Suzanne Jaber 
I’m going to take you through the essential guide to NYC. New York can be overwhelming since there is so much to do in the city I am going to take you through spots not to be missed on anyone’s trip to the big apple! It is known as one of the biggest cities in the world, a center for art, fashion, and film. Here’s what not to miss in New York on my travel guide!
Who am I?
Suzanne here! I am 27 currently living in the Big Apple! Ever since I was young I have loved traveling. I have so far visited 10 countries, most of the states, and even lived in France. In almost all of my trips, I have traveled solo which I prefer. I would consider my style to be a luxury female traveler. Be sure to check out my Instagram page wandering_beautiful for some pretty cool shots.
1. Duration of Ideal Stay and Visiting Season
If you plan to stay in NYC anywhere from five days to a week is a perfect amount to stay. Really there is no bad time to go to NYC but one of the most popular and busy times to go is during Christmas. Summer in NYC can be sweltering hot with all the people, so I recommend late Spring or Christmas as the perfect time depending on what you want to see or do…
2. How to Get to The City from Airport?
The great thing about NYC is the number of airports it has! Three main airports are right next to NYC: John F Kennedy, Newark NJ, and LaGuardia… There are several ways to get to NYC from the airport: cab, uber, or Subway. Subway would be the cheapest and it looks like Uber or Lyft would be the most expensive. If you do decide to take the subway google maps is very very helpful on which train to take where.
3. Where to Accommodate in NYC?
New York City has plenty of accommodations, but I suggest staying inside Manhattan to get the full experience! There is a multitude of hotels, hostels, and Airbnb’s to choose from! My personal pick would be to stay in a hotel. For a cheaper option, there are always hostels around the city as well, some offer private rooms or rooms to share. I recommend staying anywhere near midtown since it is the most walkable and has the most tourist destinations. Midtown has the empire state building, Times Square is also known as the theater district, and 5th Ave is the famed shopping destination!
4. In City Transportation
Public transport is where it is at in NYC. There is no shortage of trains, cabs, or buses in NYC. Most often it is cheapest to get around by subway, but NYC is pretty walkable if you stay around Midtown. You can get a Subway card at any station I would suggest getting a 7-day unlimited pass for $33. You can also take a cab if you feel uncomfortable getting around by subway but even as a single small woman I feel safe getting on the Subway. It also does run 24 hours a day which can be helpful for those late nights!
5. Suggested Budget for NYC
NYC is pretty expensive I would suggest around $100 a day at least depending on what you want to do. There are a lot of museums that just take donations. The food average is around $20 a meal without alcohol.
6. Things to See and Do in NYC
Let’s continue with one of the most important parts of our New York travel guide!
Best Places to Visit in New York
- Times Square
- 9/11 Memorial
- Empire State Building
- Statue of Liberty
- Central Park
- 5Th Ave
- Rockefeller Center
Best Museums to Visit in New York
- Met
- Natural History
- Planetarium
Nightlife in New York
Nyc has the hottest nightlife here are some of the hottest clubs and my favorite rooftop bars to check out in the city :
- 230 Fifth
- Project 91
- Electric Lemon
- Magic hour
- Avant Gardner
Shopping/Souvenirs in New York
Any souvenir shops are good in NYC. Be sure to get an I love NY shirt it is essential if you are a first-time visitor of the city! 5th Ave is the best shopping the world has to offer with their upscale shops even if you are only window-shopping make sure to stop by. If you are into the 5th Ave scene but don’t have the money head-on over to Chinatown, they have all the latest designer bags at more than half the price they are of course not the original.
Tours/Sightsee/Hop on &Hop off Tours/Walk Tours
If you are going to do a tour of the city I recommend the hop on hop off bus tours. This is a reputable company I have used all over the world. What I love about it is you are able to get on and off at different stops all throughout the day. The ticket is only $47 for an adult and $39 for a child. They stop at 14 essential places around the city so if you want to see all of the city this is the way to do it!
Special Events
There is always something going on in NYC! For all special events, I always check out Time Out NY If any. They always have what’s going on any given day of the week! For Christmas time make sure to check out all the Christmas markets and what they have to offer. The best Christmas market I have found is Bryant Park. There are also several ice-skating rinks during the winter to check out: central park, Rockefeller Center, and Bryant Park.
7. What to Eat/Drink at Where?
Let’s go into the most delicious part of our New York travel guide!
Joe’s Pizza
You literally can’t come to NYC without easting the Pizza in NYC, Joe’s Pizza is a must it has several locations around NYC.
Katz Delicatessen
Next is Katz Delicatessen, established in 1888 the most well-known item pastrami on rye.
Levain Bakery
Next is the world-famous Levain Bakery, known for its Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie, this gooey chocolatey goodness is not to be missed.
Nathans
Lastly, another world-famous food is Hot Dogs, stop by any hot dog stand in the city that says Nathans for a yummy treat. Made famous by the hot dog eating contest every year, the record was 76 hot dogs in 10 mins.
8. Warnings, Tips, and Tricks
In any city, it is smart to pay attention to your surroundings and keep your belongings close by. I however have never felt unsafe in the city due to the number of people that are in the city. Some things to remember the subway operates 24/7, and always bargain with the street vendors. For those of you who like musical theater be sure to check out www.nytix.com for some cheap Broadway tickets.
New York, you are amazing!
Awesome guide!