New York City is known as “The Big Apple” as well as “The City That Never Sleeps” among other things. NYC is known for being diverse and full of culture. Not to mention the fact that there always seems to be so much going on no matter the time of year. However, one thing that the media does not do such a good job of explaining is what one should expect when they are planning to visit New York City for the first time.
Major Traffic
If you are someone who does not live in a big city, you should be prepared to experience a heavy amount of traffic when you visit “The Big Apple.” In fact, many locals will tell you that they do not even drive their cars – that is, if they even have one at all – because it is much faster for them to take the subway wherever they need to go. So, upon your arrival, if you plan to do some things, you will need to be mentally prepared to deal with traffic as well as ready to leave in advance to make it to where you need to be on time.
Diversity
New York City is also a place that is quite diverse. Make sure that you do your research about the places that you will be visiting, because it is not uncommon to go certain places and run into people who speak different languages than you. Additionally, if you are someone who comes from a different culture other than the traditional American culture, you will find that it will not be hard for you to blend in at all.
Crime
Crime is another thing that many travel sites do not warn tourists about. However, as with many other cities, New York City is potentially dangerous (if you do not know what to look out for). Learn about the area you will be in ahead of time. You will also want to make sure that you follow any other protocols that you would when you are in a strange place that you are not used to. Lastly, it is always best to never travel alone, because the threat increases when you are by yourself. Criminals can see a solo traveler as far more vulnerable than someone traveling in pairs or groups.
Overall, making a trip to New York City is something that can be fun or it can be dangerous. However, if you know what to expect and take the right precautions, you should have nothing to worry about at all. The most important thing to remember is to do research on the area before you arrive.
Author Bio
This guest post comes from freelance writer Victoria Heckstall. She has lived in New York City in the past and she occasionally travels back to visit friends and family still there. She recommends if you’re visiting the city for the first time, to read this article on ways to prepare.
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