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An alternative to LIC is Williamsburg in Brooklyn. It is about four stoops from Union Square(14th at) in manhattan. It is a place where hipsters hang out. Safety is important. NYC is no more dangerous than any other major city. Sarah has suggested to not be out after 10PM. Good advice. It also helps you get a good night’s sleep for tomorrow. If you are out and about remember there is safety in numbers. In Wall Street late at night (Why?). There is very little foot traffic in the area. Leave the area ASAP. Traveling on the subway late at night. Nobody on the platform? Hand out by the coin booth until you hear your train coming. I love crossing the B bridge. My advice is take the train to Brooklyn and walk towards the city. When you finish the walk you’ll be by city hall. Lots of busses and trains to take you to your next destination. There are also things to do and see in downtown Manhattan. Not so if you walk toward Brooklyn. I think a visit to Times Square at night is worthy of your time. I go back home to NY yearly And love taking pictures. There is so much light I take pictures without a flash or pushing the light sensitivity. Locals avoid Times Square. Then again you aren’t a local. Besides, most of the tourist sights are closed when TS is lite up. Sarah has warned you about the scamsters and they are here a plenty. Besides the lite up area it is entertaining, for me, to watch the scamstars try and work the street. It is part of the street entertainment. You decide. Staten Island isn’t for site seeing. Generally it is a residential area. The only reason to visit Staten Island, in my opinion, is to get off the Staten Island ferry (FREE in both directions!) and catch a returning ferry back to downtown Manhattan. The view of lower Manhattan is worth the ~ one hour (including the wait to board the ferrys) total time. Tourists are hip to this trip and know to go to the starboard (right) side on the trip to Staten Island for the Statute of Liberty. True about the Wall Street bull. What many people don’t know that since this is a bull his genitalia is on display. Many people rub his private area as his body has a patina but his private part is bright and shiny. Everything in NYC is expensive. Some good news is the food doesn’t have to be. Stay away from chain restaurants as Sarah suggests. It is more expensive than the chain restaurants at home because of rents et al. Plus they strive to taste wherever you go. Go to neighborhood restaurants. There is a wide variety of cuisines to sample. The restaurant may be expensive compared to home but the food will be better and less expensive than the chain restaurants. Storyblocks cinema. Good idea. Unless you are a professional photographer or videographer, these images will be better than any images you want to create. Take a small camera or use you cell camera for images of your family with the Brooklyn Bridge (or other tourist destinations) in the background. Sarah may suggest not going into tourist trap souvenir shops. Good idea. On the other hand, you can purchase great postcards at a reasonable price. Here is a fun thing. Negotiate the price. You can get the postcards for less than the published price sometimes. If it doesn’t work write this off as entertainment. I negotiated my the price of my Brooklyn baseball cap. As Sarah suggests, if you are in the city for about a week, get the MTA weekly pass for ~$33. The subway is definitely the fastest way to get around. Somethings to consider. The trains are three stories below ground. During rush hour let the locals out of the subway car 1st and climb the stairs. They do this all the time and can climb the stairs faster than you. When they have left you can climb the stairs at your own pace. There are very few handicapped accessible stations. For short trips try the bus. Yes it takes longer to get where you are going. In exchange for time you will be above ground and see the environment. Also the buses are handicap accessible. Want to stop in the middle of the block to take a picture? Look behind you 1st. As Sarah suggests, locals can give you a dirty look or say something about your behavior. Like you, locals have places to go and people to see. This is merely a polite thing to do. Oh yes. Unofficially, Jay walking doesn’t exist. A break in the traffic? Cross against the light. I now live in Seattle and I still cross streets this way. I check the street traffic and make sure there aren’t any local cops around. I guarantee no NYPD officer will ticket you for Jay walking. Good bathroom hack. An additional one is chain food chains have bathrooms for customers. Find the bathroom and wait on line until your time or go to a cashier for the passcode. Advanced hack. I’m a street photographer and walk the streets all day and into the night. If you are going to return to the area later in your trip make a record of the pass code and use the code again. Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)
I really want to go to NYC now! And your videos feel current..love the awesome authentic recommendations. Your daughter is SO cute and a natural in front of the camera! Do a video on traveling NYC with kids.
I love how much stronger your NYC accent has become since your earlier videos! I study and teach a lot of foreign languages as well as English dialects, and the various accents in the Boroughs are some of my all-time favorites. It’s entirely natural for people’s accents to change during their lives, whether through osmosis or deliberately changing it. In any case, you’re an excellent communicator and I deeply appreciate all the helpful information.
Great video! I would say that sometimes you do need to have some extra cash on hand for tips, bodegas, buskers, ice cream/hot dogs in Central Park, street vendors etc. Some places only take cash. Also, about hotels - if you are planning to do sightseeing mostly in Manhattan, I would rather pony up the extra money to stay in Manhattan and be able to walk, explore and be closer to the sights I want to see on my time instead of staying somewhere in the outer boroughs just for the cheaper hotel ...you can have the best intentions about taking trains wherever you need to go during the day and at night, but if you happen to have a few late nights out, safety can be a concern and if you're not quite sure about taking the subway, you will be taking cabs/Lyfts/Ubers back to your hotel in the outer boroughs and that cost can add up (and take up time, too).
Honestly when it comes to safety and crime…..it’s more so common sense. If you’re walking in an area that seems very off putting, the people around you give off a weird vibe, and you actually see something bad happening, either leave that area quick or if you have to walk in that area to get to your destination…keep all of your belongings out of sight and extremely close to you, as well as just mind your business which is a superpower that most NYers seem to have. When it comes to weather and what to wear…..I’m sure it’s just the tri-state area that experiences this but specifically here in NY….the weather is bipolar and sometimes disrespectful.
Well, not all the visitors reside in the United States, for the rest of the world IS NOT COMMON that a man shoved a girl to the train; sorry you guys have got used to it, but it's not common sense and I think it's good to know how can we anticipate this kind of scenarios
RIP those pushed onto the subway tracks, killed in the subway cars, etc do not have the opportunity to use Spidey senses. Bradley Cooper was even mugged at knife point on the subway at like noon, enroute to pick his kid up from school. Crime and harm are usually everywhere and least expected, that is the advantage the predator has over the prey. But yeah, keep an eye out, but respect the victims, most are not naive and not trying to be a victim, bad people are just unpredictable.
