, this is simply untrue. Upon entering the entrance it was clear what times the ferry would be departing, which is every half hour, as well as what door it would be departing from. I arrived just after 1pm, meaning I had just missed the 1pm ferry departing, but meant I was near the front for the 1:30pm ferry. By the time the ferry had come there was so many people standing there - as far as the eye could see. As soon as the members of staff working there opened the doors people began pushing and shoving to try and get on. As I was at the front I was able to get onto the ferry first and get a spot on the right hand side of the ferry. There was more than enough space for everyone but some people will push their children to the front so they can get a good view. If you leave your spot for a second don't be surprised when someone else takes it.
The ferry itself was clean and spacious - with areas for tourists to stand as well as places to sit down if you decide you've seen enough of Lady Liberty. On the way to Staten Island I chose to stand on the right hand side of the ferry and got incredible views of both Lady Liberty and the Manhattan Skyline both when departing and arriving back at Manhattan. Even if you don't have much interest in seeing Lady Liberty then this is a great way to spend 25 minutes out of your day to relax and get a free ferry journey! Once you arrive at Staten Island there are a range of restaurants and shops avaliable to passengers while they wait another 30 minutes for the next ferry to depart to make the return journey. There's free WiFi avaliable both on the ferry and at the terminal - both with very fast speeds and enough to check social media or emails while you wait. On the ferry there's a snack bar where passengers can buy all types of food and drinks - I'd recommend buying food and drink before getting onto the ferry to save money and giving you more time to enjoy the view. Considering this ferry journey is completely free it's incredible! You can even make a day out of it by going to Staten Island and visiting the shops nearby as I saw many people coming back with tons of shopping bags. There's a shopping outlet called Empire Outlets, which would be a great way to spend a day as well as saving money.
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9/11 Memorial & Museum
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Nearest Subway Station: WTC Cortlandt (1)
Ticket Prices: There are a range of different ticket prices dependant on what ticket you buy. The 9/11 Museum & Memorial Ticket is $26 but there is reduced admission and free admission for certain individuals. More information can be found on the Official 9/11 Museum and Memorial Website - https://www.911memorial.org/visit-museum-1. While visiting New York I wanted to pay my respects to those who were tragically killed by the terror attacks on September 1st, 2001 (9/11). On this day there were four coordinated terrorist attacks which killed 2,997 victims and the 19 hijackers who took part in these monstrous events. These attacks effected New York City, Washington, DC and outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania but undeniably had an impact on everyone in both the US and around the World. While these attacks happened I was only 2 years old and safe in my home in London, at twenty years old I now constantly reflect on those who may have gone into work early, gone into work for a business meeting or those on a plane journey which became routine to them to then never see their loved ones again. Thousands of innocent people paid the price and millions more were forever hurt and broken from the events that seemed a complete and utter shock - how could this have happened? As I got older I watched more documentaries regarding 9/11 to see a sea of people flee from the buildings, those trying to get in touch with loved ones as well as those fleeing from the cloud of dust and ash - it seemed as though it couldn't be real but unfortunately it is. Even members of my family were supposed to visit The Twin Towers on the day of September 1, 2001 but were late leaving their hotel, therefore missing the attacks and thankfully being safe when it happened. While it's important to pay our respects to those who lost their lives, it's also important to recognise and praise those who selflessly went back into the buildings to save others and the fire departments who worked tirelessly trying to help those still trapped inside. The 9/11 Memorial is located where The Twin Towers once stood, which has now been turned into two grey pools that feature waterfalls for a tribute to the past events and a place of home for the future. This memorial left me speechless and gave everyone there a moment to reflect over the names of every person who died in the terrorist attacks of February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001. Each name is inscribed in bronze around these memorial pools and at night these names are illuminated. Each day an employee of the memorial goes outside and lays a white rose on the nameplate of every victim celebrating a birthday. The 9/11 Memorial is open to the public free of charge but while there please be respectful. I saw some couples taking selfies and images with the memorial in the background - for me this is disrespectful and utterly shocking to see. This is a memorial dedicated for those innocent lives who were taken - not a photo opportunity for you to take a selfie with the memorial. The 9/11 Museum is located between the two sites and within the foundations of the former Twin Towers, located just behind the 9/11 Memorial. Once inside the museum is structured in a way that you will feel as you're following the timeline of events, the first part of the museum is explaining what 9/11 was and the amount of suffering it caused on the 11th September 2001. From there you can go at your own pace to wander around a specific part of the museum dedicated to the victims, their names being said aloud and listening to their last words to their family. It's a very moving exhibit that includes family members and friends of victims who speak about the tragic incident. The next part of the museum focuses on the aftermath as well as the rescue - both ordinary people on their way to