There’s a huge amount to do in NYC, so if you’ve only got a short time in the city, you can easily burn through the hours and leave yourself with no space to do the things you actually came to New York for. So, it’s a good idea to have an NYC strategy in place before your plane touches down. A good plan will help you avoid losing time on logistics and get through everything you want to see and do, with time to spare. But where should you start? How can you plan to make the most of a short New York City break from the moment you arrive? Here are some suggestions.
Nail transport before you get on the plane
Have a logistics plan in place before you even get on the plane, for when you land. All three airports serving New York can be busy and confusing, so it will help you a lot to understand where you’re going, what transport you’re catching, and how to navigate it to your accommodation from the get-go (ideally from before the get-go, in fact). So, decide whether you want to take public transport or hire a car in New York, pick it up at the airport, and drive yourself around for the duration of your break. Let’s take a look at each of those options in a bit more detail.
Public transport
Public transport in New York is relatively good compared to many other American cities, but it can still be crowded and hard to navigate if you’ve got a lot of luggage. You can get an AirTrain straight from the JFK terminals to central subway stations, which is very convenient, and the other two airports also have good public transport links into the main boroughs. Once in the city, the buses and subway system can get you pretty much anywhere you need to go cheaply and often faster than a car can, but they don’t offer the privacy and convenience of a car.
Taxis and rideshares
Taxis and rideshares also operate from the airports. You’ll find taxi ranks outside the terminals, and you can easily hail a rideshare from the relevant app. Taxis and rideshares are more expensive than public transport, but they are convenient and offer a good way to get a lot of luggage from A to B without the commitment of a rental car. However, traffic in New York can be a nightmare, and you may find it takes longer to drive into the city than to take public transport.
Car rental
Again, if you rent a car, you are likely to encounter the notorious New York traffic. You may also find that parking spaces are hard to come by. However, that may well be worth it for the freedom, convenience, and independence that a rental car offers – especially if you’re planning to head outside the central city.
Don’t dawdle in your accommodation
If you’ve got the energy and there’s still plenty of daylight left, we recommend hitting the city pretty much as soon as you can. Drop off your luggage, shower and change if you need to, sort out all the practicalities of your accommodation, then get out onto the streets and start exploring your neighbourhood.
You can learn a lot on foot in New York. Start by walking through the blocks around your hotel, so you learn the area quickly and see how busy it gets during the day. While walking, notice the shops and small restaurants on each street. In some neighbourhoods, you will see more fashion and retail, while in others you will find galleries or historic buildings. You can find places on a short walk that would not turn up in your planning at home. If you can, slot anything that looks interesting into your itinerary.
Speaking of your itinerary…
Plan a loose itinerary
Make a list of everything you absolutely need to see or do before you set off for the city. Note where each of these are, and try to group your days by geographical location rather than by theme. For example, rather than having one ‘shopping day’ bouncing around must-visit boutiques in various boroughs, pick a borough a day and mix those days with all the sightseeing, restaurants, shops, etc. that you want to do in that location. This will save you a lot of time in transit.
For example, if you stay near Midtown, you can walk toward Central Park and spend an hour exploring the paths. If you stay downtown, walk through SoHo or the Lower East Side and browse small boutiques. You can enjoy some of the major sights of Midtown, like the Skywalk and the Friends Experience, on the same day.
Plan time for food and general exploring as well. Stop at a café between stores, or visit a gallery while moving through the neighbourhood. Mix those stops into the day so you do not spend the whole time shopping or sightseeing.
Try to keep your itinerary loose if you can. Narrow down your list of must-sees as much as possible because, inevitably, you’ll come across a lot that you want to explore as you wander through the city. Leave yourself time to go off schedule a bit and discover new things.
Before ending the first night, spend a few minutes planning the following day. Look at the map and check opening hours for the places you want to visit. Do this at night so that you can get off to a flying start the next morning.
Careful planning and good logistics make for a fun and efficient short break in NYC
A little planning goes a long way in New York. If you can nail your transport plans, be efficient and practical when checking into your accommodation, and resist the temptation to stuff out your schedule with hundreds of must-sees, you can have a smooth, stress-free, and fun short break in New York. Do remember to book extra luggage on the way back for all the fun new stuff you’ve bought!