New York City travel guide

Table of contents

• The Beauty That is New York City
• What you need to know about visiting New York During the Pandemic?
• How to take the Subway and Bus in New York City?
• New York CityPASS
• Visiting New York City on a budget
• Finding Your Fun In New York

The Beauty That is New York City

For most outsiders, New York is not your typical city. It has made its name in movies and high caliber fashion shows. In fact, for most people coming in from other countries, New York is rude and, to some extent, too fast paced to have a good time. That is the unfortunate aspect of not seeing things from the right perspective. Once these newcomers leave, they regret having focused too much on the fast-moving cars, the Yellow Cab taxis, and the bright lights that never seem to go off. For those in the know, New York is the home of the New York Fashion Week, the Statute of Liberty, the Empire State Building, or any of the other glorious sightings around.

For New York, the route you plan on taking will largely influence how your trip will be. Are you in New York on a very tight budget? On Honeymoon? To visit a friend? For a reunion? All these options may lead you to an unforgettable and magical experience in the Big Apple. You could be just on the lookout for nice restaurants or museums. You could be an Instagram model or a photographer. There's nothing you won't find in New York, and that's why we offer you this travel information to guide you through New York from the viewpoint of someone who is constantly finding new attractions and loving to write about them.

The biggest regret most visitors have when they get to New York is that they never took the time to plan their trip. You won't tire of hearing, "Oh, I should've stayed just an extra day to catch that Jay-Z festival!" or "I wish I knew the pride parade passed that route. I was just there and didn't think to stay an extra hour to catch it." These statements shouldn't ever come to anyone aware enough to visit nycmoov.com. This is the premium site to get fun and curated guides to take you through the city, making you familiar with it even before leaving the airport or the subway.

This guide is not just for foreigners or non-residents of New York. Here you will find content for New Yorkers intent on knowing more about their city. There is always something new around the corner, and nobody can confidently say they know every development and attraction in New York. For example, as the streets celebrated Joe Biden's win as the next president of the USA, some streets were clearly impassable. New York's traffic is a nightmare, and many newcomers to the City had no idea where to go. Those in the know knew the SoHo's narrow cobblestone along the Hudson and Hudson River Parkway was the best way through the inner city. By the time you got to the end of the driveway, you would be inundated with picturesque views of Lower Manhattan amidst the glimmer of the Hudson, serenaded by stylish boutiques and cafes.

Therefore, simply saying that there are attractions in New York City does not give it much in terms of praise. This city has its pleasant surprises hidden in between its bigger attractions. As you gawk and awe at the Empire State building’s imposing figure, you may miss the live music at midnight or the art deco in the newly redecorated lobbies within the building.

For avid sports fans, New York offers many arenas and stadia, but the Yankee Stadium and its imposing frame cannot be missed. It doesn't matter what your sport is, but a glance at the Yankee will make you change your accent from whichever it is to that of a full-blooded Yank!. Here you will find people of all persuasions cheering on any team they want. Some aren't even there for the sports, but the memories and new friendships made there will last a lifetime.

So, whereas Paris or Berlin may have their own city attractions, New York seems to have a little bit of everything. You may think of the Louvre, but New York has its Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met), the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), and the Guggenheim. Thought of the Notredame? New York has its own St. Patrick's Cathedral, with its 330-foot spire, 57-foot tall bronze canopy, and its immense 7855 church organ.

So the next time you think of coming to New York, we here at nycmoov.com will be ready to give you a guided tour through each attraction and where to find them. You can rest assured your trip will not just be about blurry nights or forgotten moments. Here you will find an Instagrammer's Guide to New York City (Next post), a guided tour for kids, plus many more.

What you need to know about visiting New York During the Pandemic?

