Megan. The Subway can be challenging. The weekends and late nights . The MTA does track work or station work and trains get rerouted or suspended. Yesterday it took me 2 and a half hours to get home from the RANGERS game to my apartment in Sheepshead Bay.
I’ve visited NYC twice and both times I stayed in Long Island City. It’s only a 10 minute subway ride to midtown Manhattan but the hotels cost 1/3 of the price.
Fantastic advice for anyone visiting NYC for the first time!! I wish that bathroom app had existed when I first moved to NYC…but I didn’t even have a smart phone.
Personally, I like the Midtown observation decks more than the one on the west side (Edge) or downtown (WTC). If you’re just going for the view and don’t want any of the extras like bungees or whatever, the midtown options give you more of a 360 view.
Staten Island does have a subway, it's called the SIR and goes along the eastern shore from St. George (Ferry Terminal) to Tottenville, one pays when they get off at the ferry but all other stops are free.
Thank you for this helpful video. Just on the tipping thing again: wait staff, concierges, taxi drivers, bar tenders etc should get tipped - got it, thanks! Would it also be expected to tip when buying food from a food truck or bordega or pizza slice place? What about housekeeping staff? (Sorry just confused about some other different but similar occupations - its all new to me as we don't tip here in New Zealand. But i wanna get it right when we visit in couple of months) 😊
Basically everyone in NYC likest o be tipped. In theory most food trucks/pizza shops don't NEED it the way waitstaff does, but if they have a tip bucket it's a nice gesture and helps people out.
As a native New Yorker, I would like to say that tourists must not block the sidewalk when taking photos of the tall buildings, especially in Manhattan. If you are trying to take such a photo, do it quickly and step to the side so that everyone else can pass. NYC is a city on the go during all times of the day and night. Nothing angers New Yorkers more than being blocked when we need to be somewhere in a hurry. As Megan said, New Yorkers are nicer than most people believe, but we are also very blunt when we need to be.
Below 59th, it’s a little easier to get from east to west. Partly due to the Park being a big blocker above 59th. Getting across the Park is more winding if you’re on foot and there are probably fewer bus options.
For me I'd say the biggest things that always catch me are express Vs local subway trains, as well as sometimes getting caught with uptown Vs downtown. Also, the tipping culture, I loath it, feels like you're being bullied into paying more. In the UK tips are given for exceptional service. Or rounded up as a small gesture. The idea that 18-20% tip is the default is ridiculous.
I totally get that about tip culture, but it’s the model that exists here. Sadly making a statement by not tipping is only hurting the workers.:-( I listened to an amazing podcast that really deep dive into the history of tipping (which isn’t always comfortable….) and also how and why it morphed into what it is today, and it really did make me understand a bit about why so many restaurants here need to use it. Essentially restaurants are hella expensive to start, and but bring a lot of value to a neighborhood, increasing property value etc, so the idea is the community says “we will will help out with the cost of labor to make this restaurant possible in exchange for the better property value and great food!”
@@TheMeganDaily When in Rome, so yes, I always tipped 18% or 20% and then tipped 25% for really good service. I didn't like it but when in Rome. Oh, another thing is sales taxes. They should just show the price you pay inc all taxes. That was something I didn't like either. That would be illegal in the UK. The price you see, is the price you pay.
Staying near one of the Squares (Times, Herald, Union) helps with the express/local situation. Trains will pretty much always stop there, even in the case of weird construction issues on the line. They are also in the middle of the island from west to east, so it’s less likely you’ll discover that you have to take a really long hike to get where you need to go.
@@guest4635 Yup, once I worked out the white and black dot meaning on the Subway map it didn't matter too much. Only happened a couple of times and it was fine as I realised and just got off at a station which was a all train types stop. I was staying in LIC as it was so much cheaper but annoyingly they were doing a lot of work on the lines on the weekend. So travel was rather chaotic on the weekend. Too busy, not enough trains and the bad weather, snow etc made things even more iffy. It was great fun though and I quickly learnt to improvise.
@@thegeneral123 You're more likely to find yourself at the mercy of only a single line if you go outside of the heart of Manhattan from like Canal to 59th. If there's construction on that one line or station (and, yes, particularly on the weekends since they very much care about getting people to work M-F but not so much about facilitating those same residents' weekend leisure time), then you may be really scrambling in a city that you're not that familiar with.
😂😂😂😂😂 if you don’t leave a tip they won’t afford food but New York charges tax on top of visiting it and it isn’t really cheap anymore but hey pay tips because New Yorkers themselves can’t pay their staff properly looool great. Looking forward to it all 😅
There is soooo much useful info here. Especially for first timers!
Definitely I will take mayor of your advice's when going to NYC...!! liked alot your videos..
cheers
Megan.
The Subway can be challenging.
The weekends and late nights . The MTA does track work or station work and trains get rerouted or suspended. Yesterday it took me 2 and a half hours to get home from the RANGERS game to my apartment in Sheepshead Bay.
This is why I recommend first time tourists stay in Manhattan south of 59th st.
