Tips For Visitors
If this is your first visit to New York, be prepared to have a few misconceptions shattered. We’re among the friendliest bunch of people you’ll find anywhere. We love tourists! Hey, we love our city, know we’re privileged to reside in this great metropolis and we love to show it off to visitors. People on the streets frequently go out of their way to help tourist who need directions or ask advice on finding a terrific restaurant in our neighborhood. Upon visiting New York for the first time, a friend from Rhode Island remarked “Wow! Everyone looks so…er…normal”. Perhaps you, like him, thought we all walked around heavily armed a la “Law & Order” or in 4-inch high heels a la “Sex in the City”. If I had to pick one TV show that best characterizes life in the city it is “Seinfeld”. Seinfeld, who grew up on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, captured the wacky, eccentric way New Yorker’s think and live perfectly. Of course there are exceptions. Remember the famous “Soup Nazi” show on Seinfeld? Don’t be surprised when you encounter New Yorkers with a bad attitude who deal with the public as part of their job. For example, if for some reason I want to have a bad day, the fastest way to accomplish it is to try on shoes at Macy’s. Waiters and waitresses don’t gush and act obsequious here: In the very best restaurants they’re efficient with a degree of detachment. While there are plenty of taxi drivers who love to chat, many are only interested in with the person at the end of their cell phone in conversing Farsi, Arabic or Hindi. Bus drivers are a cranky bunch. In general, anyone who must deal with the public on a daily basis to earn a living is frequently moody, unhelpful and sometimes surly. Can you blame them? On the other hand, cops and firemen are friendly and very approachable. Safety: According to the FBI, New York is the 49th most dangerous city in the United States. You stand a better chance of being harmed in Oklahoma City, Fresno, Minneapolis, Tucson, Indianapolis and Long Beach, California, among other cities. Caution: The hottest item for thieves these days is the iPod. Anytime you wear one in public you stand the chance of having it snatched even if it’s out of sight. The beige headphone cords are a giveaway. My brother, a frequent visitor, spray painted his iPod’s headphone cords gray and has never had a problem.
What To Wear: My aunt, visiting from Pennsylvania, told me she saw a man walking down the street with a potato sack over his head. “The really weird thing”, she reminisces, “is that no one even looked at him.” In other words, wear whatever feels comfortable. The only item of attire that matters is shoes. Since New Yorkers walk constantly we know that comfort comes before being stylish when trekking around the city. When in doubt, watch “Seinfeld” reruns and dress like Jerry and his friends. Athletic shoes are perfect because they absorb the impact of walking on sidewalks.
Tipping: The new standard tip in New York is 20%, or higher when you encounter exceptional service. Use this guideline when tipping taxi/car service drivers, waiters and salon staff. In delis and take-out restaurants you’ll see cups on the counter for tipping staff. I usually leave change but it’s up to you. The reason gratuities are higher in Gotham is that we work ungodly hours and the cost of living his obscenely high for anyone living in the five boroughs. Be Cool: On busy streets with many people walking in two directions, don’t stop the flow by stopping in the middle of the sidewalk to consult your map. Move next to a building to take care of business. New Yorkers love tourists and you are probably making someone’s day when you stop them on the street and ask for directions. Approach them when the light is red. If you do spot a celebrity, don’t point or stare very long. Above all else, New Yorker’s respect each other’s personal space and that includes celebrities. Locals make a quick glance out of the corner of the eye and discuss the sighting when out of earshot.
Getting Around: You may notice that there are few obese people in New York. The reason for this is that we hoof it everywhere, especially Monday through Friday in mid-town (34nd to 57th Streets) when traffic is at a standstill. Sitting in a taxi watching the meter quickly climb while pedestrians breeze by on the sidewalk tends to make one cranky. Taxis. Mass transportation is superb in New York. During rush hour (8 a.m. to 7 p.m.) during the week it can be a 40 minute taxi ride (roughly $12 plus tips to travel from 57th to 34th Street). Taking the subway the same trip takes 7 to 8 minutes and costs $2. Purchase a metro card at any subway station with the number of rides you plan to take. You can use it on all subway and bus lines. Maps: For a major city, New York is one of the easiest to get around, especially Manhattan. While you can buy maps here, I suggest purchasing a Manhattan street map and a subway map before leaving home. Here are excellent maps for sale on Amazon: Streetwise Manhattan Map and New York Subway Map. The Weather: After living in New York for decades, I figure local weather forecasts are right about 50% of the time. A day or so before arriving in the city check weather conditions at The Weather Channel.
Bathroom Stops: Delis with seated dining, large department stores and Starbucks are good bet for pit stops while trekking around New York. Storing Luggage: I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there are no luggage storage facilities in New York due to security concerns after 9/11. Your hotel may agree to hold it while you shop or go sightseeing after you've checked out (and prior to check in). If several of you are traveling together it may be worth your while to phone a few inexpensive hotels and ask about a day rate for stashing bags. If you're arriving at Newark Airport, there is a luggage storage area next to Continental Airlines' terminal. If you're sailing from Cape Liberty (Bayonne), you can park your bag and hop over to Manhattan for a few hours.
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