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Top Tips for NYC Trips

Things to bear in mind when visiting NYC

The Noise

I personally love big cities – I love somewhere where there is always something going on, and where better for that than New York City. The infamous `city that never sleeps` is typically noisy all the time – whether it’s sirens, or car horns (oh my goodness the car horns), prepare to come back from New York with a ringing in your ears as you realise how in comparison, everywhere else is deathly silent.

It is worth shutting your window at night for one reason however – the garbage trucks. Roughly around 2/3am, the garbage trucks will take advantage of the relatively quiet streets to collect the rubbish bags thrown out onto street corners from the cafes and restaurants, and they are noisy. About as noisy as you’d expect a garbage truck to be in the early hours of the morning.

However, most if not all the midtown hotels have double glazed windows to prevent noise, as well as black out curtains to keep out the non-stop lights (giant electrical building ads in particular).

The cab rides

Hailing a cab in New York is easy, I once simply said to my friend “my feet hurt” and one screeched up beside me like it had been waiting all its life for that moment, true story. Just be prepared for a haphazard ride.

Of course the vehicles in Manhattan are automatic, there is no easing up through the gears or slow starts – the moment a light goes green, it’s straight on the gas pedal and you’re off. Yet due to the levels of traffic in midtown, it’s a relatively stop start ride, with the car jolting down the avenues and cutting across lanes.

Rest assured however – the streets of New York are notoriously manic to drive around, and no one is more qualified for this than your typical New York cab driver. Just don’t do what my friend did and suffer from motion sickness so bad she had to bail out early.

The portion sizes

America likes its food. That might be a broad statement to make but, well, it does. Large portions out there seem to be unavoidable, even if you try to order smaller. Breakfast will usually consist of maple syrup and icing sugar, even if you order a fruit salad.

After experiencing a breakfast I couldn’t finish, the next morning I asked for the smaller size. Sure enough, I was presented smaller pancakes, but received double the amount of them, and piled just as high as the pancakes I couldn’t get through the following morning.

Even if you visit diners out of midtown in more residential areas, you’ll still face down huge sandwiches, chips and puddings. However – the food there is delicious and despite not being able to eat all of it in one sitting (a fact some waiters/waitresses seem to find an amusing trait in the English, be prepared to have your self confidence rocket as they tell you you’re too skinny) – they will always offer for you to take the rest home for you to enjoy later.

One strange requirement that seems to be prevalent on Manhattan dishes however are pickles, expect to see one on the side of most dishes as it seems to be a delicacy (even if you ask to have a meal without one).

A quick tip but an important one, bear in mind that shelf prices in New York do not take into account VAT. If an item says that it costs $5, don’t be surprised to be charged a little more when you take it up to the till. Although usually not an awful lot more, just make a note that the item will cost more than you initially see.

These hidden charges can sometimes be a pain when it comes to things such as hotel rooms, so just always be prepared with some extra dollars, and if you’re booking something online, read the small print.

It’s also important to bear in mind the legal drinking age, if you’re under 21 and wanting to have a wild few nights in New York City, no can do I’m afraid. 21 and over is the legal drinking age (although eating an inordinate amount of Salt Water Taffy might be an acceptable substitute for being drunk – not kidding).

Small loophole – flying with a British airline company means you can drink on the plane if you’re under 21, American airline companies won’t let you, even if you’re on British soil. Still, it’s New York City; it’s probably one of the few things in life you should enjoy sober anyway!

I am a travel guest blogger from Manchester, UK. I write travel articles for a number of UK blogs and sites. Europe's historic cities are always her favourite destinations.