work and firefighters trying to help those trapped in the buildings and those rescued from there. There's pieces of the building as well as fire engines that were there, which have been well preserved and I was shocked to see - it really hits home about what had happened and on such an enormous scale. There's videos and images of the cloud of dust and paper filling the streets. There's also accounts from people who were caught up in this and from watching it you can see the shock on their faces as well as them trying to hold back their emotions. The museum shows the tragedy of what happened, the bravery of those involved trying to rescue people inside the building as well as the scars that still affects hundreds of thousands of people all across the world. You will certainly feel a chill down your spine when you watch videos which report the attacks as they just happened and hear the accounts from families and friends of victims. This museum allows you to go at your own pace and provides tissues around the museum as it can become a very emotional experience for some. Please respect the museum when they state you cannot touch certain exhibits as well as stating no photography in certain places. “No Day Shall Erase You From The Memory Of Time” - Virgil Aeneid. This famous quote is made out of steel from the buildings of the World Trade Center and is surrounded by blue painted squares. These blue painted squares which are tiles represent the blue sky that was present on the morning of 9/11. There's 2,983 individually watercolored tiles for each victim that lost their lives — each blue is a unique and different shade. It was created by Spencer Finch who titled this work Trying to Remember the Colour of the Sky on That September Morning, from a distance it looks as if it could be a decorative stone mosaic. I would recommend buying tickets in advance for the museum as you're able to skip the queue and spend only a few minutes going through security. I would also recommend getting an audio guide as you could easily spend all day here by reading and looking at each display as well as the information next to it. The 9/11 museum and Memorial is an emotional experience - walking through the story of what happened and the timeline of events that unfolded. It really reminds everyone that this event didn't only effect the victims and their families but Americans and the rest of the world. Everyone still remembers this atrocity and what the victims suffered but this museum makes sure their memory lives on - through even stating their names on the Memorial their memory is kept alive. |
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$1 Pizza
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Nearest Subway Station: Depends on the place you visit - there are numerous $1 Pizza places around New York.
Prices: I have a feeling that it's only $1.. Not sure why though. $1. A note that could be found anywhere - a dollar on the sidewalk or finding small change that people merely lose and thinking nothing more of it. Even my tax came to more than a dollar when shopping - it's something that I glanced over and saw being added to my total. In New York the dollar slice of pizza has become a beloved haven for those after a night out or those wanting to have lunch without breaking the bank. But luckily finding a single $1 slice of pizza has become even easier. I visited 2 Bros Pizza and was able to get myself 2 slices of pizza and a can of soda for a mere $2.99! That price is simply incredible! Especially as I was trying to save money throughout my stay in New York wherever I could - $1 slice of pizza is the way! These slices aren't small in the slightest, if anything I asked for two slices and these filled me up surprisingly. I would recommend anyone visiting New York to try out the $1 slice of pizza. Especially since people have raved all over the world about it and New York has become known for their cheap slices of pizza that cost less than a single subway ride. I would be careful when going to these places as there seems to be a rise in prices when ordering anything but a slice of margherita. Some places have even risen their prices to $2.50 for a slice of pizza with toppings such as pepperoni, sausage, meat or other common pizza toppings. Regardless the $1 slice of pizza has become so popular that even on YouTube people have made videos reviewing different places in New York as well as seeing if they can survive on $1 slices of pizza for 24 hours. As someone from London who goes for a meaty kebab after a night out, the $1 pizza seems to be the New York version of comfort eating or something to grab while on the go. Don't expect anything too fancy though - it is a slice of $1 pizza. Some establishments do offer gluten-free pizza slices as well as even vegan pizza slices - there's something for everyone! Hopefully in the coming years the prices still stay the same and there'll still be the hidden gem of the $1 slice of pizza - rather than the $2 slice of pizza because it just doesn't have the same ring to it. Plus it would be a dollar more - it just defeats the whole idea. |
Little Italy
Nearest Subway Station: Canal Street (6, J, N, Q, R, W & Z) and Grand Street (B & D)
Ticket Prices: As Little Italy is a neighbourhood in New York, it's free for everyone to visit.
Little Italy is a neighbourhood in Manhattan which originated in the 1880's after immigrants from Naples and Sicily came to New York into the area we now know as Little Italy. Although, back in the 1880's Little Italy stretched from Canal to Houston Streets, which is between Lafayette Street and the Bowery. Nowadays Little Italy has shrunk and now centres around Mulberry Street between Canal Street and Broome Street. Even though this neighbourhood has shrunk there is still countless restuarants with authentic Italian dishes as well as other remarkable buildings that preserve the rich history of Little Italy. Unfortunately, some parts of Little Italy have become victim to becoming overpriced and a tourist trap for tourists visiting. Regardless, there are numerous things to see and do when in Little Italy - you'll find the entrance by a large sign saying "Welcome To Little Italy" which is just a short walk from Canal Street and Grand Street Station.