Like everyone else living on this planet, the Corona Virus pandemic has definitely stalled your movement and travelling plans. Whether you country, state or city has enacted travel restrictions or curfews, its clear that travelling has been dealt a deathly blow in 2020. Now imagine if you are a backpacker and used to living in a different city every 3 or 4 months per year. This must be the ultimate hell for your regular traveller, backpacker and tourist and for those coming to New York city, a little bit of street smart, updated information and strict care for oneself, will go a long way in  helping you around.

Starting with the basics

The first thing to understand is that New York had one of the highest rates of Corona Virus. As one of the worst hit cities, New York went into early Lockdown in the first quarter of the year, and since then numbers have gone steadily down. In the first lockdown, most businesses closed and relied on government support and subsidies. However, in the second wave which started in mid-September there was too much pressure on small businesses forcing a good number of them to close.

So what does this mean?

Basically, his means any place you might have thought of visiting is probably closed or moved to a different location. That antique store is now just an online store selling on a home delivery basis. That fancy restaurant is probably closed and the building sold to a bank or something. This is the sad reality of life under a pandemic and most cities in America have had to deal with this reality or an iteration of it. The residents also have PTSD having lost a family member or a friend and this might make New Yorkers seem a bit more grumpy and less friendly as compared to what you might have heard or read before coming here.

So here’s how to make your stay enjoyable. The first thing you need to do before embarking on a trip to New York is to first check the government’s corona virus website at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory . Here you will find updated information on where to quarantine for visitors, testing sites and where to stay as you are waiting for your test results. The city has been colour coded to enable you find resources easier and identify the current hotspots. These hotspots change over time and so by the time you plan your trip to actually making it, there will be some new changes that you need to be aware of.  People from about 30 states are required to quarantine so make sure you are aware of whether your state is among the ones where mandatory 14 day quarantine is required. For international visitors, and for any traveller to New York State from a non-contiguous state, US territory or CDC level 2 or level 3 country, the same quarantine guidelines still apply.

Where you can stay

All hope is not lost in the hospitality industry. Though only about 36% of businesses have opened fully, the rest are undertaking measures to ensure strict compliance to Covid 19 regulations from the government. Temperature checking, social distancing and testing measures are being put in place for employees and clients. For example, every restaurant must test its staff after every month to ensure no recurrent infections take place. Work schedules have also been changed to allow maximum shift changes as locations further adhere to the set protocols.

The focus is entirely on ‘safety first’ and some amenities such as clubs and fitness facilities are still closed until further notice. Museums and social halls have retrofitted their sitting spaces to allow for maximum social distancing without interfering on their offering. Every business is doing everything possible to stay afloat.

This is the best time for an avid traveller to support small businesses by visiting their locations or in the very least ordering certain services online. Small salons and barber shops have shifted to home based services and it is prudent to use these services because they practice the highest level of cleanliness. For a tourist, the 14 day quarantine may seem a lot, but it is calming to note that even fellow New Yorkers who have left the state and return back after 30 days also have to undergo the 14 day quarantine. Some of the best hotels in New York offer rooms with quarantine facilities and these have excellent pricing offers. So in actual sense there is nothing to lose by visiting New York. You get to support small businesses and experience new York in its most virgin state, unclogged, no traffic and with most facilities ready to welcome you with preferential pricing.

So what are you still waiting for? Book your trip to New York City and you won’t regret it!

New York is Open... Are you?

So the last section was a bit of a bummer. The pandemic has indeed taken its toll on recreational facilities and travel in New York. In this episode we examine all the beautiful and historic landmarks in New York that you can currently visit despite the lockdown. These facilities have complied with all health protocols and you are can rest assured you will not only be safe, but also enjoy new York cuisine and sights without having to break the bank.

This list is however not exhaustive. There are many locations still opening and they may not be covered here. So, it’s important to remember to visit https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory and kept up to date on all Covid related news in New York. You can also download the New York State exposure notification app, Covid Alert NY. Most businesses in the five borough have already taken the safety pledge and most have displayed the pledge badge. So it’s pretty easy to know which areas have complied with the safety protocols and which ones are still yet to comply.

