Best tips for visiting New York: opinions

When travel to United States, a mandatory visit that will possibly be our gateway to the country is the New York City.

In my case, I have traveled to New York on several occasions, and the truth is that it has always been the first or last stage of a trip through other areas of United States.

New York It is a city that when you visit it for the first time, it seems that you have known it all your life, since there are so many images that we have of it in our minds thanks to cinema, which walk through New York It's almost remembering scenes.

New York It is so big, it has so many interesting corners and so much life (it is said that it is the city ​​that never sleeps), which from time to time deserves a visit, just as I have been doing throughout my life.

Tips and opinions for traveling to New York

Of course, if you are going to travel to New York, prior to the trip you must take these into account tips, as well as our Reviews about the best things to do in the city of skyscrapers.

ESTA form to travel to the United States

At the outset you have to complete the so-called ESTA form, a security and immigration control requirement.

If you are Spanish, you should know that Spain is one of the few countries in the world whose citizens can travel to the United States without needing to apply for a visa.

But it is essential to complete this form, which is done online with a minimum notice of 72 hours before the date of your trip.

The cost is 14 dollars and here you have access to the website to request the ESTA form.

Insurance to travel to the United States

Another aspect that is essential to keep in mind when traveling to New York It is the essential need to have a good travel insurance with the maximum possible coverage.

In the United States, healthcare is extraordinarily expensive, so if you need medical attention for any incident, if you do not have the appropriate travel insurance you will have to pay an exorbitant amount for medical attention.

And I won't even tell you if you need to be hospitalized.

I tell you that for our trips we have the annual insurance IATI Insurance, a company that offers various modalities that will adapt to your requirements.

And if you hire here you insurance to travel to the United States, you will also have a 5 percent discount.

Currency exchange to travel to New York

Surely you know that the currency of the United States is the american dollar, so you will surely need exchange euros for dollars for your trip.

Of course you can do it in the same New York, at the airport, at the hotel or in banks, but this way you run the risk of having an unfavorable exchange rate.

But you have the most advantageous option of Change the coins (up to 60 different currencies) in Estuary, a company with 25 years of history that offers the best change available.

You can request the change through their website and you will receive it in just 48 hours, with the security that in their stores they will buy back the leftover coins at a preferential rate.

How to visit New York

Once you have arrived in New York, it is not the same as being your first trip to the city of skyscrapers, in which you will want to know, even with some anxiety, the main monuments and corners of it.

But if you have already visited it several times before, it is possible that your intention is not to make a hasty visit, but rather to take a more relaxed one, trying to experience the atmosphere of the city, and get to know New York in depth.

What to visit and do in New York in three days

If it is the first time you are going to travel to New York, you must be clear what is essential to visit and what are the best things to do during your stay.

It is a great city that, for the first time, well deserves a week visit, but it may happen that due to lack of time you have to visit New York in 3 days complete, minimum essential time.

From my experience, below I am going to advise you what your essential visits in New York, which you can perfectly adapt to your stay of several days.

It is possible that when you travel to New York you will arrive on a flight from Europe in the early afternoon.

Although it will already be early morning for your body, I advise you to make the effort not to go to bed until it is actually time to go to bed in New York.

Panoramic views from a skyscraper

What better way to start the visit than by going to the Empire State Building to climb this mythical skyscraper to enjoy the most famous panoramic views of New York.

You will have time to enjoy the views of the sunset and during the night.

Now, I will tell you that, from my point of view, it is more interesting climb to Top of The Rock, viewpoint located in the Rockefeller center.

From this other skyscraper you also have panoramic views…of itself Empire State Building, and it is the ideal place to see Central Park.

Here you can buy advance tickets for avoid queues when going up Empire State Building or Top of the Rock.

If you have finally gone up to Empire State, it is worth taking a walk Time Square and the area of ​​theaters and shows Broadway, to end up having dinner in one of its busy restaurants.

Cruise to the Statue of Liberty by boat

For the next day I recommend you go directly to the south of Manhattan, to Battery Park, to take the ferry that will take you to the Island of freedom.

From this island you will not only have excellent views of the skyline from Manhattan, but you will also be able to visit the Statue of Liberty.

