Ten Tips for Traveling in New York City

On the Friday I had designated to tour NYC by foot, it poured all day long. What wasn't in a Ziploc bag in my backpack (I'm a little OCD that way), got soaked. There was even a puddle in the bottom of one lined pocket. Plus everything I was wearing got drenched. I bought a cheapy umbrella after it was apparent it wasn't going to stop raining. The darn thing broke the first time I opened it, and then it slipped under my seat on the subway when I was digging in my backpack, and I left it. Oops. I should have just gotten a poncho. Six hours of walking in the rain = uncomfortable.

I didn't check any luggage. I just took my green backpack (and shipped some stuff home to lighten up before I left). It worked well because I didn't have to worry about toting my luggage or paying to have it stored. In the future, I'm going to look for a slightly different bag with more easy-to-access pockets so I can keep my stuff organized.

I took one pair of tan sandals that I wore with khakis and later with jeans. They were comfortable for the first six hours of walking, but after that I wished I had something even more comfortable. Even as an avid exerciser, the many hours and miles of walking made me sore. While my tennis shoes would have been ideal, I was glad I had shoes that dried quickly.

Between transportation and tipping and donations and coffee and fees, small bills and change, particularly $1 coins and quarters, come in handy.

My first trip to NYC was also my first sushi experience and my first hostel experience. If you're not willing to try something new, you won't learn about great new things you like!

Before I left NYC, I mailed my dirty laundry, souveniers, a few electronics, and a few books home. It was well worth the $20 because I didn't have to carry the extra weight and bulk on the bus and around the airport.

I'm not an OCD neat freak, but sometimes you do just want to freshen up a bit. Mystery goo from the subway rail, stray fuzz in the hostel bathroom, and drool from your nap in the airport are all quickly cleaned up with these handy wipes.

In the middle of my trip I bought a folding map that shows the subway system of NYC, and street maps of uptown and downtown Manhattan. It was worth its weight in gold. It folds down to the size of a small notebook and is laminated. It helped me find my way around the southern tip of Manhattan, which has a notorious jumble of diagonal streets.

It's easy enough to tell your way around most of New York if you know which direction the street numbers run in, but having a compass can prevent you from accidentally going east instead of west, or south instead of north once you get to a corner from a subway station. Just a little time saver.

Especially if you are flying at night, a C-shaped travel pillow can be the difference between a stiff neck, or peaceful rest. You can also use it as a backrest or seat cushion. I use mine as a pillow if the hotel provided one just isn't working for me, or to add extra fluff.