Before You Go/When You First Get There
- There are a few things to do BEFORE you go.
- Make sure you have a place to stay. You ain't gonna find a place easily once you get there. Or, if you do, it'll cost you BIG TIME!
- Make sure you get the tickets for the shows you HAVE to see ahead of time (see How to Get Tickets or you will be very disappointed.)
- Make sure that your ATM card is in working order. And that you have the money you want to spend in NY stashed in that account.
- Bring $300 - $500 cash American.
- Bring credit cards. I recommend a card that DOES NOT charge an extra 2.5% on top of the exchange. (there are only three free cards that I know of. I personally use and recommend Home Trust Visa -- free card, no pesky exchange fee. Keep credit limit low in case it's lost/stolen)
- Know your PIN number. Tap is more rare in US
- Pack comfy and supportive runners/walking shoes. I cannot stress this enough. And flip flops don't count. You will be sorry in those.
- Pack your phone charger and a power bar for the hotel. There are never enough plugs.
- Dressy items are not necessary (unless you want to treat yourself one night to a taxi to and from the shows -- do NOT dress up if you're doing the subway!)
- Bring an umbrella. (I have bought so many umbrellas in New York... you'd think I would learn).
- Download a pdf of the subway map onto your phone. https://www.newyorkcity.ca/download-mta-new-york-subway-and-bus-maps/ Keep it on the home screen (google it, I can only explain for Samsung)
- Download the CBP MPC app (MPC for short). This acts almost like a Nexus card, but it's free and you will get through US customs in seconds and by pass that long long customs line. Fill in your passport info ahead of time but the rest must be filled in at the actual airport. Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal are the airports that have this.
- Have a scan of the following in your cloud/emailed to yourself: passport, DL, birth certificate, phone numbers of two Canadians who will vouch for you. (yes, I have lost my passport in New York. Go to the basement of Rockerfeller Centre for the equivalent of Canadian Consulate and deal with the slightly grouchy people there).
- In the same cloud, the phone numbers of your credit cards and medical insurance (yes, I've had my credit card stolen in NY as well, I bring two, keep one in the safe, the other can be cancelled and the replacement mailed to your Cdn home)
- Try to book flights THAT DO NOT GO THROUGH TORONTO. You will not make it til the next day. It is a bad bad bad airport. I usually try to clear in Calgary and transfer in the US. Do not book a show for that night (you can go to TKTS once you're there)
- Bring a knapsack or some other easy to carry bag for shopping. You'll need it.
- Check with your phone provider and buy a one month "out of country data plan" (usually about $30-$35 or $5/day depending on your carrier). This will allow you to text and phone and use data without horrendous roaming fees. Otherwise, you will find yourself paying up to a $1 per text and $2 per minute for a phone call. Mind you, wifi is ALMOST everywhere now. But be careful.
- Buy out of country medical insurance (either on line or at your bank teller). You cannot afford to be sick or accidentally run over in the US. Well worth the approx $50.
Fun weather check/Real Time Traffic Cams
There's a fun way to check the weather. There are real time traffic cams set up by the city. Mostly they're used by cabbies to navigate to less busy roads. But you, the tourist, can use it to check out the weather and see how crowded streets are.
Traffic Cams
Traffic Cams
When You First Get There
When You First Get There: If you've never been to NY, grab a cab to your hotel (see Getting Around) After you have recovered from the taxi ride (taxi chicken is a very common practice) and have dumped your suitcase in your cell, I mean, hotel room, get yourself some food, GO TO THE BATHROOM (public toilets are rare, if desperate use the Marriott Marquis 45th and bway-8th floor) and then grab the following:
I will emphasize The are no only public bathrooms in Manhattan (although there are ways when one is desperate)
- A 7 day metro pass (approx US$38) -- in the subway station with your credit card. When the machine asks for a zip code use 10012 unless you memorized the one from your hotel. At the machine you are choosing "unlimited rides"
- Lovely full colour fold out brochures advertising the different broadway shows (also suitable as cheap souvenirs to bring to the peasants back home) (free) - available everywhere but mostly at Times Square
I will emphasize The are no only public bathrooms in Manhattan (although there are ways when one is desperate)
The Barb Does New York Page Links