Your Comprehensive New York City Vacation Guide: What to Know Before You Go

Although there exist numerous famous locations, trip to New York city is still one of the coolest things to do during holidays. 

Firstly, NYC is a huge urban area with more than 7.8 million of residents. Secondly, the city is an international hub people from all corners of the earth make a beeline for.  

So if you want to take a fantastic vacation, don’t hesitate to research NYC and the reasons for its attraction. 

This article also doubles as a new york city vacation guide to help you plan both fun and work-friendly experiences. 

How Much Does A New York Trip Cost?

A trip to New York City can vary drastically depending on the number of activities you throw on your calendar and everything you plan on doing. 

Additionally, factors such as whether you are taking public transportation or staying in a hotel can change the price as well. With that said, the average price for a week-long vacation for a single person alone is nearly $2,000. 

Most business travelers nowadays combine their work trips with leisure time, what people call “bleisure travel.” For example, if you come to Manhattan for business, then a typical extra spend would be on a coworking pass, getting a cab to your meetings, or choosing a hotel closer to the business district like Midtown or Downtown. 

Where is the upside? The answer to this question is very simple. You get to experience the city after your work hours, thus making your trip both productive and enjoyable. 

That is the main reason a lot of workers use a New York vacation guide like this to juggle their business and leisure trips. 

Where To Stay In New York City

There will be several factors that you need to keep in mind. However, accommodations should be at the top of your mind.  

For a vacation, you have two primary choices:  

• Hotels (you can check out this New York hotel guide to find out more about this option)  

• Vacation rentals. 

Vacation rentals are often the cheaper options for large families. They would traditionally need to order multiple hotel rooms, so consider looking into sites such as Airbnb if you are uncertain. 

If work is part of your trip, NYC has plenty of business-friendly hotels and coworking spaces. 

Areas like Hudson Yards, Times Square, and Wall Street are close to offices and convention centers.  

Many hotels also offer meeting rooms and high-speed Wi-Fi, so you can work without missing out on the city buzz.  

A new york city vacation guide can help you choose the right area depending on whether you’re here for business, leisure, or both. 

5 Must-See Spots In New York City

Once you land in New York City, it’s easy to become lost in all the chaos that comes from being around millions of people in a tight area.  

To that end, however, there are five main to-do items that all travelers to the city should add to their list.  

You’ll notice that each of these is a staple in any New York City vacation guide you come across: 

1. Statue of Liberty

Lady Liberty was gifted to the Americans by the French as a sign of friendship back in the late 1800s.  

Ever since, she has stood as a shining beacon of freedom and equality for all. Consider taking a ferry boat ride out to see the monument that many immigrants first saw as they entered the New York City harbor to begin anew. 

2. Staten Island

Near the Statue of Liberty is Staten Island, which has a rich history as well. While visiting the Statue of Liberty, you can take an additional ferry to see this beautiful location for an afternoon. 

Don’t forget to explore the museum on-site to learn more about New York City’s history. Alternatively, make use of private helicopter tours in New York City to see the island from the sky. 

3. Empire State Building

This place was featured in famous songs known around the world. The Empire State Building has received the award for being the number one attraction for U.S. travelers to visit.  

There is an astounding 86th-floor observatory. Here you can see sweeping views of the city from all directions. Visitors from outside can bask in the tower lights that shine down into the street in the evening. 

4. 9/11 Memorial Museum

September 11th, 2001, was a terrible day in the history of the United States of America. A dreadful terrorist attack shook the whole nation.  

To honor the victims, New York City built an amazing and touching memorial and museum. From which people who came from different parts of the world could visit and show their respects to the lives lost on that day.  

The memorial is very impressive, and it can make a lot of people reflect deeply, even if they don’t go inside the museum. 

5. Central Park

Well, walking in Central Park would be a good option to think about, in case you are in the city with your family.  

With more than 1.3 square miles, it is possible for you not to find your way out of the park and thus, forget that you are still in the middle of a big city. 

Visit in the summer and enjoy a fabulous day in the sun with a picnic basket ready to be laid out.  

On the contrary, a winter visitor can let his/her eyes feast on the snow or better still, take a few turns on one of the smaller lakes located within the park if he/she is into ice skating. 

Plan A Trip To Remember

Even though New York City may not be your first thought when you decide to go on a vacation, it will definitely be a destination to remember.  

Whether you have been to New York City in the past or you are contemplating making your first trip there, it is advisable to take a moment and organize your vacation in advance so that once you get there, you will have a roadmap to follow. 

Besides the landmarks, NYC is the center of the finance, real estate, media, and tech industries.  

Lots of travelers come here for conferences, trade fairs, or meetings, and then extend their visit a little to explore.  

That is the reason why a New York city vacation guide is not only for tourists but also for professionals who want to be a the most of their stay in the city.