To visit New York is a dream for many people. Because there are so many things to do in the city, it can get overwhelming sometimes.
With a bit of research and planning, travelers visiting the city that never sleeps can avoid the most common mistakes that might ruin their trip.
It is important to note that New York is filled with tourists. As a matter of fact, around 48.7 million people visit the city each year. Whether people want to explore Times Square, go around the parks, or eat like a local, watch out for these common slip-ups people make when visiting the Big Apple.
Failing At The Subway
Hailing a cab in New York is expensive, and those who are not acquainted with the subway system are bound to get confused with it. Although most New Yorkers make it look like a walk in the park, it is not the easiest thing to master. Most people who enter the subway do not know how to pay, which train to take, or what the colors mean.
The best thing to do to avoid this is to research. Do a quick review to find out what means what. If not, travelers might take the wrong train. Also, make sure to swipe the MetroCard before heading down or up the stairs. For those who are planning on using it a lot, it is better to buy a seven-day unlimited pass.
Only Visiting The Famous Museums
New York is home to countless museums. However, many visitors forego the understated ones for the Met, MoMA, Guggenheim, and the Natural History Museum.
For those who want to see what else the art scene in the city has to offer, it is better to drop by other museums such as the Cloisters, The Neue Gallery, The Frick, The New Museum, and the Whitney in the Chelsea neighborhood, which offers amazing curated collections. Visitors will also find lots of open galleries in the Chelsea area.
For those who are not art junkies, they can check out the Transit Museum, Museum of Sex, and Tenement Museum.
Going Somewhere Just For Instagram
In a time where people make an effort to make their social media pages look cool, visiting places just to take photos is common.
If the picture will cost you a lot of bucks, and saving money for the trip is a top priority, it is better to skip the visit. Not only will people save a fortune, they will also not waste time by lining up for hours just to get the perfect shot of Cha Cha Matcha that everybody already has on their Instagram.
Planning A Touristy, And Midtown-Centric Itinerary
One of the most usual mistakes New York tourist make is to just stick on the popular places — The Met, MoMA, Central Park, Times Square, Broadway, Public Library, 9/11 Memorial, Rockefeller Center, Empire State Building, and Statue of Liberty.
While those places are great, it is important to remember that there are so many things left to do in New York. Some people do not realize how much they love the city until they leave the midtown and explore secret spots in the city such as speakeasy bars, underrated parks, lesser-known food places, and many more.
Blocking The Sidewalks
New Yorkers are always in a rush to get to somewhere. This is why taking a selfie or configuring one's location in the middle of the sidewalk will undoubtedly get someone in trouble. The locals will also think it is annoying.
People visiting New York need to understand that they have to embrace the rush because it is part of the experience. It is also important to get acquainted with sidewalk etiquette.