Even though there's so much to see and do, I've compiled a short list of attractions and buildings people should visit as well as including information regarding Little Italy and organised crime. I haven't included any restuarants or pizzerias as each individual will have their own tastes and budgets.
Ticket Prices: As Little Italy is a neighbourhood in New York, it's free for everyone to visit.
Little Italy is a neighbourhood in Manhattan which originated in the 1880's after immigrants from Naples and Sicily came to New York into the area we now know as Little Italy. Although, back in the 1880's Little Italy stretched from Canal to Houston Streets, which is between Lafayette Street and the Bowery. Nowadays Little Italy has shrunk and now centres around Mulberry Street between Canal Street and Broome Street. Even though this neighbourhood has shrunk there is still countless restuarants with authentic Italian dishes as well as other remarkable buildings that preserve the rich history of Little Italy. Unfortunately, some parts of Little Italy have become victim to becoming overpriced and a tourist trap for tourists visiting. Regardless, there are numerous things to see and do when in Little Italy - you'll find the entrance by a large sign saying "Welcome To Little Italy" which is just a short walk from Canal Street and Grand Street Station.
Even though there's so much to see and do, I've compiled a short list of attractions and buildings people should visit as well as including information regarding Little Italy and organised crime. I haven't included any restuarants or pizzerias as each individual will have their own tastes and budgets.
- Church of the Most Precious Blood - Originally established in 1888 this National Parish was set up to accommodate and serve the quickly growing number of Italian immigrants who had found home in what is known as Little Italy. Throughout the years it's been the centre for those wishing to celebrate The Feast of San Gennaro, held yearly in September, for which a mass is held at the church on the last Saturday of the festival.
- The Feast of San Gennaro - Throughout Little Italy residents and visitors celebrate The Feast of San Gennaro through an 11-day festival which consists of live musical performances and even a cannoli-eating competition. It was originally a celebration that lasted a day but evolved when Italian immigrants continued the tradition they had followed in Italy to celebrate Saint Januarius (the Patron Saint of Naples). If you're in New York during September then don't hesitate to go to Little Italy to join in with the celebrations and festivities!
- Mulberry Street Cigars - What could be so special without a cigar shop? Well it was the previous location of the Hawaiian Moonlighters Social Club - which was known as the hangout spot for John Gotti and his crew. Well who is John Gotti? He was an Italian-American gangster who became boss of the Gambino Crime Family in New York. The history behind John Gotti is an extensive and shocking one - he rose to be one of the most famous, powerful and dangerous figures throughout New York throughout the 1960's and 1970's.
- Italian American Museum - In 2001 the Italian American Museum was opened and became a small museum dedicated to showing the struggles and achievements of Italian-Americans. This museum also exhibits Italian American history, culture and heritage but currently it is under redevelopment and will be expected to open in Fall 2020.
- Street Art in Mulberry - Throughout Little Italy there is a range of beautiful and colourful artwork which belongs to The L.I.S.A. Project (Little Italy Street Art Crawl). This project is a non-profit run organisation with the goal of creating Manhattan’s first and only mural district which has been a huge success. Little Italy doesn't allow billboards and advertisements as it's a historic district but there is no restriction on artwork, my favourite being Audrey of Mulberry by Tristan Eaton - giving a nod to Breakfast at Tiffany's. There's currently over 200 murals, each with their own theme but the same colourful attention to detail that gives vibrancy and life to Little Italy.
- St Patrick’s Old Cathedral - Another historic landmark in Little Italy is St Patrick's Old Cathedral as it was the first Roman Catholic Church in New York, which was built between 1809 and 1815. In 1836 it was subject to a sack (looting) after there were tensions between Irish Catholics and Know-Nothing nativists - which led from physical confrontation to eventually the cathedral becoming the centre of attack but was luckily defended. In later years the cathedral was subject of a fire in 1866 but from there it was once again reformed and opened again in 1868. The baptism scene in The Godfather was filmed at St Patrick's Old Cathedral as well as the scene from The Godfather III where Michael Corleone receives an honour from the church.
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Chinatown
Nearest Subway Station: Canal Street (6, J, N, Q, R, W & Z)
Ticket Prices: As Chinatown is a neighbourhood in New York, it's free for everyone to visit.
