We love Charleston, but it’s good to explore other parts of this incredible country from time to time. Frankly, the big NYC stands out as an obvious candidate, not least because it’s accessible for a short stay.
If you are planning to make the trip from Holy City to the Big Apple, you’ll want to make the most of it. Here’s how you can ensure that your short break is packed with fun and adventure.
Plan The Journey
When heading to NYC for the weekend or just a few days, the journey needs to be convenient. Driving would take over a day when you take the outward and return legs into account. Thankfully, direct flights from Charleston to New York only take two hours. Booking one after you’ve finished work on a Friday or early on a Saturday morning would be ideal.
As well as the flight, you want to plan your onward travel. You probably won’t need a hire car for NYC. So, it’s probably wise to focus on using the public transport systems from EWR, JFK, or LGA. The sooner you get to the city, the sooner you can embrace the adventures.
Know Where To Eat
Smart food choices will give you a solid foundation for building the perfect short stay in New York. The Bonsaii bar in NYC is a fantastic choice for an evening of wine and tapas. Meanwhile, its epic setting and convenient location add to its appeal. Time spent delighting the taste buds and taking in the setting of a great venue is a highlight. But it’s nice to be near other attractions.
Even when exploring the city, you should take a few minutes to research cheap eats. Street foods and hidden gems loved by the locals will give you the energy needed to fuel your day. Without breaking the bank. Or leading to unwanted situations like food poisoning.
Attend A Sporting Event
Here in Charleston, we take great pride in our sports teams like the RiverDogs. Still, there can be no denying that sports in New York are an entirely different beast. Sticking with baseball, there’s nothing quite like going to the ball game at the Yankee Stadium. People from all over the world visit for the experience. You’d be a fool to pass up the opportunity if it is there.
The Knicks, Giants, Rangers, and Red Bulls are just some of the other top teams. So, whatever sport you’re into, there’s a team to love. And it also means that world class sport takes place throughout the year. Nothing encapsulates the city’s atmosphere like a game day.
Plan Your Attraction Visits
New York is a city blessed with many tourist attractions. The list includes the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, and Top of the Rock are three examples. When planning your adventures, it’s worth scheduling them and researching the travel aspects. Moreover, you should consider a New York Citypass. This saves you money and removes queueing.
If nothing else, booking attractions in advance removes any risk of missing out. This brings a peace of mind that allows you to truly enjoy your time in the city. Not least because tickets and passes can be safely stored on your cell. There’s no need to carry lots of physical tickets.
Book Central Accommodation
When you only have a few days in the city, every minute counts. You do not want to spend hours on the subway or public transport systems. Therefore, it’s imperative that you focus on booking a hotel that is close to the attractions you wish to visit. It’s likely to mean booking somewhere in Manhattan. But that isn’t always the case, you must do what works for you.
Even if you pay a few dollars extra for the location, you’ll get that back through reduced travel costs. More importantly, you’ll spend less time on travel and more time actively exploring and enjoying the city. Frankly, this is priceless and worth far more than any accommodation savings.
Pack All Essentials
New York may be a city where you can find everything you’d ever need. Still, if you only have a limited amount of time in the Big Apple, you don’t want to spend a few hours searching for medications or beauty products. It may be tempting to pack light, but packing those essential items for the next few days is vital. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
With this in mind, you should also ensure that your medical insurance covers you in New York. Travel insurance is also a good idea. Having access to emergency cash is also highly advised, although any physical dollars should be left in your hotel room’s safe. Pickpocketing is rife.
Plan Strategically
Strategic planning is useful for all trips, but takes on an even greater importance when only visiting for a few days. Pre-booking tickets, packing essentials, and knowing which attractions you’ll visit on each day helps. For the best results, though, you should also familiarize yourself with the New York City subway map. Likewise, understanding local customs is highly advised.
When building the itinerary itself, you should think about timing. Certain attractions, like Brooklyn Bridge, are better at sunrise and sunset. Similarly, if there are major events happening in the city at the time of your visit, it could influence the best times to see Times Square.
Make The Memories Last
Finally, you’ll want to squeeze as much as you can into your short stay. As well as visiting the places, you should look to capture the moments with incredible vacation photos. After all, NYC delivers some of the best known locations, attractions, and backdrops on the planet. Even if you only visit for a weekend, the iconic images provide a lifetime of happiness.
Journaling on the fight home, or even after you get back, is another good option. Meanwhile, you could film lots of video clips from your smartphone and then edit them when you get back. For the short time that you are in NYC, though, the goal is to live in the moment. Don’t forget it.