@@jerick.rodriguez It is very unfortunate that the young woman was shoved into the train, but that is not a normal occurrence, at all. Also, if you don't feel comfortable taking the subway, then opt for other options like uber or lyft.
Sara, Just spent a few days in New York and was lucky enough to get to the Mets vs Yankees. It was a brilliant night and the New Yorkers we spoke to were great. Word of warning, me and my wife are in our 60’s and we were asked for identification when buying our drinks. We didn’t carry our passports as we didn’t want to take too much with us. Didn’t happen in the bars we went to but they were pretty strict in the stadium. We found a kind vendor who accepted my vaccine passport which had my dob on. May be worth a mention. Had a great time.
These are all great tips overall! I agree that hotels in Midtown are quite expensive. Thankfully I had points I could use so that my stay was significantly cheaper. When I was in NYC last September by myself, I rode the subway quite a lot, and I had no problems or concerns with regards to safety. I rode it only during the daytime however. Awesome video!
Sarah When someone is taking the Subway. Go to the middle of the platform and look for a striped bar. That is where the conductor cab is or go to the front of the car. That is where the motorman is. Weather I NYC varies. Hot and humid weather with severe thunderstorms to cold and snowy weather. Tourist traps unfortunately are being spread to the Coney Island Boardwalk.. Do not give any thing to them. I agree with you when it comes to restaurants. I go to a bar restaurant in Sheepshead Bay. The service is great. Always people should 20% tip Great video.
Tom D would be proud of that sick plug! Bonus tip if I may add as a semi local (I'm a 15 min drive from NYC in NJ) : Sunday mornings are the BEST time to sight see. Seriously. Anything before 11 AM, the city still seems "asleep" and it's so much easier to get around..I go nearly every Sunday :)
In terms of saving money on accommodation, I cant emphasise how much cheaper staying in an AirBnB is. It's about 10% the nightly cost of a hotel. You can find them in Brooklyn, Upper Manhattan and New Jersey. Yes you have to commute, but it's like 10-30 minutes max by bus!! This leaves you with more money for fun spending in New York.
I live in lower Manhattan and have a toddler side kick. The Staten Island Ferry is a wonderful place where we go to burn off her little kid energy. It is a safe and scenic boot ride. You can move around the entire trip. You"re allowed to eat and drink. I like the back of the boat, so I wait for everyone to board, my granddaughter and I wave at the workers on the boat and ramp, go right up stairs or go forward and take the elevator up, if we have a stroller. The back of the boat is emptier and the view is amazing. I like the view to the east, Governor's Island and Brooklyn. The Statue of Liberty and the tourists are on the west side of the boat. The Staten Island Zoo is an easy car service ride away. It is a good small zoo for little children. The mall on the Staten Island side is a good place for children because it is mostly empty. It was empty when we were there last summer. It's not for adult tourists as much as it is for locals or people who are here for a long time. I have only gone at mid day during the week.
I find this video is sooooo helpful. Planning my first NYC trip this year. Please do a video on baby friendly activities and places (I'll be bringing in my 1 y.o. baby and I really hope to do all the fun things with her along).
Im from Long Island and I’ve only been to the city a few times. I want to take my aunt there, she’s visiting. I’m binge watching all your videos rn, so helpful. Ty
I love all your videos, so informative and fun to watch ! I lived in New York for 6/7 months and I miss it so so much ! Hope to be back soon. I feel/felt like a local, but I still hope to do your tour one day. Thanks ! XX
Definately worth getting the ferry to and from Staten Island. Also love getting the bus right uptown to Cloisters, Mosaic garden and St. John's then Harlem.
Love your videos very informative. Would be very helpful for our next visit. I think though that Time square should be on the to do list. I know There’s really not much there,but it’s very Iconic. Otherwise it’s like going to Oahu & not seeing Waikiki beach & Diamond head.
$6000 is the total amount my daughter and I spent for our trip to NYC in May 2022. (we stayed for 7 nights) This is our 3rd visit and we love it more and more each time thanks to Sarah's amazing videos with tips and tricks!
$6k? What! I just came from a trip last week with My two sisters and I with an 1 year old & a 4-year old. And we stayed near Times Square (the Hyatt Centric; we were on the 53th floor and got to experience the 54th rooftop bar at 10:30am to take photos only) for an entire week and it costed us $5k in total. Definitely go to The Color Factory, the samples are amazing from the macaroons to gelato after the ball pit. We even took a boat ride on Classic Harbor that costed $200+ for our party.
@@tatyanna408 When I was researching hotels, the Hyatt Centric would have been over $3300 for the 2 of us to stay on a high floor with one king bed. How in the world did the 5 of you stay there and only end up paying $5000 total for the trip? You need to post a video with your tips and tricks, because that's amazing!! 😀😀😀
@@bri6713 I booked the hotel 3 months in advanced. We stayed in the 2 Queen Oversized High Floor room (rainfall shower & separate tub). I made an account and got the members advance rate. Did everything by the app. Checked in. Only put 2 adults & 2 kids on the reservation. So when I got to the hotel, all I needed was to get the room keys. The app will give you better rooms available.
@@bri6713 the exact price for the hotel was $3,345.02. All of our activities like the Classic Harbor, I found a 15% off coupon code that worked. The kids really didn’t want fancy food, so street food, McDonalds, and snacks kept them good and us to. 😭 After all the walking, we wanted lazy convenient food for dinner. Definitely Uber’ed food to the hotel.
Hi Sarah, I just discoverd your channel and find it very entertaining. The main reason to watch your videos was to practice my English listening and, let me tell you, I think your English sounds very clear to me, it may be because you're an educated person/communicator or simply my understanding of the language is good. Hope some day I can visit the City That Never Sleeps, thanks for your tips and videos abouit it.
I found New York safe. The people were lovely and would give you directions if you asked them. When I said I was from Australia, they wanted to know more. I was there for 11 nights in 2018 and saw so much, but there was so so much to see that I didn't get a chance to. I found the Subway easy to get around (apart from Fulton street, but that's a long conversation). We stayed in Upper West side and had a supermarket across the road (well Broadway) with a deli and we were able to get something for dinner there. Saved us a lot of money. Plus we were out and about all day that all we felt like doing was changing into our trackie dacks (Australian slang for tracksuit pants) having a drink and unwinding for the day. I loved New York and can't wait to go again! I better get saving!
