How to plan your trip to New York? All our tips for preparing your trip to New York and making sure you don’t forget anything before you leave
Have you decided to travel to New York in the next few months, and are you looking for advice on how to organize your trip? Preparing a trip to New York is essential, because there’s so much to see and do, you won’t have time to waste. If you want to make the most of the city, you need to plan a fairly precise schedule of what you’ll be doing each day.
We’ve put together a few tips to help you prepare for your trip to New York.
Prepare the necessary documents
To travel to New York, you will need to complete two essential administrative formalities:
First of all, it’s impossible to travel without a biometric passport. Almost all French passports are now biometric, since they are valid for 10 years and this standard came into force just before 2010. However, you should also be aware that your passport must still be valid for 6 months after your return date for travel to the USA. If the validity date of your passport is too short, remember to renew it a few months before your planned departure for the USA.
The second essential document for travel to the USA is the ESTA. It’s easy to apply online (make sure you apply on the official website https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/ ) and costs just $14. It’s quick and easy, and all you need to do is fill in a few personal details.
If you’re planning to drive to New York or anywhere else in the U.S., remember to apply for an international license, as your French license alone won’t authorize you to drive. You need a transcript of your national license.
Find a cheap flight
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Luciano Mortula – LGM
Once you’ve prepared the necessary paperwork, it’s time to find a flight for your vacation dates in New York. The best way to do this is to use a flight comparison service to find the best prices. If you can, try to be flexible about the dates of your stay – you may save a few dozen euros by leaving a day earlier or later, for example.
Usually, it’s cheaper to book your flight on a Tuesday or Thursday than on other days of the week. So when should you buy your plane ticket? The best time to book your flight to New York is three months before your departure date.
Find your drop-off point
Finding well-placed accommodation in New York is crucial. You’ll save a lot of time and energy if you stay in Manhattan. The island has many places of interest and is close to everything. Everything is within easy reach.
That said, your destination will depend on the type of trip you’re planning. Are you an active traveler or a quiet one? If the latter, you can choose more relaxed neighborhoods like Brooklyn or Williamsburg.
You can use our article on where to stay in New York to define where you’ll be sleeping.
Prepare your itinerary
Photo Credit: Shutterstock / Albachiaraa
If you’re only going to New York for a few days, it’s best to plan your itinerary in advance, so as not to waste unnecessary time on site.
There are many blogs about New York, with advice on how to organize your trip. One of the most common pieces of advice is the location of your accommodation: it’s best to stay in the center of Manhattan, so as not to waste too much time in public transport.
If you’re only spending 5 days in New York, you don’t want to waste an hour on the subway in the morning and an hour in the evening. Ideally, you should be able to visit early in the morning and enjoy the New York atmosphere in the evening. Sleeping not far from Central Park, for example, makes it easy to get there at sunset!
Must-see places in New York
New York is full of iconic places that you absolutely must visit during your stay. There are enough must-sees in New York to keep you busy for an entire week.
Here’s a look at some of New York’s must-see places:
The Statue of Liberty: To get there, you can take the ferry from Battery Park. The ferry crossing is included in the tour, and allows you to take some great photos of the Statue of Liberty. You’ll have the choice of stopping at Liberty Island, home to the Statue of Liberty, or continuing on to visit Ellis Island and the Immigration Museum.
The Empire State Building: this is the must-see building to climb on a trip to New York. Make sure you choose the right time to visit: at sunset, you can see New York by day, enjoy the beautiful colors, but also see the Big Apple by night!
Top of the Rock: another must-see observation deck, facing the Empire State Building and offering views of lower Manhattan, as well as Central Park. It’s the ideal place to discover New York from the air.
Central Park: you can also take a stroll in the evening if you want to enjoy the colors at the end of the day, or early in the morning if you’re a sporty type! You can do the tour on foot or by bike.
Times Square: a must-see in the evening, this mythical square is packed with colorful advertising displays.
The Brooklyn Bridge: a free activity in New York, the ideal way to enjoy the view of Manhattan is to head for the Brooklyn side and cross the famous bridge.