The vibrant neighbourhood that draws those from all around New York for their incredible food and markets is known as Chinatown. Early immigration to Chinatown started in the 1850's, with a popular figure called Ah Ken who became the first businessman in Chinatown who founded a very popular cigar store in Park Row. He was the first to found a cigar store but certainly not the last - Ah Ken's success encouraged William Longford, John Occoo, and John Ava, who were cigar makers, to try their luck in Chinatown. This business venture was a successful one as they were able to start a monopoly on the cigar trade. Similar to Little Italy, there was a period of Chinese gangs controlling certain areas of Chinatown, which went on for years but eventually quietened down just before the turn of the century. However, throughout the 1960's the population of Chinatown as well as the US increased dramatically as there were more immigrants being allowed into the country through the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. Unfortunately, as there were more people immigrating to Chinatown, the crime became so bad that some were scared to leave their homes and walk down the street. There were also crimes such as burglary, rape and theft that left those afraid and some even moved out of Chinatown into other areas of New York. Luckily, Chinatown is a very safe place nowadays and it has become very popular - attracting tourists and foodies to find some of the best dishes without the hefty price tag.
Even though there's so much to see and do, I've compiled a short list of attractions and buildings people should visit while in Chinatown. I haven't included any restuarants as each individual will have their own tastes and budgets.
Ticket Prices: As Chinatown is a neighbourhood in New York, it's free for everyone to visit.
The vibrant neighbourhood that draws those from all around New York for their incredible food and markets is known as Chinatown. Early immigration to Chinatown started in the 1850's, with a popular figure called Ah Ken who became the first businessman in Chinatown who founded a very popular cigar store in Park Row. He was the first to found a cigar store but certainly not the last - Ah Ken's success encouraged William Longford, John Occoo, and John Ava, who were cigar makers, to try their luck in Chinatown. This business venture was a successful one as they were able to start a monopoly on the cigar trade. Similar to Little Italy, there was a period of Chinese gangs controlling certain areas of Chinatown, which went on for years but eventually quietened down just before the turn of the century. However, throughout the 1960's the population of Chinatown as well as the US increased dramatically as there were more immigrants being allowed into the country through the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. Unfortunately, as there were more people immigrating to Chinatown, the crime became so bad that some were scared to leave their homes and walk down the street. There were also crimes such as burglary, rape and theft that left those afraid and some even moved out of Chinatown into other areas of New York. Luckily, Chinatown is a very safe place nowadays and it has become very popular - attracting tourists and foodies to find some of the best dishes without the hefty price tag.
Even though there's so much to see and do, I've compiled a short list of attractions and buildings people should visit while in Chinatown. I haven't included any restuarants as each individual will have their own tastes and budgets.
- Museum at Eldridge Street - The Museum at Eldridge Street is home to the Eldridge Street Synagogue. The Eldridge Street Synagogue is not only one of the first synagogues created in the US by Eastern European Jews but it also has become a National Historical Landmark in Chinatown. The Museum at Eldridge Street is one of the only remaining markers that signifies the great wave of Jewish emigration to the Lower East Side - this is shown through information regarding immigrant life as well as allowing visitors to explore objects that have been preserved since then.
- Columbus Park - If you want to spend some time in the sunshine and away from the crowds in Chinatown then Columbus Park is the place to be. However, it was deemed to be the most dangerous ghetto area throughout New York in past years but has now been transformed to a community hub and a place that kids gather to play. While visiting Columbus Park there were numerous people playing chess together and throughout the day numerous people perform traditional Chinese music - a lovely gathering place for the Chinese community and visitors.
- Mmuseumm - No, I didn't make a spelling error - that's the actual name of the museum! The museum is focused on storytelling about the modern world - current events happening throughout the world can be expressed through objects and artwork. Every subject is covered throughout this museum, with a minimalist approach which has proved effective to getting the message across to visitors. If you're still considering whether or not you should visit - the $5 suggested donation should work in your favour!
- Doyers Street - Even though there are numerous shops around Chinatown, Doyers Street has it all - it was once the most deadliest street in American history. There's a barbers shop, several restuarants, souvenir shops as well as numerous places to grab a quick bite to eat or enjoy some bubble tea with numerous flavours being offered. One of the most famous places along Doyers Street is Nom Wah Tea Parlour, which became Chinatown’s first tea parlour which opened in 1920. While inside you can find out even more information regarding the rich history of the restaurant and the owners, through the good times and the bad times.
- Buying souvenirs & gifts - Throughout Chinatown there are a number of different souvenir shops that sell memorable items and objects that I'd rather not mention and pretend that I didn't see. Either way the prices in these shops are unbeatable, I was able to get around 10 different gifts, from t-shirts to a baby grow, for under $30. As I've already mentioned, there are people who will stop you on the street and ask if you'd like to buy "real" designer goods, which at a closer look are clearly fake and knock-offs. Selling counterfeit goods is a crime!
- Aji Ichiban Candy Store - One of my favourite places in Chinatown was Aji Ichiban - their wide range of candy with every flavour you could imagine to the inexpensive prices of candy which costs around triple here in the UK. Don't be fooled by the Japanese name of the store, this store sells hundreds of different candies as well as a selection of chocolate, nuts, seafood and gummy candies. If you don't have a sweet tooth or are apprehensive about buying anything, the shop does have a wide variety of testers. Just make sure you you don't end up eating all of them!