I just think it’s funny that I found you right before Covid when we were planning a trip, now we are catching up on that travel credit and I found you again and you have a daughter and now so do I. Life
When people say New Yorkers are rude, I like to refer them to that ending subway scene in Crocodile Dundee where the commuters help to get Sue and Mic back together. That's what in your face New York nice looks like.
7 day metro pass for $32 unlimited rides for all those s days. Also try Ben and Jack best 3 course meal salad or soup, porter house, Filet mignon, salmon and other choices dessert and coffee or tea for only $29 from 12-3 and your close too grand station also empire steak house also 3 course meal $32 amazing place too
We got a hotel in midtown for our trip very soon for only $115/night that normally is $300/night! Going right now may be chilly, but the deals we’ve gotten are AMAZING!
I gotta add something to the “don’t stop in the middle of the sidewalk” : PLEASE walk at a normal pace 😭 Most people walk from point A to point B, and a crowd of slow tourists is an absolute nightmare
@@dbased1915 i would imagine it's just restaurant/place dependant. To my knowledge though, no. I know they recently scrapped covid testing before arrival so i assume most if not all won't need it.
I've been watching your videos quite a bit! I'll be there in December with my daughter. It's her favorite holiday hands down. So far I purchased tickets for The Rockettes Christmas Spectacular Show and a 4 hour Dyer Heights tour (Christmas day..kinda figured that would be a good day since some things may be closed and it'll give us a little break as we chill for a bit.) I found an Airbnb right by Times Square with all the action. I got it just in time too. All of my "hearted" pads skyrocketed considerably before the end of April. We have both been to NYC once but this trip is Christmas focused. I've been investigating like nuts and plan to utilize your video to get from LaGuardia to our Airbnb. There's only two other things I plan to purchase tickets for...ice skating and I think we're gonna go with The Edge. One World Observatory sounds great for all the obvious reasons but towering over all of NYC didn't seem as cool as kinda being eye to eye. I like the see through floor but the other seems intriguing as well. I want to book tickets for dusk. I almost bought tx last night but I held off so I could see what the distance is between our temporary NYC home and where the Dyer Heights tour ends. I'm thinking Christmas night may be the time to go after the tour which is scheduled to end at 8. Any thoughts on this? And any other suggestions that I should look into or book? Btw, my daughter will be 15 in June so she's at a great age to be adventurous with. Oh and we plan to definitely ride the Staten Island ferry. There's other good tour guides I've checked out but I feel most comfortable with your videos and one other lady...the dudes are ok but I'm sticking with the ladies! 💜 Thanks so much for your insightful, helpful videos. 💜🎄💜
Cool video but imo Encore pizza in Manhattan is by far the best pizza available in NYC ❤. And as for it not being worth going to the statue of liberty well that's crazy to say as yes it's cool to view from afar but nothing compared to going to the statue and standing underneath and looking up then climb up her and seeing the big flag behind her especially if never been before. Kixby hotel was a really nice and affordable hotel to stay and central and has a nice bar called the lookup where you can sit and have a drink and look up at empire state building but sadly now the hotel is beginning to charge resort fees of an extra $30 a night on your room for the sake of free tea and coffee room from a machine which sounds cheap till you factor in a 7 night stay at $30 a night extra on top of amount paid already.
Local here, solid information for tourist, but got some improvements to bounce arounds. 1. Dont go to hotels unless you wanna be hella fancy or you hella rich, go stay at a Airbnb as she said, it's more affordable 2. I get you want to do some restauraunts and all that, yes do that, dont forget that there are some delis or bodega as we say that have good sandwiches, I recommend the chopped cheese on a roll. 3. There's free entertainment everywhere, just gotta know where to look, free movies in the park, free shows/concerts. Broadway is good but tickets can be expensive if you dont look up todaytix. 4. Explore the outer borough, there's more than just manhattan you know, even Staten Island...ONCE. The bronx got some culture, Queens got the foods, Brooklyn got the yuppies gentrifyers but more importantly it got history. 5. Learn our subway system map and you wont get lost...much 6. Get out of the way, we got places to go and things to do, we friendly but dont mess with our gait. 7. As she said, dress comfortably, look at the weather before you go and use your best judgement. 8. Good Luck
I planned a trip to New York for my anniversary around Fall and thanks to your videos I have a more clear idea of what I want to do around New York, keep up the good work, your content is lovely and amazing!
I love your videos, Sarah, my husband and I have been binging them as our trip to NYC approaches (we'll be arriving this Thursday) we will only have a few days to explore the city so it will be a little taster for him. This will be my 5th time visiting but the last time I was in NYC was in 2014 so I'm sure LOTS has changed since my last visit.
Agree about not going to the Empire State Building. Top of the Rock and the new Summit One Vanderbilt are far superior experiences. Disagree about the Statue of Liberty. Yes, you can see it from the Staten Island Ferry for free, but there's nothing like being on the island and seeing it up close and personal. You can learn a lot about its history there, too. My parents took us there many times when I was a kid and I've continued to go every so often. Ellis Island is definitely worth it as well.
Hey I love your video Sarah and hi to Bella, she is so adorable! Thank you for these tips, loved it. Looking forward to visiting soon, at the moment I am a light packer and was thinking if you often travel too? With Bella with you, would love to recommend the bento bag on your future travels from Nomad lane. It is simply the best!
Hi Sarah I love your videos, can you include family friendly places to visit in the city for toodler to teenager ages. Thanks in advance for your help.
I will consider a hotel in Long Island City on the next visit to NYC with family. We usually stay either at a hotel or a relative's place either in Jersey or Upstate. The farthest where we stayed was at a relative's place in Lake Hopatcong NJ but the long commute to Manhattan was fine for us as I also live in a big city and are used to it. As for chain restaurants, I often go to White Castle as we don't have that here in Manila. We have Shake Shack, TGIF and Sbarros and while these are chain restaurants, they are from NYC and would check out Shake Shack.
I stayed at The Sonder in Long Island City when me and my spouse came a few weeks ago and we loved it! We were right next to the subway and had access to Manhattan and the rest of the boroughs. I’ve stayed in Midtown the other two times I came last year and while it is more convenient LIC was just a 15 minute train ride away.
Thank you for sharing Ashley! Sonder is such a great option! I'm glad you had a good experience and got to stay in a different area for your recent trip. I might be a little biased but I love LIC, glad you did too! 😊
The best CHEAP away to see NYC is take the Madison A e BUS all the way from 49 th st. To end of line ( lower Manhattan ) & back 👏👍. I have lived in NYC & Forest Hills a total of 7 yrs . Took our 2 sons back there when they were pre teens ( coming from Columbia , SC ) We WALKED everywhere , rode bus , subway etc.
Hey Sarah! Just wanted to say that thanks to your amazing videos, I had an amazing time in New York! I can't wait to go back and do the things I couldn't do this time around. Thanks again :)
Hi Sarah! I've been watching all of your videos in preparation for my trip to NYC from the UK in Spring 23.. Do you have any advice about being vegan in NYC? My friend, who I am travelling with, is a meat-eater and I am vegan - I'm hoping there will be places we both can enjoy!? Thanks :)
As a vegetarian in the city (who’s come from California) I can say that there is no variety in what plant based options there are. The only places I’m guaranteed to find something other than a lentil or bean patty for a meal is at a west coast chain. Severely limited options for proteins in store as well. I have only seen beyond/impossible meat, tofu, and tempeh at a handful of grocers & have seen tofu offered once on a restaurant menu. The one thing you can find nearly everywhere is a wide variety of plant based milks, so that’s a plus!
The use a credit card tip is fantastic. I've seen so many guides that say "bring cash, you must have cash, loads of places don't take cards" but I have a travel credit card that has zero fees on spending and cash withdrawal. Plus it gives you the best rate you can get on purchases and cash as you get the daily Mastercard rate. I still feel though that I do need to have some Dollars on me when I arrive at Christmas, not sure how much to bring though as it will be at a less favourable exchange rate most likely. $300-$500 perhaps? I don't want to turn up with nothing but plastic at immigration and look dodgy as heck.
No one will think you look dodgy if you show up with no cash! However, if you are going on any walking tours or doing any experiences where you have a guide then I recommend you bring cash to tip. It is often easier!
@@SarahFunky Noted, I will make sure then I have enough cash on arrival at JFK for the taxi ( I know all about the airtrain and subway, but bringing some expensive camera gear and lenses so got rolling luggage to get to the hotel with a couple of backpacks and I don't want that added stress on arrival.) and incidentals then just use my card/take cash out daily from my banks ATMs. Tipping is a big stresser as a Brit. We just don't tip unless the service is astonishingly good here and even then 10% at the most.
The fact that these restaurants charge these super high prices yet only pay their waiters $5/hr is insane. Also, that the expectations for tipping % keeps climbing and now sits at 20% as a “normal” tip is ridiculous! Just out of control. NY needs better laws so the owners pay their staff instead of patrons
Hi Sarah, nice to see your vlogs. I am planning to visit NYC with my wife by 21 Nov for 15 days and then travel to Washington DC, Atlantic City and finally in Atlanta. Please advise about weather condition in these days
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An alternative to LIC is Williamsburg in Brooklyn. It is about four stoops from Union Square(14th at) in manhattan. It is a place where hipsters hang out.
Safety is important. NYC is no more dangerous than any other major city. Sarah has suggested to not be out after 10PM. Good advice. It also helps you get a good night’s sleep for tomorrow. If you are out and about remember there is safety in numbers. In Wall Street late at night (Why?). There is very little foot traffic in the area. Leave the area ASAP. Traveling on the subway late at night. Nobody on the platform? Hand out by the coin booth until you hear your train coming.
I love crossing the B bridge. My advice is take the train to Brooklyn and walk towards the city. When you finish the walk you’ll be by city hall. Lots of busses and trains to take you to your next destination. There are also things to do and see in downtown Manhattan. Not so if you walk toward Brooklyn.
I think a visit to Times Square at night is worthy of your time. I go back home to NY yearly And love taking pictures. There is so much light I take pictures without a flash or pushing the light sensitivity. Locals avoid Times Square. Then again you aren’t a local. Besides, most of the tourist sights are closed when TS is lite up. Sarah has warned you about the scamsters and they are here a plenty. Besides the lite up area it is entertaining, for me, to watch the scamstars try and work the street. It is part of the street entertainment. You decide.
Staten Island isn’t for site seeing. Generally it is a residential area. The only reason to visit Staten Island, in my opinion, is to get off the Staten Island ferry (FREE in both directions!) and catch a returning ferry back to downtown Manhattan. The view of lower Manhattan is worth the ~ one hour (including the wait to board the ferrys) total time. Tourists are hip to this trip and know to go to the starboard (right) side on the trip to Staten Island for the Statute of Liberty.
True about the Wall Street bull. What many people don’t know that since this is a bull his genitalia is on display. Many people rub his private area as his body has a patina but his private part is bright and shiny.
Everything in NYC is expensive. Some good news is the food doesn’t have to be. Stay away from chain restaurants as Sarah suggests. It is more expensive than the chain restaurants at home because of rents et al. Plus they strive to taste wherever you go. Go to neighborhood restaurants. There is a wide variety of cuisines to sample. The restaurant may be expensive compared to home but the food will be better and less expensive than the chain restaurants.
Storyblocks cinema. Good idea. Unless you are a professional photographer or videographer, these images will be better than any images you want to create. Take a small camera or use you cell camera for images of your family with the Brooklyn Bridge (or other tourist destinations) in the background. Sarah may suggest not going into tourist trap souvenir shops. Good idea. On the other hand, you can purchase great postcards at a reasonable price. Here is a fun thing. Negotiate the price. You can get the postcards for less than the published price sometimes. If it doesn’t work write this off as entertainment. I negotiated my the price of my Brooklyn baseball cap.
As Sarah suggests, if you are in the city for about a week, get the MTA weekly pass for ~$33. The subway is definitely the fastest way to get around. Somethings to consider. The trains are three stories below ground. During rush hour let the locals out of the subway car 1st and climb the stairs. They do this all the time and can climb the stairs faster than you. When they have left you can climb the stairs at your own pace. There are very few handicapped accessible stations. For short trips try the bus. Yes it takes longer to get where you are going. In exchange for time you will be above ground and see the environment. Also the buses are handicap accessible.