This same ferry excursion will allow you to discover the Historic Ellis Island.

TOURS and EXCURSIONS in NEW YORK

- Complete tour of New York
- Contrasts of New York
- Excursion to Washington DC
- Niagara Falls Tour by Plane
- Excursion to Boston
- Helicopter ride over New York
- New York Explorer Pass Card
- Empire State skip the line
- Tour to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
- Transfers in New York

You also have the alternative of making a free cruise on the Staten Island Ferry, very popular among tourists, from where you will also have excellent views of Manhattan.

Go up to the new World Trade Center

When returning to Manhattan it is worth walking through this area, specifically, through Wall Street, where the famous sculpture of the Wall Street bull.

You will be in the area where the new World Trade Center, ancient Zero zone that delimited the remains of the Twin Towers after its fall during the terrible terrorist attack that the city suffered.

Now you can go up to One World Observatory which has opened between the 100th and 102nd floors of this skyscraper, with panoramic views of southern Manhattan.

I have this visit noted for my next trip to New York.

Surely you will feel the absence of the Twin Towers, but now, in addition to seeing the new great skyscraper, you can also visit the September 11 Memorial.

Of course, you have to book in advance of your trip.

You can also approach the South Street Seaport Pier 17, where you have beautiful panoramic views of the Brooklyn bridge.

In this area, you can also spend time shopping.

Stroll through Central Park and Fifth Avenue

The next day, I suggest you start the day by visiting Central Park. You can start with the place where the Strawberry Fields, the memorial to John Lennon.

Walking through the interior of this great park, you reach the southern part, at its confluence with the Fifth Avenue.

In the very famous and cinematic Fifth Avenue You could visit brand stores, both luxury and entertainment, such as shops Disney, Apple Store or NBA.

Or visit the St. Patrick's Cathedral, wave Grand Central Station, or also go to Rockefeller center.

Essential museums in New York

Although visiting a museum always requires spending time, and that will not be enough if you are going to have a short stay in New York, you may be especially interested in seeing one.

I will tell you that, from my point of view, essential museums in New York are Metropolitan, with its large display of works of art from all periods, and Museum of Natural History, with its surprising settings to show the fauna.

çIf you are passionate about contemporary art, you have another appointment with him MOMA, Museum of Modern Art, and if you are curious to see the spectacular collection of paintings the Vision of Spain de Sorolla, you must go to museum of the Hispanic Society of America.

It is also worth visiting some of the New York neighborhoods more charismatic, like that of Harlem.

Additionally, if your trip coincides with a Sunday, you have the opportunity to attend a Gospel mass in said neighborhood.

If you prefer to go with an organized group excursion, here you can sign up for a Harlem tour with gospel.

A good option to get to know the neighborhoods of New York is to sign up for the excursion Contrasts of New York, which will allow you to discover the “other”New York, including the surprising neighborhood of the orthodox jews.

I will tell you that, in my opinion, it is not worth going to the Chinatown;  may disappoint you, especially if on your trip to the United States you are going to have the opportunity to visit the San Francisco Chinatown.

Of course, in your program you can include the enjoyment of some of the shows in Broadway, among which the great prominence is played by the musical.

Here you can do the online advance purchase of Broadway tickets.

And if on your trip to New York you prefer to spend time go shopping at an outletYou definitely have an appointment at Woodbury Common.

Tours and excursions in New York

In order to plan your trip, it may be useful to consult the numerous and varied tours you can do in New York.

One of the recommended options is the helicopter tour over New York.

And if you intend to extend your stay in the United States and prefer to travel in an organized group, here you have information about tours from New York to do in two or three days.

Well, indeed, from New York it is advisable, above all, to take excursions to Washingtonat Niagara Falls or to the city of Boston.

Finally, for your visit to New York you should also consider the option of purchasing a tourist card, such as the New York Pass, or the alternatives of the City Pass and New York Explorer.

It is worth calculating the possible savings you would get with your purchase if you are going to visit several of the monuments and museums that are included in this tourist savings card.

You have passes for one, two or three days.