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American Museum of Natural History
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Nearest Subway Station: 81st Street (B & C)
Ticket Prices: There are a range of different ticket prices dependant on what tickets you buy. The General Admission Ticket is $23 but there is reduced admission and free admission for certain individuals. Additionally, the American Museum of Natural History operates on a "Pay-As-You-Wish" basis. More information can be found on the Official American Museum of Natural History Website - https://ticketing.amnh.org/#/tickets. Visiting the American Museum of Natural History should be something every visitor does while on their trip to New York. There are excellent transport links such as two subway stations nearby, the closest being 81st Street which uses the lines B & C (depending on the day you visit). You can also get numerous buses such as the M79, M7, M10 and M11 with a range of other bus routes just a stones throw away from the Museum. I would recommend getting off at 81st Street and then walking to a smaller side entrance as when I visited there was no queues as well as me and my friend being able to walk straight through security with no queues into the museum. I visited around 10am on a weekday but there were a large amount of groups and school children visiting which made it a little bit harder to get around as well as waiting in lines to see certain exhibits. The museum is open from 10am to 5:45pm with exceptions on Thanksgiving and Christmas day where the museum is closed. As soon as you enter the museum you can redeem prebooked tickets for an actual ticket or purchase tickets. Many people don't realise that this museum operates on a "Pay-As-You-Wish" basis which allows visitors to give as much or as little as they want. Some visitors paid $1 while others paid the suggested rate of around $20 (which I had no complaints about) - if you're on a budget hopefully this helps! There are also a range of different ticket options: GA, GA +1 and GA + All which additionally range in price but allows visitors to see exhibits, films and a Space Show. Make sure you pick up a map as you enter as it can become extremely confusing with the numerous floors as the museum is so large. It's deemed to be the largest natural history museum in the US as it holds 33 million specimens which can be seen through the 28 interconnected buildings which in turn house 45 permanent exhibit halls. Over 5 million people visit the American Museum of Natural History which makes it one of the most popular attractions in New York so I would advise going early in the morning or as soon as the museum opens. There are five different floors, each with dedicated sections regarding Earth and Space Halls, Fossil Halls, Animal Halls, Environmental Halls, Human and Culture Halls as well as Temporary Exhibitions. The map makes it crystal clear what halls you will be visiting as well as giving clear guidance to those wishing to visit the toilets, cafes, gift shops as well as finding an elevator. All floors have their own main exhibits, which were interesting and fascinating but attracted large crowds as well as a sea of phones taking pictures. I'm more than happy that there was a large representation and halls for South Americans, Mexico and Central America, African Peoples as well as Asia. All of these halls have more than enough information on a specific topic, with large and small exhibits and information that is quick to read while not being too heavy. There's a range of interactive exhibits such as "What Would You Weigh On The Moon?" as well as being able to watch a short video in the Hayden Big Bang Theatre (which is also free with General Admission Tickets). One of the main reasons I visited was to relive my childhood when watching The Night At The Museum and reenact the "Dum Dum Gum Gum" scene from the film. There was also many other exhibits that I saw that were from the film - this time they didn't come to life because what a shock that would've been! I would recommend devoting half a day to a whole day to visiting the museum as there's simply so much to see as well as there being so much to do. For the price you pay, which can be anything, you are getting your moneys worth. There is more than enough things to do if you're visiting with children or without! |
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Stonewall National Monument
Nearest Subway Station: Christopher Street Station (1 & 2)
Ticket Prices: The National Stonewall Monument is free to the public as it's a monument located in a park.
The Stonewall National Monument was first national monument dedicated to LGBT rights and the history behind the fight for them throughout history. It received designation on 24th June 2016 by Barack Obama and since then people have showered the monument with love and pride flags, especially since it has been the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Visiting The Stonewall National Monument gives visitors a chance to sit and reflect on the struggle and fight for rights for equality. The statues are simple but have such a powerful meaning- they are two people simply talking to each other or sitting with each other - both of the same gender. The Stonewall National Monument was designated during Pride Month but two weeks before there was a shooting at the Orlando nightclub called Pulse. Pulse was a gay nightclub that welcomed everyone and anyone - it was a place that many praised for it's inclusiveness and has been open since 2004. On the 12th June 2016 a gunman, who worked as a security guard, mercilessly killed 49 people and injured 53 people through a mass shooting, one that has been deemed the deadliest terrorist attack since 9/11. It's the most violent attack towards those of the LGBT community but even though this monstrous attack happened, the world came together and pledged their love and support for those affected and those all over the world who are part of the community. Not only was Pulse a place where people came together to enjoy a drink and the experience but a place of solidarity and community.