Want to stop in the middle of the block to take a picture? Look behind you 1st. As Sarah suggests, locals can give you a dirty look or say something about your behavior. Like you, locals have places to go and people to see. This is merely a polite thing to do. Oh yes. Unofficially, Jay walking doesn’t exist. A break in the traffic? Cross against the light. I now live in Seattle and I still cross streets this way. I check the street traffic and make sure there aren’t any local cops around. I guarantee no NYPD officer will ticket you for Jay walking.
Good bathroom hack. An additional one is chain food chains have bathrooms for customers. Find the bathroom and wait on line until your time or go to a cashier for the passcode. Advanced hack. I’m a street photographer and walk the streets all day and into the night. If you are going to return to the area later in your trip make a record of the pass code and use the code again.
Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)
I really want to go to NYC now! And your videos feel current..love the awesome authentic recommendations. Your daughter is SO cute and a natural in front of the camera! Do a video on traveling NYC with kids.
I love how much stronger your NYC accent has become since your earlier videos! I study and teach a lot of foreign languages as well as English dialects, and the various accents in the Boroughs are some of my all-time favorites. It’s entirely natural for people’s accents to change during their lives, whether through osmosis or deliberately changing it. In any case, you’re an excellent communicator and I deeply appreciate all the helpful information.
In my case, I speak American English with a New York accent.
I am at 6:22 and already you video made me feel like moving back to NYC after 10 years living in Northern California . I ❤ NY
Sarah I love that you do your videos with Bella now! You are a role model for all moms out there who are always worried about career with kids.
Great video! I would say that sometimes you do need to have some extra cash on hand for tips, bodegas, buskers, ice cream/hot dogs in Central Park, street vendors etc. Some places only take cash. Also, about hotels - if you are planning to do sightseeing mostly in Manhattan, I would rather pony up the extra money to stay in Manhattan and be able to walk, explore and be closer to the sights I want to see on my time instead of staying somewhere in the outer boroughs just for the cheaper hotel ...you can have the best intentions about taking trains wherever you need to go during the day and at night, but if you happen to have a few late nights out, safety can be a concern and if you're not quite sure about taking the subway, you will be taking cabs/Lyfts/Ubers back to your hotel in the outer boroughs and that cost can add up (and take up time, too).
SO NICE OF YOU TO SHARE THIS VIDEOS WITH YOUR DAUGHTER🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙏
Honestly when it comes to safety and crime…..it’s more so common sense. If you’re walking in an area that seems very off putting, the people around you give off a weird vibe, and you actually see something bad happening, either leave that area quick or if you have to walk in that area to get to your destination…keep all of your belongings out of sight and extremely close to you, as well as just mind your business which is a superpower that most NYers seem to have. When it comes to weather and what to wear…..I’m sure it’s just the tri-state area that experiences this but specifically here in NY….the weather is bipolar and sometimes disrespectful.
Great tips
Yeah, totally agree with all of this lol
Well, not all the visitors reside in the United States, for the rest of the world IS NOT COMMON that a man shoved a girl to the train; sorry you guys have got used to it, but it's not common sense and I think it's good to know how can we anticipate this kind of scenarios
RIP those pushed onto the subway tracks, killed in the subway cars, etc do not have the opportunity to use Spidey senses. Bradley Cooper was even mugged at knife point on the subway at like noon, enroute to pick his kid up from school. Crime and harm are usually everywhere and least expected, that is the advantage the predator has over the prey. But yeah, keep an eye out, but respect the victims, most are not naive and not trying to be a victim, bad people are just unpredictable.
@@jerick.rodriguez It is very unfortunate that the young woman was shoved into the train, but that is not a normal occurrence, at all. Also, if you don't feel comfortable taking the subway, then opt for other options like uber or lyft.
Sara, Just spent a few days in New York and was lucky enough to get to the Mets vs Yankees. It was a brilliant night and the New Yorkers we spoke to were great. Word of warning, me and my wife are in our 60’s and we were asked for identification when buying our drinks. We didn’t carry our passports as we didn’t want to take too much with us. Didn’t happen in the bars we went to but they were pretty strict in the stadium. We found a kind vendor who accepted my vaccine passport which had my dob on. May be worth a mention. Had a great time.
We are heading to NYC next month. Thank you for the information.
These are all great tips overall! I agree that hotels in Midtown are quite expensive. Thankfully I had points I could use so that my stay was significantly cheaper. When I was in NYC last September by myself, I rode the subway quite a lot, and I had no problems or concerns with regards to safety. I rode it only during the daytime however. Awesome video!
Sarah
When someone is taking the Subway. Go to the middle of the platform and look for a striped bar. That is where the conductor cab is or go to the front of the car. That is where the motorman is.
Weather I NYC varies. Hot and humid weather with severe thunderstorms to cold and snowy weather.
Tourist traps unfortunately are being spread to the Coney Island Boardwalk..
Do not give any thing to them.
I agree with you when it comes to restaurants.
I go to a bar restaurant in Sheepshead Bay. The service is great. Always people should 20% tip
Great video.
I visited mi-September 2022 and the weather was just absolutely perfect.
Planning a trip to NYC in the Fall and have been binge watching your videos for the past few weeks. Thanks for this one!
Hey Sarah! I just booked my hotel stay in Long Island City. Thanks for all your great tips!
Tom D would be proud of that sick plug!
Bonus tip if I may add as a semi local (I'm a 15 min drive from NYC in NJ) : Sunday mornings are the BEST time to sight see. Seriously. Anything before 11 AM, the city still seems "asleep" and it's so much easier to get around..I go nearly every Sunday :)
In terms of saving money on accommodation, I cant emphasise how much cheaper staying in an AirBnB is. It's about 10% the nightly cost of a hotel. You can find them in Brooklyn, Upper Manhattan and New Jersey. Yes you have to commute, but it's like 10-30 minutes max by bus!! This leaves you with more money for fun spending in New York.
I'm visiting NY for the first time in a little over a week. Thank you for all these great tips!! And Bella is just too precious!
Thanks for watching Amber! Glad the tips are helpful. Hope you have an amazing time!
My family and I are in NYC right now!
Thanks for putting this together. I'm an Australian and am visiting August - September this year. Really excited but had no idea what to expect.
