New York City can be an intimidating place for visitors, but travel expert Pauline Frommer is here to help with a new book, Frommer鈥檚 EasyGuide to New York City 2018.
Here are some tips and advice from Frommer鈥檚 recent interview with AP Travel鈥檚 Get Outta Here! podcast :
DEALING WITH NEW YORKERS
Are New Yorkers scary? Will they step over a body lying in the street or will they help a stranger? 鈥淣ew Yorkers are incredibly busy people, but kind as well,鈥� Frommer said. 鈥淪o if you walk up to somebody who鈥檚 rushing by, and ask them to stop, they may not stop. But if you stand on the street corner with a map, within seconds, you will have three people offering to help you.鈥� As for crime, New York is statistically one of America鈥檚 safest big cities, but keep an eye on your wallet and your purse.
And here鈥檚 Frommer鈥檚 advice for dealing with people who approach you on the street, such as costumed character actors in Times Square who offer to pose for photos and then demand payment: 鈥淧retend you鈥檙e deaf. You just keep walking. You maybe can be polite and say: 鈥楽orry,鈥� and keep walking, but you can鈥檛 give them an opening.鈥�
HOTEL ADVICE
The idea that you鈥檒l be in walking distance from everything if you stay in Times Square or midtown 鈥渋s a myth,鈥� Frommer says. So consider staying in downtown Manhattan or even in Queens, including Long Island City, which is just a subway stop or two away from Manhattan. You might end up in 鈥渁 chain hotel, it might not have that much character,鈥� but rooms can be had for $149 US.
To really save money, 鈥渧isit in January or February,鈥� Frommer said. 鈥淵ou can get a really nice hotel room in February for $99 and that same hotel room in October will cost you $329.鈥�
GETTING AROUND
鈥淒on鈥檛 be scared鈥� of the subway, Frommer says. New Yorkers love complaining about their trains, but Frommer says, compared with cabs, they鈥檙e cheaper ($2.75 per ride) and usually faster. The trickiest part is to make sure the train is going in the right direction before you swipe your fare card. If not, you may have to exit and pay again on the other side, depending on the station (some provide free transfers in either direction).
By cab, Frommer says, it鈥檚 often faster to hail yellow taxis on the street than wait for Uber or Lyft drivers to arrive. Another option is the Via ride-sharing service. CitiBike, a bike-sharing system, is $12 a day 鈥渇or as many half-hour rides as you want,鈥� Frommer says. 鈥淏iking is the fastest way to go anywhere. And there are certain streets now that have really good bike lanes that are separated from the traffic.鈥�
A FEW FROMMER FAVOURITES
鈥� Museum: The Metropolitan Museum. 鈥淣ot only does it have some of the greatest artworks in the world 鈥� Vermeer, Rembrandt, Sergeant 鈥� but it also has things that will engage the imaginations of history-lovers. You can go into an actual Egyptian temple. You can go into a room designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. And for those who don鈥檛 love museums, go into a gallery. You find one thing that interests you and stand in front of that one thing for two minutes and let it work on you.鈥�
鈥� Freebies: The Staten Island Ferry and Shakespeare in the Park.
鈥� Cruise: 鈥淭he Circle Line hires out-of-work actors as its guides. So they鈥檙e also very well-spoken. They love the history. They know how to tell a story. The key is when you enter, sit on the right side of the boat so you鈥檙e facing inwards toward Manhattan.鈥� P.S. 鈥淭he three-hour tour is too long; take the shorter one.鈥�
鈥� Neighbourhood: 鈥淚鈥檓 a big history buff so I love taking friends down to the Financial District.鈥� Sites include St. Paul鈥檚 Chapel, where George Washington prayed, and Federal Hall, where he took the oath of office.
鈥� Inexpensive restaurant: Dhaulagiri Kitchen, 124 Lexington Ave., serving Himalayan food including fiery curries.
鈥� Bar: The Aviary NYC, on the 35th floor of 80 Columbus Circle, with 鈥渟pectacular鈥� views. 鈥淓very drink there foams or steams or changes as you drink it 鈥� it鈥檚 like a Broadway show.鈥�
鈥� Jazz: Smoke, 2751 Broadway. 鈥淭hey have great barbecue while you鈥檙e listening to the music,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey have varied programming, so one night Brazilian jazz, another night a classical guitarist and it鈥檚 a real neighbourhood place.鈥�
鈥� Weekend itinerary for first-time visitors: 鈥淕et up high and go to the top of the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock. Go to one of our great museums, maybe take a walking tour. I think it鈥檚 not really a weekend in New York if you don鈥檛 see a show. It doesn鈥檛 have to be Broadway. And don鈥檛 forget New York City is incredible after dark, so also go to one of our great bars.鈥�
