New York City

The City Never Sleeps, And Neither Do You

New York is where I moved after I left quiet, beautiful Newfoundland (I guess I like “new” things!) and I couldn’t have picked a place more different to call my home. It can be overwhelming and magical all at once.

When I am asked to describe New York, I always think of this moment: once, when my mother was visiting, we visited Times Square. After ten minutes of dodging off-brand Ironman who wanted us to pay for photos with them, my mother looked up at stunning display of blinking lights on every surface and then back down at the swarm of tourists jostling for he best view with their selfie sticks waving in the air, and, slightly stunned, said “I don’t think I could ever live here.”

And I replied “Well, we don’t.” New Yorkers don’t spend our free Times Square or waiting in never-ending lines to see tourist spots. That’s not our New York, and we get why you hate it… we kind of hate it, too.

So if you visit the city, do me a favor, and visit it like you live here. Find a cozy place to stay with a diner nearby. Go to the deli  or bodega closest to where you’re staying, and chat up the Algerian guy who owns it. Befriend the cat that rules the roost from atop the deli shelves.

Go to that hotspot you head about on a Tuesday night instead of a Saturday. Ask the bartender where they like to drink, and go there.

Get cheap theater tickets the day of the show, the way aspiring actors do. Ride the subway, grab a slice, and when you see a giant crowd of tourists, walk in the opposite direction.

That’s my New York. Don’t get me wrong: you should go to Times Square and stand agog at the lights. But you should also know that there’s so much more to New York… and you should find a little corner of it for yourself.

Accommodation – New York isn’t short on hotels, but even the dodgy ones can be pricy. If you’re traveling on a budget, there are many hostels and several are very nice (the Freehand and Hi are both part of respected chains). You can always try your luck with an AirB&B, but read the reviews carefully, and be aware than NYC renters aren’t supposed to sublease for less than 30 days, so if your renter asks you to say you’re a friend visiting from out of town… that’s why. Keep an eye on your hotel’s proximity to the subway, and make sure it will be easy for you to reach your desired destinations. It’s easy to lose hours on the subway, and cabs aren’t cheap.

Food – New York City is a foodie’s dream, and you can get great eats at any price point. If you’re looking to save on food, hit up Vanessa’s Dumpling or King Dumpling in Chinatown and eat your fill for under $5. Pizza is available on every corner, and if you’re feeling adventurous, there’s always street meat.

You can eat at a lot of restaurants for $15-20 an entree, and tipping 20% is the norm here, so include that in your budget.

If you’re feeling fancy or spending someone else’s money, the city provides endless opportunities to splurge. The old-school New York steakhouses (Peter Luger’s et al) are amazing, but steaks start at around $50 without sides. Or you can always go big and try Serendipity’s $1000 sundae. You get the idea. Food in New York is what you make it.

Transportation – Within the city, take the subway or walk whenever possible. It’s around $3 a ride, and it’ll take you wherever you need to go. CitiBikes are also available for daily passes and short rides, but New York is not the most bike-friendly city, so I only recommend biking if you are used to city riding. The city is serviced by three airports, and none of them are close to city center. Here’s how to get to and from NYC airports:

LaGuardia Airport is not easily accessible by subway, but you can take several subway lines to the Q70-SBS, which will get you to LaGuardia. Taxis and charge a metered fare (based on the ride length) for trips to LaGuardia.

JFK Airport is easily accessible by subway. Most train lines to connect to the Jamaica Center Station (serviced by the E, J and Z lines), and from Jamaica Center, you can connect to the AirTrain which takes you to the airport. The Subway ticket will cost you $3, and AirTrain tickets are $5. Taxis  from Manhattan to JFK are a fixed rate of $52, plus several city taxes that will add another $5-$10 to your trip.

Newark is accessible by New Jersey Transit trains which leave Manhattan’s Penn Station regularly  from 5am to 2am. The train takes you to Newark Penn Station, where you will connect with the Newark AirTrain. The ticket should cost around $12. If you wish to take a taxi to Newark, you’ll be charged a metered fare based on trip length.