{"id":31933,"date":"2023-01-09T22:02:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-09T22:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/?p=31933"},"modified":"2023-01-12T10:31:38","modified_gmt":"2023-01-12T10:31:38","slug":"7-nyc-travel-tips-from-a-local-for-the-perfect-vacation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/7-nyc-travel-tips-from-a-local-for-the-perfect-vacation\/","title":{"rendered":"7 NYC Travel Tips From a Local for the Perfect Vacation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Planning a vacation takes a lot of work, but it\u2019s made a bit easier when you have advice from someone who lives there. If you\u2019re in a New York state of mind, this New Yorker is here to help you plan your next vacation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You probably already have a list of things you want to do and see while you visit the Big Apple, but there are a few travel tips that I want to make sure you have in your back pocket before you arrive in the greatest city in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enter the Broadway lotteries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Broadway\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of the most fun things to do on a visit to New York City is go to a Broadway<\/a> show. The Great White Way has more than a dozen shows playing at any given moment, and each one is worth seeing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tickets, however, can get pricey. One of the best ways to see a Broadway show for cheaper is to enter the lottery. There\u2019s no harm in entering the lottery for any show you\u2019re willing to see, because it\u2019s free to enter and you can always turn down the ticket if you win \u2014 you don\u2019t have to buy it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lottery times can vary. Some are run in the week or two before the show, while others run just a day in advance. This requires a bit of pre-planning and willingness to be flexible, but it\u2019s worth it if you win. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It really works! I\u2019ve won the lottery for almost every Broadway show at some point (except \u201cHamilton\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When to enter the Broadway lottery<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

My best tip is to enter for weeknight shows for a better chance of winning. More people go to the theater on weekends, so more people are entering for those tickets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s also a better chance at winning during the offseason and on days with inclement weather. Every time there\u2019s a snowstorm, I enter the lottery!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More to do on Broadway<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

And while you\u2019ve got Broadway on the brain, you can also take a tour of Times Square and Broadway<\/a> to hear real stories from the experts on the history of the theater and what shows they recommend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use your phone on the subway<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"NYC<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

New York\u2019s subway stations and buses are now equipped with a tap-to-pay device at the entrance. With this, you can tap an enabled credit or debit card or your smartphone to pay the fare. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The city recently started OMNY<\/a>, which gives you free rides after you\u2019ve paid for 12 in a week. At $2.75 per ride, that nets out to $33 for unlimited rides \u2014 the same as a weekly unlimited Metrocard out of the ticket machine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But here\u2019s why using your phone or card directly at the gate is a better idea: If you buy a ticket from the machine, you\u2019re spending $33 for the week no matter how many rides you take. If you only take 10 rides, you\u2019ve wasted money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you pay with your card and only take 10 rides, you\u2019ve only spent $27.50. However, if you use your card or phone and take 20 rides, you\u2019ve still only spent $33. Just remember to use the same card or device each time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Before you arrive in the city, set up the wallet in your smartphone to make paying with it even easier. You should be able to set one of your cards as a transit card, which means it will automatically be detected at these gates, and you won\u2019t have to do extra verification on your phone before the gate opens for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only drawback here is if you\u2019re international and don\u2019t want to pay a bunch of foreign transaction fees by using your card each time. If this is the case and you don\u2019t have a no-fee credit card, the ticket machines in each station offer weekly ride passes for $33.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eat the pizza<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"NYC<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It goes without saying, you have to eat pizza while you\u2019re in New York. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll find pizza spots around every corner, and to be honest, you can\u2019t really go wrong with whatever you pick. There are pizza places to suit any budget \u2014 from gourmet pizza restaurants to dollar-slice joints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you see a no-frills pizza place like the photo above with just a line of pizzas that are sold by the slice, definitely make a stop there. They often offer a number of flavors, but I recommend a slice of plain cheese or the Grandma\/Nonna pizza. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t be afraid of locals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"NYC<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

New Yorkers sometimes get a bad rap for being unfriendly, but we\u2019re really not an unfriendly bunch. In fact, New Yorkers are usually very happy to help out a lost tourist who needs pointed in the right direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t be afraid to ask a local for directions if you can\u2019t figure out where to go. Most likely, they\u2019ll be quick to help, especially if you\u2019re nice. But remember that New Yorkers are often in a hurry, so don\u2019t be bothered if they\u2019re short in answering you. We just have places to be!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Go to all the touristy places<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"NYC<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You may have done some research before your trip to New York and seen loads of people telling you to avoid tourist traps and stray from the beaten path. While I definitely recommend you broaden your horizons during your visit, you shouldn\u2019t miss the touristy spots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New York has so many \u201ctouristy\u201d places that are worth a visit<\/a>. Is Times Square a little bit stressful? Yes. Is it still worth seeing? Absolutely. You might find overpriced souvenirs and chain restaurants, but this is why you came to New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\t\"Statue\n\t\t\t\"Ellis\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOne of the world's top 3 cultural experiences \u2014 Tripadvisor<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Guided Tour<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t miss out on seeing some of our top sights:<\/p>\n\n\n\n