I live in lower Manhattan and have a toddler side kick. The Staten Island Ferry is a wonderful place where we go to burn off her little kid energy. It is a safe and scenic boot ride. You can move around the entire trip. You"re allowed to eat and drink. I like the back of the boat, so I wait for everyone to board, my granddaughter and I wave at the workers on the boat and ramp, go right up stairs or go forward and take the elevator up, if we have a stroller. The back of the boat is emptier and the view is amazing. I like the view to the east, Governor's Island and Brooklyn. The Statue of Liberty and the tourists are on the west side of the boat.
The Staten Island Zoo is an easy car service ride away. It is a good small zoo for little children. The mall on the Staten Island side is a good place for children because it is mostly empty. It was empty when we were there last summer.
It's not for adult tourists as much as it is for locals or people who are here for a long time. I have only gone at mid day during the week.
I'll be visiting NY for the first time at the end of May, getting ready with your videos! They're amazing, thanks a lot 😊🙏
I find this video is sooooo helpful. Planning my first NYC trip this year. Please do a video on baby friendly activities and places (I'll be bringing in my 1 y.o. baby and I really hope to do all the fun things with her along).
YES! make as many NYC videos as you can I absolutely LOVE your content!!!!!!
Im from Long Island and I’ve only been to the city a few times. I want to take my aunt there, she’s visiting. I’m binge watching all your videos rn, so helpful. Ty
I love all your videos, so informative and fun to watch ! I lived in New York for 6/7 months and I miss it so so much ! Hope to be back soon. I feel/felt like a local, but I still hope to do your tour one day. Thanks ! XX
I'd love that! Thanks Carolina!
Definately worth getting the ferry to and from Staten Island. Also love getting the bus right uptown to Cloisters, Mosaic garden and St. John's then Harlem.
Love your videos very informative. Would be very helpful for our next visit. I think though that Time square should be on the to do list. I know There’s really not much there,but it’s very Iconic. Otherwise it’s like going to Oahu & not seeing Waikiki beach & Diamond head.
$6000 is the total amount my daughter and I spent for our trip to NYC in May 2022. (we stayed for 7 nights) This is our 3rd visit and we love it more and more each time thanks to Sarah's amazing videos with tips and tricks!
$6k? What! I just came from a trip last week with My two sisters and I with an 1 year old & a 4-year old. And we stayed near Times Square (the Hyatt Centric; we were on the 53th floor and got to experience the 54th rooftop bar at 10:30am to take photos only) for an entire week and it costed us $5k in total.
Definitely go to The Color Factory, the samples are amazing from the macaroons to gelato after the ball pit. We even took a boat ride on Classic Harbor that costed $200+ for our party.
@@tatyanna408 When I was researching hotels, the Hyatt Centric would have been over $3300 for the 2 of us to stay on a high floor with one king bed. How in the world did the 5 of you stay there and only end up paying $5000 total for the trip? You need to post a video with your tips and tricks, because that's amazing!! 😀😀😀
@@bri6713 I booked the hotel 3 months in advanced. We stayed in the 2 Queen Oversized High Floor room (rainfall shower & separate tub). I made an account and got the members advance rate. Did everything by the app. Checked in. Only put 2 adults & 2 kids on the reservation. So when I got to the hotel, all I needed was to get the room keys. The app will give you better rooms available.
@@bri6713 the exact price for the hotel was $3,345.02. All of our activities like the Classic Harbor, I found a 15% off coupon code that worked. The kids really didn’t want fancy food, so street food, McDonalds, and snacks kept them good and us to. 😭 After all the walking, we wanted lazy convenient food for dinner. Definitely Uber’ed food to the hotel.
I’m a TH-camr and I’ve never heard of Story Blocks and this is gonna be a lifesaver!!!! Thanks so much
Coming to NYC on Saturday. Finally !
bring some pepper spray
Hi Sarah, I just discoverd your channel and find it very entertaining. The main reason to watch your videos was to practice my English listening and, let me tell you, I think your English sounds very clear to me, it may be because you're an educated person/communicator or simply my understanding of the language is good. Hope some day I can visit the City That Never Sleeps, thanks for your tips and videos abouit it.
I love your videos Sarah!! The quality of them is insane. Watching them this summer has curbed my boredom :)
I found New York safe. The people were lovely and would give you directions if you asked them. When I said I was from Australia, they wanted to know more. I was there for 11 nights in 2018 and saw so much, but there was so so much to see that I didn't get a chance to. I found the Subway easy to get around (apart from Fulton street, but that's a long conversation). We stayed in Upper West side and had a supermarket across the road (well Broadway) with a deli and we were able to get something for dinner there. Saved us a lot of money. Plus we were out and about all day that all we felt like doing was changing into our trackie dacks (Australian slang for tracksuit pants) having a drink and unwinding for the day.
I loved New York and can't wait to go again! I better get saving!
Unfortunately the city’s been in a gutter since the Covid lockdown. It’s nothing like the 2018 version and just unrecognizable
The only chains you should visit are ones by great chefs like David Chang, Thomas Keller with per se etc
I just think it’s funny that I found you right before Covid when we were planning a trip, now we are catching up on that travel credit and I found you again and you have a daughter and now so do I. Life
So happy to see Bella !!! Beautiful
When people say New Yorkers are rude, I like to refer them to that ending subway scene in Crocodile Dundee where the commuters help to get Sue and Mic back together. That's what in your face New York nice looks like.
7 day metro pass for $32 unlimited rides for all those s days. Also try Ben and Jack best 3 course meal salad or soup, porter house, Filet mignon, salmon and other choices dessert and coffee or tea for only $29 from 12-3 and your close too grand station also empire steak house also 3 course meal $32 amazing place too
Sarah I love your videos I'm taking my wife to NYC in February for her birthday. Your tips are so useful thank you. Bella is a cutie ❤
Great video! Any tips for accessibility? An video on new york with stroller would be nice !! 💕
We got a hotel in midtown for our trip very soon for only $115/night that normally is $300/night! Going right now may be chilly, but the deals we’ve gotten are AMAZING!
I gotta add something to the “don’t stop in the middle of the sidewalk” : PLEASE walk at a normal pace 😭 Most people walk from point A to point B, and a crowd of slow tourists is an absolute nightmare
It's amazing how much Bella looks like her dad! So cute...