So,  here’s where you can go and have a bit of New York if you are in a rush.

1. For your weekend Branch

Again, this guide is intended for passers-by, going through New York in a single week or weekend. So it is a great idea to sample some great branch locations.  If you want that Sex in the City style of weekend, then Cafe Mogador is your place to be. It is one of my personal favourites that came recommended to me by my friend. The joint has Middle Eastern egg platters: two eggs any style with hummus and tabbouleh, and halloumi eggs—poached served with oven-roasted tomato, haloumi cheese, olives, and za’atar pita. If this does not give you that bourgeoisie New York feeling then Bluestone Lane, with its Australian style branch setting will definitely tick your box. It is laid back and it does give off a great ‘traveller feel’. Here you can enjoy nice meals such as quinoa porridge, gluten-free banana bread, and green baked eggs served with chimichurri .

2. For Sightseeing

Okay, so you only have a few days to stay in New York and you have over 200 places you need to visit before you can call yourself a New York enthusiast. The best way to get the most of New York is through sightseeing. Some locations give you the advantage of seeing things from an elevated point and so you get to experience nearly half of those places from the lofty heights of the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty. These two locations are currently open although through booking tours and so you can see the locations that haven’t been open due to Covid restrictions. You can now get a private view at a slightly higher cost at the 102^nd floor and here you can see most of downtown New York and its iconic parks. Places you can visit on the ground and which are still open are the Belvedere Castle, Central Park Carousel, and the Obelisk. These are just my recommendations but I’m sure there are plenty other places that are still open which you can chance along.

3. Street art and vintage shopping

If your stay is just a few days or hours, then you should definitely pass by Brunswick. It is located in Brookline and there you will find the most artistic and quaint shops and restaurants. Most of them are already opened and you can get to enjoy your favourite meals and drinks despite having to stay 6 feet away from each other. Of course if you come with your spouse, friend or relative, the restriction does not apply. However, you need to wear your mask everywhere you go otherwise none of these amazing places will host you. Pick a stylish vintage dress at Brand Hunters and you will stand out everywhere you go; even in Paris!

So, again, there is a reason for this greater increase in measures to protect New Yorkers from Covid 19 and you shouldn’t feel too special if you are asked to test or to wear your mask. Random testing is fast becoming a reality and most New Yorkers have embraced it. Its free and you can download the app to find out where you can get tested, whether you are a New Yorker or not. However, you can trust me that New York has not lost its lustre and with fewer people around you can actually get to enjoy your stay even more. The more people remain indoors the easier it is for visitors to move around and not experience the gruesome New York traffic. You can visit the Brookline Bridge or even the Subway and experience it in a new, uncongested way.

Whether Covid 19 is here to stay or not you can still get to enjoy it’s amazing restaurants, hotels and parks. So as a bonus, here is a list of places you can visit for that unforgettable New York Experience

• 911 Memorial Museum
• Central Park
• Times Square
• Bobby Van’s Grill- West 45^th Street
• Mark joeph Steak house in Lower Manhattan
• Macy’s in Herald Square
• Museum of the City of New York In East Harlem
• Obao’s Hell’s Kitchen in Hell’s Kitchen
• Sak’s Fifth Avenue in Midtown East
• High Line at the Meat Packing District
• Patrick’s Cathedral at Midtown East
• The Met Cloisters in Washington Heights/Midwood.
• Rockefeller Center
• Bryant Park
• Prospect Park
• American Museum of Natural History
• Coney Island
• Empire State Building
• Metropolitan Museum of art

Enjoy your stay in New York!

How to take the Subway and Bus in New York City?

It is important to know that the subway and bus lines in New York are very complete and above all complementary. Most subway lines go North-South and do very little East-West, while many bus lines travel from East to West and vice versa.

You can ask for a paper copy of the subway map at the ticket office. It is a large format map. It is more interesting to use a route planner application such as nycmoov.com.

The subway is the fastest means of transportation in New York City. The bus is the most transversal because, unlike the subway, many bus lines run from east to west.

All about to know about how to ride in NYC subway in this video :

Visiting New York City on a budget

New York City is ranked amongst the top 10 tourist destinations in the world. With this lofty position comes the illusion that all the tourist destinations in New York are pricey and open only to the ultra-rich. This reality could be the case for some events such as the helicopter cruises over the City or the Manhattan architecture Yacht cruises, charging up to $86 per hour. These exclusive events are intended for New Yorkers who can afford them, and for you, as a tourist, it's better first to keep a very open mind when visiting New York City. You can come across great gems merely by throwing away that tourist guide and simply going on an adventure. In this article, we examine the best way of enjoying New York City when you are traveling on a tight budget.

Getting to the City

The first place you can save some money is first by considering how you access New York. For the avid sightseer, the best means to get into New York City is by bus. Bus travel is usually underrated, but it gives you the first glimpse of just what New York City has to offer. Unlike conventional airplane travel, buses offer a great way to interact with normal New Yorkers who are not in a rush and can explain to you things you most likely won't get on a tourist brochure. A one-way ticket will typically cost less than filling up your gas tank. So assuming you plan on staying in New York for some time, you should first know exactly where you intend to stay and then pay for an advance ticket once you get to New York. For example, merely buying an advanced ticket from Raleigh, N.C., to New York cost $45 versus $52.95 to fill up a 15-gallon tank. This expense is your typical cost when traveling in October using a greyhound bus.

Consider alternate airports: Air tickets cost less in October, and depending on which airport you want to use, you can save up to $70 by merely choosing the right airports. There are smaller airports that might be closer to your hotel or hostel destinations, so they should be your priority. Pre-book your flights early so that you can have enough leverage over the busy holidays. For example, round-trip flights in mid-October from Dallas to Newark Liberty International Airport (15 miles from Midtown Manhattan) are about $70 less than flights to LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

Search for better parking offers: If you plan on staying around New York for a while, and you have opted for a rental, check for preferential parking spots to save you that extra dollar. Parking in New York is quite expensive because parking slots are always in short supply, and the demand is very high. So instead of going for that Private parking slot, consider garage parking slots, which offer security and general car cleaning at a very cheap cost. Also, please do not consider the hotel parking since they are usually very excessive; you can always get a garage parking slot or get crafty by parking in a college or university once you purchase the discounted parking stickers.

There are many other avenues for saving a quick buck on your travels to New York. In our next installment, we shall check other ways of saving even more once you begin your stay in New York. You will not believe the amazing offers and shortcuts that will ensure you keep your hard-earned dollars and give you more leeway to enjoy your stay in the Big Apple.

Once you are in the Big Apple, you can choose your preferred accommodation depending on your preferences and budget. Some people come to New York for the hotels and luxury accommodations so, they already come ready to spend on the high-end hotel rooms. However, if you want to enjoy your stay, and save up on some good money, then here are some nifty tricks you can use.

Share your bathroom: This might sound outrageous, but it is quite common for some hotel chains to offer shared bathroom packages. Your hotel room prices can go down by up to 40% if you choose to share your bathroom. For example, at The Jane, hotel accommodation costs per night can go up to 350$, but with a shared bathroom option, the costs go to 145$ per room.

Rent a Room or Apartment: In this Airbnb era, it is a good idea to consider renting an entire apartment or simply a room. This option is fast becoming a trend for tourists considering a long stay in New York and don't want the hustle of booking an expensive hotel room. It's cheaper to cook for yourself and even do your laundry in a rented room or apartment. It is quite ideal if you are traveling as a group. Typical apartment costs can be as low as $40 per night with all the amenities.