The Stonewall National Monument was created because of the Stonewall Riots which began throughout the early hours of the 28th June 1969. During the early hours the police began a raid at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar and recreational tavern, which then sparked an uprising from those of the LGBT community as those inside of the bar were hauled out including employees and customers. Harassment from the police became regular for gay bars and clubs that were home to those who faced exclusion and who wanted to socialise in safety in the places such as Stonewall Inn. In 1969 the solicitation of homosexual relations became an illegal act in New York to which police responded throughout raids and searches of these bars and clubs. The reason behind the police raiding the Stonewall Inn was because the staff were operating without an alcohol license and even went forth with the arrest of anyone not wearing at least three articles of gender-appropriate clothing. Unlike other times when police had confronted these gay bars and clubs, people didn't scatter and flee the scene but threw bottles and debris from their outrage at the incident. This small act then snowballed as police went as far as barricading themselves inside the bar while 400 people rioted. These riots didn't stop there, for the next five days people rioted and made their voice heard outside of the Stonewall Inn - people began seeing that uniting behind a common cause had led to action. Since the riots Stonewall has since been known as the driving force and the catalyst behind an international resistance to those discriminating against the LGBT community. Gay rights organisations also became into force such as GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) as well as PSFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). Even though the riots had led to LGBT individuals being served alcohol, there was still a long way to come. Throughout these years these individuals suffered discrimination and hatred but throughout more recent years more and more pressure has been put on government to do more for LGBT individuals and communities. In June 26, 2015, the United States Supreme Court ruled that same-sex cannot be prohibited by a state. As the Stonewall Riots marks it's 50th anniversary we can all contribute by bringing up the discussion instead of remaining silent as well as reminding those of the history of LGBT rights as well as those who paved the way.
Ticket Prices: The National Stonewall Monument is free to the public as it's a monument located in a park.
The Stonewall National Monument was first national monument dedicated to LGBT rights and the history behind the fight for them throughout history. It received designation on 24th June 2016 by Barack Obama and since then people have showered the monument with love and pride flags, especially since it has been the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Visiting The Stonewall National Monument gives visitors a chance to sit and reflect on the struggle and fight for rights for equality. The statues are simple but have such a powerful meaning- they are two people simply talking to each other or sitting with each other - both of the same gender. The Stonewall National Monument was designated during Pride Month but two weeks before there was a shooting at the Orlando nightclub called Pulse. Pulse was a gay nightclub that welcomed everyone and anyone - it was a place that many praised for it's inclusiveness and has been open since 2004. On the 12th June 2016 a gunman, who worked as a security guard, mercilessly killed 49 people and injured 53 people through a mass shooting, one that has been deemed the deadliest terrorist attack since 9/11. It's the most violent attack towards those of the LGBT community but even though this monstrous attack happened, the world came together and pledged their love and support for those affected and those all over the world who are part of the community. Not only was Pulse a place where people came together to enjoy a drink and the experience but a place of solidarity and community.
The Stonewall National Monument was created because of the Stonewall Riots which began throughout the early hours of the 28th June 1969. During the early hours the police began a raid at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar and recreational tavern, which then sparked an uprising from those of the LGBT community as those inside of the bar were hauled out including employees and customers. Harassment from the police became regular for gay bars and clubs that were home to those who faced exclusion and who wanted to socialise in safety in the places such as Stonewall Inn. In 1969 the solicitation of homosexual relations became an illegal act in New York to which police responded throughout raids and searches of these bars and clubs. The reason behind the police raiding the Stonewall Inn was because the staff were operating without an alcohol license and even went forth with the arrest of anyone not wearing at least three articles of gender-appropriate clothing. Unlike other times when police had confronted these gay bars and clubs, people didn't scatter and flee the scene but threw bottles and debris from their outrage at the incident. This small act then snowballed as police went as far as barricading themselves inside the bar while 400 people rioted. These riots didn't stop there, for the next five days people rioted and made their voice heard outside of the Stonewall Inn - people began seeing that uniting behind a common cause had led to action. Since the riots Stonewall has since been known as the driving force and the catalyst behind an international resistance to those discriminating against the LGBT community. Gay rights organisations also became into force such as GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) as well as PSFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). Even though the riots had led to LGBT individuals being served alcohol, there was still a long way to come. Throughout these years these individuals suffered discrimination and hatred but throughout more recent years more and more pressure has been put on government to do more for LGBT individuals and communities. In June 26, 2015, the United States Supreme Court ruled that same-sex cannot be prohibited by a state. As the Stonewall Riots marks it's 50th anniversary we can all contribute by bringing up the discussion instead of remaining silent as well as reminding those of the history of LGBT rights as well as those who paved the way.