@@TheMeganDaily
Yep agreed 👍🏻
I’ve visited NYC twice and both times I stayed in Long Island City. It’s only a 10 minute subway ride to midtown Manhattan but the hotels cost 1/3 of the price.
Fantastic advice for anyone visiting NYC for the first time!!
I wish that bathroom app had existed when I first moved to NYC…but I didn’t even have a smart phone.
The bathroom app is on Tiktok. It would be nice if it was a regular website. Not everyone is on social media.
Personally, I like the Midtown observation decks more than the one on the west side (Edge) or downtown (WTC). If you’re just going for the view and don’t want any of the extras like bungees or whatever, the midtown options give you more of a 360 view.
Staten Island does have a subway, it's called the SIR and goes along the eastern shore from St. George (Ferry Terminal) to Tottenville, one pays when they get off at the ferry but all other stops are free.
Correct, but there isn’t technically a MTA subway line that takes you there. The DOT provides the free ferry.
Good video, Megan. I am a native New Yorker.
Great video!
Thank you for this helpful video. Just on the tipping thing again: wait staff, concierges, taxi drivers, bar tenders etc should get tipped - got it, thanks! Would it also be expected to tip when buying food from a food truck or bordega or pizza slice place? What about housekeeping staff?
(Sorry just confused about some other different but similar occupations - its all new to me as we don't tip here in New Zealand. But i wanna get it right when we visit in couple of months) 😊
Basically everyone in NYC likest o be tipped. In theory most food trucks/pizza shops don't NEED it the way waitstaff does, but if they have a tip bucket it's a nice gesture and helps people out.
@@TheMeganDaily cool thanks 🙏
As a native New Yorker, I would like to say that tourists must not block the sidewalk when taking photos of the tall buildings, especially in Manhattan. If you are trying to take such a photo, do it quickly and step to the side so that everyone else can pass. NYC is a city on the go during all times of the day and night. Nothing angers New Yorkers more than being blocked when we need to be somewhere in a hurry.
As Megan said, New Yorkers are nicer than most people believe, but we are also very blunt when we need to be.
To be clear, central Park is north of 59th St.? Help! First timer here
Yes, there is nothing inherently wrong with anything above 59th, I just think if you're using public transit your life will be easier below 59th.
Below 59th, it’s a little easier to get from east to west. Partly due to the Park being a big blocker above 59th. Getting across the Park is more winding if you’re on foot and there are probably fewer bus options.
Thank you all!!
Queens has The Mets!
Megaaan 😃
For me I'd say the biggest things that always catch me are express Vs local subway trains, as well as sometimes getting caught with uptown Vs downtown. Also, the tipping culture, I loath it, feels like you're being bullied into paying more. In the UK tips are given for exceptional service. Or rounded up as a small gesture. The idea that 18-20% tip is the default is ridiculous.
I totally get that about tip culture, but it’s the model that exists here. Sadly making a statement by not tipping is only hurting the workers.:-( I listened to an amazing podcast that really deep dive into the history of tipping (which isn’t always comfortable….) and also how and why it morphed into what it is today, and it really did make me understand a bit about why so many restaurants here need to use it. Essentially restaurants are hella expensive to start, and but bring a lot of value to a neighborhood, increasing property value etc, so the idea is the community says “we will will help out with the cost of labor to make this restaurant possible in exchange for the better property value and great food!”
@@TheMeganDaily When in Rome, so yes, I always tipped 18% or 20% and then tipped 25% for really good service. I didn't like it but when in Rome.
Oh, another thing is sales taxes. They should just show the price you pay inc all taxes. That was something I didn't like either. That would be illegal in the UK.
The price you see, is the price you pay.
Staying near one of the Squares (Times, Herald, Union) helps with the express/local situation. Trains will pretty much always stop there, even in the case of weird construction issues on the line. They are also in the middle of the island from west to east, so it’s less likely you’ll discover that you have to take a really long hike to get where you need to go.
@@guest4635 Yup, once I worked out the white and black dot meaning on the Subway map it didn't matter too much. Only happened a couple of times and it was fine as I realised and just got off at a station which was a all train types stop.
I was staying in LIC as it was so much cheaper but annoyingly they were doing a lot of work on the lines on the weekend. So travel was rather chaotic on the weekend. Too busy, not enough trains and the bad weather, snow etc made things even more iffy. It was great fun though and I quickly learnt to improvise.
@@thegeneral123 You're more likely to find yourself at the mercy of only a single line if you go outside of the heart of Manhattan from like Canal to 59th. If there's construction on that one line or station (and, yes, particularly on the weekends since they very much care about getting people to work M-F but not so much about facilitating those same residents' weekend leisure time), then you may be really scrambling in a city that you're not that familiar with.
😂😂😂😂😂 if you don’t leave a tip they won’t afford food but New York charges tax on top of visiting it and it isn’t really cheap anymore but hey pay tips because New Yorkers themselves can’t pay their staff properly looool great. Looking forward to it all 😅
i understand tipping. i still think you guys put to much on the costumer, don't guilt people into tipping blame the employers for not paying well.
Are you single Megan?