New York City Travel Advice

The small-town tourists are amazed when they take that first taxi trip into the island of Manhattan and see all the big buildings and people. Even for other city folk, coming to New York can be overwhelming. Travel guides list a plethora of lodging, dining and entertainment options, but many opt for a nap rather than read one of them while flying. Here's a list of Ten Do's and Don'ts to follow during your time in New York City.

1. DO obtain a copy of a NYC subway map
One of the most stressful things while traveling by subway is not knowing what train to take or where to get off. While most subway cars have maps in them, people often have to lean over someone seated to take a look. As a professor of mine once said "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail." Plan out your daily trips using a map and a marker. Even better yet, many book and novelty stores in Manhattan sell plastic subway maps that are made for washable markers. You don't want to find yourself on 200th Street in Upper Manhattan when you wanted to go to Far Rockaway in Queens, which is a 20 mile distance.

2. DON'T go into an empty subway car when the other cars are crowded.
Almost 100% of the time this means that something is unpleasant about the individual car and people would rather be stuffed into an overcrowded one than sit in there. In the summer it could mean the car lacks air conditioning while the others feel like the South Pole, but in many cases there is a really smelly homeless person sleeping on one of the seats.

3. DO go to the TKTS booth for discount Broadway tickets
There are two locations, one in the middle of Times Square and the other near South Street Seaport, where theatregoers wait in line for up to an hour on busy days for a selection of discounted seats. Sure, the wait may be long, but it's worth seeing a show such as Hairspray for 50% off. (add)

4. DON'T go to chain restaurants
This specifically means The Olive Garden and both Times Square locations of T.G.I.Friday's. Firstly, don't you have one of these in your home town? The only thing New York about these is the crowds. Since both are in the center of town the capacity is twice the size of normal establishments, which means you'll be seated like sardines. The food is also bland and priced up to $10 higher than you would pay for the same dish in a suburban location. I'm referring to the Friday's burger and fries, which is priced around $9.95 at most Friday's restaurants but is $19.95 in Times Square!

5. DO go to Bubba Gump's
Although considered a small chain with locations in San Francisco and New Orleans, there's nothing bland or overpriced with this seafood restaurant taken straight from Forrest Gump. Even if you have to wait 45 minutes for a table, you can watch the acclaimed film on one of the many television screens or peruse the gift shop. The wait staff is friendly and enthusiastic, and you'll be challenged with quiz questions related to the movie.

6. DON'T take pictures in the middle of the sidewalk
This is a common mistake by those who are captivated with all the lights, sounds, people. Usually found in Times Square, these tourists like to stop in the middle of a busy street and take pictures of friends and family. It's understandable that some people find it charming that there's a road called Jane Street and their name is Jane, but video and photographs should be taken before noon or when the next pedestrian is at least 25 seconds away. It's annoying when people walking, often in a rush to and from work or other commitments, have to stop so that they don't ruin a picture.

7. DO explore the outer boroughs
Previously mentioned in DO Number 1 are the boroughs of Queens and The Bronx. There's also Brooklyn and Staten Island, but the latter is furthest away from the other four and is rumored to one day become a separate city. All four outer boroughs have a lot to offer in terms of recreation and cultural institutions. Queens has an area referred to as the "Irish Riveria" and "Little Athens" Brooklyn boasts large Russian and Italian populations, and The Bronx is a melting pot of every culture you can imagine, from the Irish in the North Bronx to the African-American and Hispanic communities of the South Bronx.

8. DON'T take your safety for granted
Although New York is one of the safest large cities, there are still parts notorious for crime. Here's a simple tip: don't go to a deserted area. At night, the areas west of 9th Avenue in Manhattan are known hang-outs for prostitutes. In general, you should keep on eye on your belongings, especially if you're carrying a lot of cash. My advice is to exchange your money for traveler's checks.

9. DO wear comfortable shoes
Marathon runners wear sneakers because they cover a lot of ground. And so will you, especially on a beautiful New York afternoon. Even in the dead of winter, people love to walk the streets of New York. It's interesting seeing how neighborhoods change, especially walking along Broadway from the Financial District at the southern tip of Manhattan all the way uptown. You may shake your head as you're reading this, but there's something about being in Manhattan that makes you want to explore. Make sure to take a lot of pictures and eat along the way to keep up your energy.

10. DO have a good trip
If you follow at least some of this advice there shouldn't be a doubt that you'll have a memorable and enjoyable visit!