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Shopping!
There are thousands of shops throughout New York, from independent shops to named brands such as Forever 21 and Morphe. Regardless, it can be quite a hassle visiting individual shops that are located quite a distance from each other. Throughout my stay in New York I researched the different shopping centres and streets that were lined with shops as far as the eye could see. This made my life a lot easier and saved me from being out in the heat for hours with tons of shopping bags. Additionally, some shops can only be found in shopping centres located far from Manhattan such as Yankee Candle and even named popular shops such as Tiger. Either way, if you have any spare time in New York then you should treat yourself to something!
Even though there's probably hundreds of places I've failed to mention in this section, these are the main places I ventured to throughout my stay in New York. Additionally, as I was only visiting New York for 9 days this limited the amount of shopping I was able to do. These places include:
- Newport Centre - Located in New Jersey, which is easily accessible by a 25-30 minute journey from Manhattan using a PATH train, Newport Centre offers 3 levels of shopping with over 60 shops. If you're wanting to purchase expensive trainers or other items of clothing then I'd advise coming here! The reason being this is that the centre is an Urban Enterprise Zone which reduces the state sale tax to just over 3.31% at specific merchants. Adidas, American Eagle, Bath and Body Works, Clarks, Coach, Diamond Hut Jewellers as well as H&M and JCPenny reside here. These shops are quite large in size and have a wide selection of items with notable discounts and deals. For example, when I visited Bath and Body works I had a voucher for $10 when you spend $40 as well as candles being reduced to $10.50 from $26.50.
- Queens Centre - If you have a MetroCard then you can easily make the journey to Queens Centre which is a 30-35 minute journey from Manhattan - make sure you bring earphones or something to make the journey entertaining. If you visit the official website for the centre, you can easily find deals which are store specific as well as being able to find the location and contact number for the shop. In Queens Centre there are just over 190 stores, which makes it one of the biggest centres in America as well as being a perfect place to spend a day shopping.
- Times Square - As already mentioned, there are tons of shops around Times Square such as M&M's World and Hershey's Chocolate for those with a sweet tooth to Midtown Comics for lovers of all things comics. However, Times Square can become quite busy and getting to and from shops can become a challenge. However, if you're interested in getting to visit some of the biggest shops in New York then I'd advise coming here early in the morning.
- Koreatown - Koreatown has some of the best shops that specialise in all things beauty. There are incredible deals in each and every store such as "Buy 10 Face Masks & Get 10 Free". Some of the items in these shops are exclusive and are considerably cheaper than buying here in the UK and I'm sure other countries too! One of my favourite shops is The Face Shop as the staff are very friendly and are able to help you get products that would suit your needs.
- Garment District - The Garment District is home to famous shops such as Macy's and JCPenny. I would advise visiting Macy's if you want all things designer and brands that are popular. In Macy's there's over 1 million square feet of retail space - I'm sure you'd be able to find something to your fancy while in here - especially if you're looking for gifts to bring home for friends and family. Other shops around the Garment District include Urban Outfitters, Target, Foot Locker, Sephora and Victoria Secret.
- 5th Avenue & Surrounding Area - When looking at places to shop, I was only looking for one specific store which was Nike, which led to the discovery of many other shops and also led to me spending a large chunk out of my spending money. Along 5th Avenue there's a wide variety of shops on either side of the street - Victoria Secret, Converse, Guess, Ann Taylor, MAC, H&M, Gap and Banana Republic.
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Travel
Before even travelling to New York I did my research into what attractions and places I wanted to visit and how I would get there using the subway. After booking up my hotel I researched into what the nearest subway station was as well as calculating the best option to both save money and time when deciding whether I should get a pay-per-ride MetroCard or an unlimited ride MetroCard. Other than the subway New York provides a range of different ways to travel across the city which include the bus, taxi and ride-share services and of course walking.
This is the list of prices for the bus & subway as well as the passes available - http://web.mta.info/metrocard/mcgtreng.htm
As I was in New York City for 10 days I decided to invest in a 7 Day Unlimited Pass which cost $33 which covered 7 days of exploring the city by using the subway and the bus. However, when this expired I walked to the attractions I wanted to visit or I used a pay-per-ride option as I had already acquired a MetroCard which saved me from buying another MetroCard for $1. If you want to invest into one of these passes then it’s important to know that they come with restrictions such as the 7 Day Unlimited Pass cannot be used on PATH, Air-Train and Express buses as they will not accept these as forms of payment. There’s also a reduced fare for users who are 65 or older as well as those who have qualifying disabilities.