Thank you so much!
The Bull is featured in the films for Richer or Poorer , Hitch , Inside Man , The Other Guys, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Arthur, ....
I'm going to New York in 11 days, can't wait! Flying from England so up for a long trip, but I've made so many notes from your videos! Super helpful!
Going in 2 days, there are no vaccine requirements for dining or entertainment, correct?
@@dbased1915 i would imagine it's just restaurant/place dependant. To my knowledge though, no. I know they recently scrapped covid testing before arrival so i assume most if not all won't need it.
How did you find it! What do you recommend doing and going? Im going at the end of august and unsure what to do as theres so many options
I've been watching your videos quite a bit! I'll be there in December with my daughter. It's her favorite holiday hands down. So far I purchased tickets for The Rockettes Christmas Spectacular Show and a 4 hour Dyer Heights tour (Christmas day..kinda figured that would be a good day since some things may be closed and it'll give us a little break as we chill for a bit.) I found an Airbnb right by Times Square with all the action. I got it just in time too. All of my "hearted" pads skyrocketed considerably before the end of April. We have both been to NYC once but this trip is Christmas focused. I've been investigating like nuts and plan to utilize your video to get from LaGuardia to our Airbnb. There's only two other things I plan to purchase tickets for...ice skating and I think we're gonna go with The Edge. One World Observatory sounds great for all the obvious reasons but towering over all of NYC didn't seem as cool as kinda being eye to eye. I like the see through floor but the other seems intriguing as well. I want to book tickets for dusk. I almost bought tx last night but I held off so I could see what the distance is between our temporary NYC home and where the Dyer Heights tour ends. I'm thinking Christmas night may be the time to go after the tour which is scheduled to end at 8. Any thoughts on this? And any other suggestions that I should look into or book? Btw, my daughter will be 15 in June so she's at a great age to be adventurous with. Oh and we plan to definitely ride the Staten Island ferry. There's other good tour guides I've checked out but I feel most comfortable with your videos and one other lady...the dudes are ok but I'm sticking with the ladies! 💜
Thanks so much for your insightful, helpful videos. 💜🎄💜
I'll be there this Christmas also! Really looking forward to the holiday vibe.
Cool video but imo Encore pizza in Manhattan is by far the best pizza available in NYC ❤.
And as for it not being worth going to the statue of liberty well that's crazy to say as yes it's cool to view from afar but nothing compared to going to the statue and standing underneath and looking up then climb up her and seeing the big flag behind her especially if never been before.
Kixby hotel was a really nice and affordable hotel to stay and central and has a nice bar called the lookup where you can sit and have a drink and look up at empire state building but sadly now the hotel is beginning to charge resort fees of an extra $30 a night on your room for the sake of free tea and coffee room from a machine which sounds cheap till you factor in a 7 night stay at $30 a night extra on top of amount paid already.
Staten Island ferry is cheap & gets you on the water for a ride across the harbor
I’m moving to nyc from South Africa and this is the best video I’ve watched.thank you so much this helped a lot🙏
Regarding the tipping, do you tip even when you go to places like Adels Famous Halal and such? Or do you mostly tip in sitdown restaurants?
Primarily sit down restaurants.
Good luck!
Oh dear 😂 Bella is toooooo cute definitely looks like Luis and she has your eyes! 👀 Wow 🤩 love your videos! So happy so up beat!
Great stuff, as usual. and OMG. Bella is getting so big and cuter by the minute!
This video is perfect Sarah, thanks! Going to visit New York in 9 days! Can’t wait!
WOOHOO! We hope to have you on a tour!
Sarah we only stay in Manhattan to walk everywhere, as the underground system is so complicated. Live your videos
I love the big pun graffiti love, thanks for the tips, I’ll be heading there in December
I would love to come to NY I love your city here in London. please come to the UK
Dear Sarah I'm coming to NY on Thursday 6/2/22.
That's great! We look forward to welcoming you :)
Local here, solid information for tourist, but got some improvements to bounce arounds.
1. Dont go to hotels unless you wanna be hella fancy or you hella rich, go stay at a Airbnb as she said, it's more affordable
2. I get you want to do some restauraunts and all that, yes do that, dont forget that there are some delis or bodega as we say that have good sandwiches, I recommend the chopped cheese on a roll.
3. There's free entertainment everywhere, just gotta know where to look, free movies in the park, free shows/concerts. Broadway is good but tickets can be expensive if you dont look up todaytix.
4. Explore the outer borough, there's more than just manhattan you know, even Staten Island...ONCE. The bronx got some culture, Queens got the foods, Brooklyn got the yuppies gentrifyers but more importantly it got history.
5. Learn our subway system map and you wont get lost...much
6. Get out of the way, we got places to go and things to do, we friendly but dont mess with our gait.
7. As she said, dress comfortably, look at the weather before you go and use your best judgement.
8. Good Luck
How would I know which air B&B's are legit? I thought they were illegal in NYC.
@@Nicole-zq9pq They're not illegal here in nyc, if you think it's a scam for some places it doesn't hurt to contact and ask questions.
Thanks so much ❤
I planned a trip to New York for my anniversary around Fall and thanks to your videos I have a more clear idea of what I want to do around New York, keep up the good work, your content is lovely and amazing!
I still need to stop at Bleecker Street Pizza and Los Tacos No. 1, this coming July.🙏🏼
Could you make a video about a trip for a mom with a young kid? I'm now worried about us taking subway. :(
There might be a lot of stores that you can go to anywhere else but everyone loves Times Square for then just a picture and then leave
Really loved this one Sarah, great pace and you covered a lot of ground! I am a tad prejudiced though……
I wonder why lol Thank you though!
I love your videos, Sarah, my husband and I have been binging them as our trip to NYC approaches (we'll be arriving this Thursday) we will only have a few days to explore the city so it will be a little taster for him. This will be my 5th time visiting but the last time I was in NYC was in 2014 so I'm sure LOTS has changed since my last visit.