Here you can do the purchase of the New York Pass or, if you prefer, that of City Pass or the New York Explorer Pass.

Y for search and book hotels in New YorkAlthough the average price is higher than in other cities, you will have no problem finding one that fits your needs given the great offer.

Curiosities and opinions of a trip to New York

But as I have already mentioned, if you have previously traveled to New York, you may prefer to make a different type of visit.

That has been my intention in my most recent New York visit taking advantage of the fact that it was the final stage of a trip to Canada.

I was looking for a more calm visit, without the urgencies of a tourist who tries to make the most of his time of stay to see as many corners as possible.

In short, I wanted to have a deeper vision of what this enormous city is like.

In this regard, sign up for the very interesting Contrasts of New York Tour It has been a good idea.

As well go up to the Top of the Rock viewpoint and confirm that it is much more interesting than climb the empire state; or go back to walk through Central Park, and thus learn more about this great urban park.

Or discover why he is so famous museum of natural sciences, a truly surprising and interesting visit, or discover the enormous Sorolla paintings at the headquarters of the Hispanic Society of America.

After three days walking through New York, here are the main sensations it aroused in me, as well as some curiosities.

New York, the Fifth Element

I knew the city, I knew about the rush of people there and the great atmosphere that there is at all times in New York, but I have to admit that it has surprised me again. It's truly crazy!!

Between the skyscrapers and the neons of areas like Time Square, I have had the feeling of being the protagonist of The fifth element, that science fiction film made by Luc Besson in which Bruce Willis He was a taxi driver who “flew” between skyscrapers.

It is not easy to get used to those large masses of people, the traffic, the noise, not only in the most central areas of Manhattan, but in many neighborhoods and in not so touristy areas.

From my point of view, it is not a city where I would want to live.

New York, more multiracial

There is no doubt that New York is an increasingly multiracial city.

But during your visit you never cease to be surprised by the great variety of people you can see, and where Hispanics are increasingly taking center stage.

I already have it clear, speak without problem in Spanish and your interlocutor will probably answer you in the same language, and they will almost certainly understand you.

This facilitates the New York visit for Spaniards and Latin Americans who do not master English very well.

Surely you will be able to understand yourself in Spanish.

As details to highlight in this last trip, verify that overwhelming percentage of black population in the neighborhood of Harlem and discover the Amazing Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn.

Police in New York

The presence of police in New York It's huge, there's almost no place where you don't see a patrol car or a couple of police officers.

And specifically in the most central street of Harlem, you can look anywhere and you will surely see one or two couples.

There is more of 50.000 police officers in New York, who have great consideration (they earn a salary similar to that of firefighters) and maximum protection before judges.

You see them with the gun in their holster and they tell you that they shoot very easily.

On the one hand it gives you a feeling of security (they are there to protect you), but this feeling could change to helplessness if you have some unclear incident.

Eat in New York

You won't have a problem eat to your liking in New York.

Of course you will not find restaurants with exquisite Spanish food, but I remind you that you are in the United States and not in Spain.

You have a huge variety of international food restaurants (Italian, Chinese, Mexican, Oriental...), and, of course, American-style food, where large salads, hamburgers and ribs are the protagonists.

You can eat sitting down in a restaurant, or have a sandwich in a wide variety of establishments, or buy cooked food in a Deli to take it sitting in a park.

And, in addition, you will find establishments open almost at any time, including nighttime.

New York subway

I already knew that getting around the New York subway it was not easy.

On this trip I have once again confirmed that you need an adaptation period until you understand how it works, what tickets you are interested in buying, how to use the lines Express, etc.

Good news if you travel in summer, as has been my case, is that you have air conditioning on the trains; The bad thing is that in the stations and the long corridors it is unbearably hot.

Amiability

On this last trip in which I have also visited Boston, I was struck by the great kindness of Americans, of course, also New Yorkers.

If you are going to cross a street, just by approaching the road, there will surely be a car that many meters before stops and warns you that it is giving way to you.

In Spain, I admit, I am not used to this.

If you need to ask someone about any questions you have, they will assist you with great kindness. And even if you make a mistake, for example, when taking a bus, someone may notify you of the mistake.

In short, it's a pleasure...