This is the list of prices for the bus & subway as well as the passes available - http://web.mta.info/metrocard/mcgtreng.htm
- Price of a MetroCard - $1
- One Subway/Bus Journey - $2.75
- 7 Day Unlimited Pass - $33
- 7 Day Express Bus Plus MetroCard - $62
- 30 Day Unlimited Pass - $127
- JFK Air-Train 10-Trip MetroCard - $25
- JFK Air-Train 30 Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard - $40
As I was in New York City for 10 days I decided to invest in a 7 Day Unlimited Pass which cost $33 which covered 7 days of exploring the city by using the subway and the bus. However, when this expired I walked to the attractions I wanted to visit or I used a pay-per-ride option as I had already acquired a MetroCard which saved me from buying another MetroCard for $1. If you want to invest into one of these passes then it’s important to know that they come with restrictions such as the 7 Day Unlimited Pass cannot be used on PATH, Air-Train and Express buses as they will not accept these as forms of payment. There’s also a reduced fare for users who are 65 or older as well as those who have qualifying disabilities.
Transfers to and from the Airport
Travelling to and from the airport can be a long and tedious journey if not planned and researched in advance. There are many options of getting to and from the airport to your hotel or accommodation. For this section of my blog I’m going to focus on JFK Airport as this is the airport I travelled to and from as well as many other visitors of New York doing the same.
- NYC Express Bus Service - For only $19 you can travel from Grand Central Terminal, Times Square, Port Authority Bus Terminal as well as Penn Station to JFK Airport. Each specific stop has different timetables and times in which it runs but overall the service works all week and runs frequently every hour. In busy periods the bus will make more than one trip within the hour but if booking make sure you factor in time for New York traffic as the journey time is approximately 90 minutes.
- Subway - If you want to use the rest of your credit on your MetroCard then from your nearest subway station take the subway to Jamaica Center - Parsons/Archer (E & Z lines). From there go towards Jamaica Station and get a ticket for the AirTrain service towards JFK. The first part of this journey will cost $2.75 and the following part of your journey will cost $5.00 - totalling $7.75 for one person, one way.
- Long Island Railway & AirTrain - If you prefer a quicker option compared to using the subway then the LIRR & AirTrain takes around 50 minutes to an hour from Penn Station to JFK Airport. At Penn Station you can get the Long Island Railway train straight to Jamaica Station which will set you back $10.75 and then from there get the AirTrain to JFK for $5. This journey will set you back $15.50 but could be cheaper depending on the time of day that you travel.
- Taxis - If you’ve wanted to recreate the scene from all popular movies and ride in a yellow taxi into New York City then be prepared to pay at least $50-$60 as well as including a tip for the driver. There’s an official taxi stand at the airport where you can get into a taxi and take the hour long journey into Manhattan.
- Shuttles - There are a range of different shuttles you can choose from - with some being private and others being shared with the idea that the shuttle will stop at each accommodation within New York until you arrive to yours. Shuttles can cost from as little as $20 (shared) but can go up to as much as $100 for a private luxury shuttle - these prices are representative of one person travelling one way.
- Private Transfers - If you prefer getting a private transfer to and from JFK then there are tons of companies offering to do the job. These prices vary depending on the company as well as the date and time of travel with the average price being around $60-70 (one way). The advantages of using a private transfer is that you won’t have to wait around for a taxi as you’ll have the driver holding your name on a sign at the airport meaning as soon as you find the driver you can leave.
Apps to Download
New York Subway MTA Map
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Navigating around New York using the subway can become quite confusing at times. Especially with 27 subway lines as well as 472 different stations around New York. I found no difficulties throughout my trip in New York as I used the New York Subway MTA App which gives clear instructions on what train you should be getting as well as the direction you should follow.
The app also updates users if there's any issues with specific routes such as if there's planned work or delays. There's even the option to use the map without WiFi or service, which if you're on the subway makes travelling from A to B a lot easier and quicker. Another great feature about the app is that it's completely free! |
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Uber
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Even though New York is known for their yellow taxis and people putting their head out of them as they cross Brooklyn Bridge, this might not be everyone's cup of tea. There is another option though! Uber has been tried and tested by millions throughout the world and luckily Uber is supported throughout New York.
The added benefit about Uber is that you have a rough estimate as to what your fare would be - with numerous choices of transport. For those travelling who may need car seats and wheelchair-accessible rides then Uber also supports users who may need this by offering these within their transport options. |
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Eric's New York
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Built as an extension of Eric's site, NewYork.co.uk, this app provides everything a visitor to New York would need. The app contains points of interest as well as additional information regarding attractions and landmarks. There's even a subway map built into this one app along with information on every single topic you could imagine. Struggling to find a restaurant? Want to know what shows are currently on throughout Broadway? Need a guide to accommodation? Eric's New York app has it all!
For those who love discounts, and who doesn't, Eric's New York also has a dedicated section where visitors can gain discounts through buying The New York Sightseeing Passes as well as The New York Pass. |
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