Find a Hostel: Hostels are a great option if you don't mind sharing a room with strangers. Some of these strangers can be the ideal travel companions because you share travel tips and ideas. There are many boutique hostel services, and you can book early to ensure you don't deal with late-hour planning. These tips are not exhaustive. There are excellent tips for budget dining, budget events, and many others that we can cover in a later episode. New York has a lot to offer when it comes to quality on a budget, and so cost should not be an excuse not to visit the Big Apple.

Finding Your Fun In New York

Forget how corny the title sounds, but just for a second consideration, if you were a tourist guide or travel planner. You now have a chance to come up with your itinerary for travel and staying in New York City, without referring to any other travel guides. It is a reality for most people who come to New York without a solid plan and have more fun than those who had the most detailed travel and vacation plans ever. There something quite alluring in serendipity travels, and here we show you how to become your travel guide and get to enjoy an amazing New York experience.

As with many other guides, cost and convenience rank top, therefore, since we already covered how to get to New York on a budget and how to find cheap accommodation, we can start by examining the best tips for saving up on meals and events.

Saving Up On Meal Costs

New York is the city of fine dining. It is a reality most New Yorkers, unfortunately, do not ever get to experience. As a newcomer, you don't have to feel the pressure of getting very expensive meals, especially if the meals are not exactly your reason to come to New York. You can follow most other New Yorkers and learn how they find cheap meal deals and save up for that more important event or tour.

Nearly every restaurant in New York is redefining how they offer dining options to their clients. You will find great coupon and voucher deals on Cardpool.com, and there you can find amazing deals without skipping out on fine dining. Who says fine dining has to be expensive? There are cheap eats all over New York. Find time to talk to a few New Yorkers, and you can rest assured you will have a few great options where you can enjoy your meal and get to see New York in a whole new light. There are restaurants specifically catering to backpackers and others catering to families. So depending on your visit's purpose, you can find a place specifically catered to your tastes.

How to have fun in New York City as a newbie?

Nothing sucks more than being in a new city and not knowing where all the events are happening. Fun seems like such a closely held secret if you are a stranger, and though this might seem so, the reasons are rather obvious. New Yorkers, just like any other city residents, have different notions of what fun is compared to newcomers. As a newcomer, what is fun for you might be boring to a New Yorker. So instead of asking a New Yorker where they go to have fun, you can stumble on to fun by simply going to the first event you see. From there, you will meet a new person and learn to navigate the events scene. Getting multiple passes: When buying an event pass, make sure you try bundling up the offers to get a great discount and see something you are not entirely used to. You can always get an offer on groupon.com for your meals and events. Some events also come highly discounted. Some broadway shows are discounted, and you can TKTS discount booths at Times Square.

There's something for everyone in New York, and in case you want to have it easier choosing where to go, you can get guided tours, which are a dime a dozen in New York. There are guided tours for every budget imaginable, from helicopter tours to your normal free guided tours. Some companies offer luxurious guided tours depending on what your tastes are like. So if you are an avid sailing enthusiast, then the Manhattan Architecture AIAN Yacht tour is something you can consider. You get to learn about New York City's architectural landmarks as you circumnavigate the island and listen to the 'Around Manhattan' narration provided by members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

If you are a fan of gossip, you can also join the Gossip Girl sites Tour, which takes you to all the popular series' iconic sites. Fans of TV’s Gossip Girl can relive their favorite moments during this entertaining visit to the New York hotspots and frequent filming locations featured on the hit show. Follow your guide (an NYC actor) to more than 30 filming locations, many of which you would not discover independently. Along the way, watch clips of show highlights and hear little-known facts about the cast and crew.

All for the Gram

Nothing comes in handy during a vacation other than a well-intentioned photographer. The photographer could be a friend or a professional. It is all about showing off on social media or to your family, and you can get a professional photographer to act as your tour guide. He or she will be able to know all the best attractions and events to make you look the part. Though this option is pricey, it will be a remarkable addition to your travel plans. So, why don't you take the big leap and experience your adventure? Let your creativity and gut instincts lead you to your custom-made holiday, something you will remember for the rest of your life.