When you’re thinking of visiting or moving to a new city, you often want to do a lot of research first. Not only do you want to know everything you can about the culture and the living options, but you also want to know about the social scene and your options for getting around.
It can be especially important if you come from a small town. Whether you’re heading to Boston, Washington D.C. or New York City, you will find that you’re given so much advice from people that have lived in said cities, but also need to look for a lot of opinions online.
You can’t trust everything you read or hear, especially when it comes to New York.
Deciding to move to New York City can be a lot of fun. But, over time, you will start to see that some will give you advice based on their own experiences and preferences – so you can’t always take feedback to heart (unless said person is wholly unbiased.)
Instead, you need to be able to do your own research. Yes, there are a ton of lifehacks for living in NYC, some of which will apply to you. But you also have to be able to use your own judgment on whether advice on apartments, restaurants, or entertainment is applicable to you.
The Sights Are Only For Tourists
Many born and bred New Yorkers will tell you there’s no need to see the cliche New York sites, that they’re just for tourists.
But if it’s your first time in the city, there’s no harm in filling your spare time with a little sightseeing.
Go ahead and be a tourist in your own town. Just pick the sights you see and the times you go wisely, so as to avoid flocks of actual visiting tourists.
Eating Out Is Expensive
You’ll always here a lot about the cost of living in NYC, including the food. Yes, it’s expensive to live in New York City, and the food isn’t cheap, but don’t believe that eating out is not an option.
There are plenty of great places in the city to eat at on a budget. You don’t have to head to fancy places all of the time just to have a nice dinner.
One of my recent favorite meals was at Ivan Ramen where a generous bowl of heaven is only $16.
Walk Or Take The Bus
Everyone will also tell you about the problems with public transportation in NY. Some will say that it’s easier to walk so that you don’t get caught up in traffic, or the bus because it’s cheaper, but every mode of transport has its pros and cons.
The bottom line is, cabs aren’t that expensive, nor are Ubers but they can get easily get delayed in traffic. Plus, hopping on the subway really isn’t that bad when you get used to it.
Location
Then there’s this bizarre idea that you have to live in the right location. Yes, of course you’re going to want to find somewhere that you feel comfortable, but you don’t have to feel any zip code pressure.
Weigh the idea of a more popular location to the scenario of having a bit more money available to experience life in NYC, rather than letting your rent take away that potential.
You’ll Get The Hang Of It
You might think that the blocks that make up the NYC streets look like a never ending maze and you’re always being told that you’ll get the hang of it.
Although current New Yorkers will tell you that you don’t need to ask for directions because you’ll catch on eventually and the best way to learn is to do.
I err on the safe side, always using my Google maps to see where I am in relation to where I’m going.
Friends Will Find You
Everyone always says that you can never be lonely in The Big Apple. That friends will just find yo. Again, that’s not necessarily true.
Yes, you can make new friends wherever you move to, but you’re going to want to take fate into your own hands. Go online to find neighborhood specific forums and meetups, join local groups, ask for friends of friends details. You’ll be glad you put yourself out there.
Take The First Apartment
A lot of people will make you believe that apartments are snatched up before you have the chance to favorite the HotPads listing, and while they do, that doesn’t mean that you have to take the first one you see.
Feel free to comment with your favorite tips for traveling to a new city, and/or the misconceptions about your own.