I was thinking about going to NYC to check out the comedy scene. I was hoping for more info on getting around the city/ areas to avoid/ idk what else
Im going in a few weeks so excited
Where are the iterineries you mention? The ones you created. Thanks and great video styles
We’re coming from Liverpool to visit New York in July for the first time, can’t wait, your videos have been a great help, thankyou 👍👍
Exceptionally accurate
you are THE BEST!!! Love your content. Going to NY soon
Agree about not going to the Empire State Building. Top of the Rock and the new Summit One Vanderbilt are far superior experiences. Disagree about the Statue of Liberty. Yes, you can see it from the Staten Island Ferry for free, but there's nothing like being on the island and seeing it up close and personal. You can learn a lot about its history there, too. My parents took us there many times when I was a kid and I've continued to go every so often. Ellis Island is definitely worth it as well.
Hey I love your video Sarah and hi to Bella, she is so adorable! Thank you for these tips, loved it. Looking forward to visiting soon, at the moment I am a light packer and was thinking if you often travel too? With Bella with you, would love to recommend the bento bag on your future travels from Nomad lane. It is simply the best!
Ohhh Bella 🥰she’s gotten so big. 💜🥰💜
Hi Sarah I love your videos, can you include family friendly places to visit in the city for toodler to teenager ages. Thanks in advance for your help.
I'm going to NYC at the end of the month. And lucky I will be staying with a relative in Brooklyn. This will be my fourth time going.
That's awesome! Hope you have a great time!
@@SarahFunky thank you 😊
Nice shot of the Chicago "MTA"
I have to say, if you have never been to NYC, going to Times Square and seeing the lights and all the people is worth it.
I will consider a hotel in Long Island City on the next visit to NYC with family. We usually stay either at a hotel or a relative's place either in Jersey or Upstate. The farthest where we stayed was at a relative's place in Lake Hopatcong NJ but the long commute to Manhattan was fine for us as I also live in a big city and are used to it.
As for chain restaurants, I often go to White Castle as we don't have that here in Manila. We have Shake Shack, TGIF and Sbarros and while these are chain restaurants, they are from NYC and would check out Shake Shack.
Our son just moved to NYC and love your videos to be more familiar! I have a channel in Chicago. Thanks for the help!
That is awesome! Best of luck to your son! Thanks for watching :)
235 & Empire State Building agree
lmao right?!
Do you have a recommendation on a car service with car seats for traveling with toddlers?
I stayed at The Sonder in Long Island City when me and my spouse came a few weeks ago and we loved it! We were right next to the subway and had access to Manhattan and the rest of the boroughs. I’ve stayed in Midtown the other two times I came last year and while it is more convenient LIC was just a 15 minute train ride away.
Thank you for sharing Ashley! Sonder is such a great option! I'm glad you had a good experience and got to stay in a different area for your recent trip. I might be a little biased but I love LIC, glad you did too! 😊
The best CHEAP away to see NYC is take the Madison A e BUS all the way from 49 th st. To end of line ( lower Manhattan ) & back 👏👍.
I have lived in NYC & Forest Hills a total of 7 yrs . Took our 2 sons back there when they were pre teens ( coming from Columbia , SC )
We WALKED everywhere , rode bus , subway etc.
Congrats for the great tips that comes handy for my next near visit.
Keep on w/the good work.! 👍
First trip to NYC in 2 weeks! Thanks for all the wonderful tips. What was the name of the third rooftop bar you mentioned, Harry’s?
Harriet’s! Enjoy and thanks for watching!
June 10-15
LOL not me coming in less than a week and removing 230 Fufth Avenue from my list haha, thank you for saving me from the tourist trap!!
Hey Sarah! Just wanted to say that thanks to your amazing videos, I had an amazing time in New York! I can't wait to go back and do the things I couldn't do this time around. Thanks again :)
I'm so glad! Thanks for watching!
Okey , im going in NYC LA SF and Portland
Hi Sarah! I've been watching all of your videos in preparation for my trip to NYC from the UK in Spring 23.. Do you have any advice about being vegan in NYC? My friend, who I am travelling with, is a meat-eater and I am vegan - I'm hoping there will be places we both can enjoy!? Thanks :)
There are many vegan restaurants and food choices throughout NYC.
As a vegetarian in the city (who’s come from California) I can say that there is no variety in what plant based options there are. The only places I’m guaranteed to find something other than a lentil or bean patty for a meal is at a west coast chain. Severely limited options for proteins in store as well. I have only seen beyond/impossible meat, tofu, and tempeh at a handful of grocers & have seen tofu offered once on a restaurant menu. The one thing you can find nearly everywhere is a wide variety of plant based milks, so that’s a plus!
The use a credit card tip is fantastic. I've seen so many guides that say "bring cash, you must have cash, loads of places don't take cards" but I have a travel credit card that has zero fees on spending and cash withdrawal. Plus it gives you the best rate you can get on purchases and cash as you get the daily Mastercard rate.
I still feel though that I do need to have some Dollars on me when I arrive at Christmas, not sure how much to bring though as it will be at a less favourable exchange rate most likely. $300-$500 perhaps? I don't want to turn up with nothing but plastic at immigration and look dodgy as heck.
No one will think you look dodgy if you show up with no cash! However, if you are going on any walking tours or doing any experiences where you have a guide then I recommend you bring cash to tip. It is often easier!
@@SarahFunky Noted, I will make sure then I have enough cash on arrival at JFK for the taxi ( I know all about the airtrain and subway, but bringing some expensive camera gear and lenses so got rolling luggage to get to the hotel with a couple of backpacks and I don't want that added stress on arrival.) and incidentals then just use my card/take cash out daily from my banks ATMs. Tipping is a big stresser as a Brit. We just don't tip unless the service is astonishingly good here and even then 10% at the most.
The fact that these restaurants charge these super high prices yet only pay their waiters $5/hr is insane.
Also, that the expectations for tipping % keeps climbing and now sits at 20% as a “normal” tip is ridiculous! Just out of control. NY needs better laws so the owners pay their staff instead of patrons
waiter compensation is on the business, not the customers.
This video was awesome sauce. Can you make a studio in the future about moving to the city? Thank you for your body of work
Hi Sarah, nice to see your vlogs. I am planning to visit NYC with my wife by 21 Nov for 15 days and then travel to Washington DC, Atlantic City and finally in Atlanta. Please advise about weather condition in these days
Thank you Sarah & Bella Interesting video the NY.😀
This video was so helpful!!! Thank you!
You are so delightful!!😊