 | New York City Warnings or Dangers | Tips 51 - 60 of 479 |  |
Perhaps the worst headache of any New York visit is parking. If you arrive by train, plane, or ship, then thank yourself. For those who are four-wheel bound, here are several tips:
1. In the Meat Packing District (west side/downtown of Manhattan), street parking is available from 4pm-2am. This might be a good option if you are in this area for dinner or dancing.
2. There are side streets throughout Manhattan that have parking available Monday-Sunday 6pm-8am. (Usually near schools) Read the sign to be sure.
3. In Midtown or business districts, street parking is available after 7pm-7am. Make dinner reservations around this time and you don't have to pay the exorbitant $40 garage fee. **Extra pre-caution in this area, however, and read each sign thoroughly.
4. Fifteen feet. Fifteen footsteps away from a fire hydrant is the least you need to NOT receive a NYC $110 parking ticket.
5. Street side parking: Monday and Thursday, Tuesday and Friday, 8-9:30am, 9:30-11am, 11-12:30pm. No Wednesdays. During these hours, New Yorkers move their cars and wait for the street cleaners to sweep up and then quickly reclaim their space until the next cleaning. Get there twenty minutes before the 9:30, 11, or 12:30 and get your free parking space.
5. Early Bird Special! Many garages offer 8-10am or 9-11am specials in which fees are less than $18 for a day. It's worth an early wake-up call.
6. Meter parking: Broken meter = free park day. Yeah! Feed your meter if it's not broken because its a $65 ticket.
Warnings:
1. Read the sign! I loathe the tow trucks that take cars away. There are private towing companies that make bonus on each car. Phone: 311
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That's a joke ... of course you are going to look up even if it is the number one thing that identifies you as a visitor ... that and the 75 pound back-pack.
I attended college in Manhattan and one day after class I was walking with a Professor who stopped and told me to look up and tell him what I saw. I did, and proceeded to admire and then describe the multi-faceted landscape of water towers and decorated building facades that make up manhattan. You have to look up.
That said, most crime in any city, NYC included, is opportunistic, meaning you were the best looking target at the time.
New Yorkers know what to look out for in their neighorhoods because they walk the same streets every day. You know what works in your neighborhood. Apply the same rules you would use at home.
Use the well-lighted side of the street instead of the pitch-black dark side.
Avoid the crowd of crack-smokers in the doorway - don't stop and ask one of them for a light!
Don't date the "ladies" who frequent the Meat Packing district at 3:00AM.
And don't stand out on the street corner at night with your Lonely Planet in your hand trying to figure out which way is north!
Stop in to one of the billions and billions of coffee shops or bars in the city ... sit down and get your bearings. If you look lost ... you will be. Leave a Comment
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Whenever you loose your way while exploring NEW YORK, DON'T PANIC, just go to a pnone booth or use your mobile / cell phone and call 4 1 1 and they will help you.
You can also call this number when you don't know how to go to a certain street, building, school or shop and.....they will tell you exactly HOW to get there.....
GREAT IDEA !!!! But I didn't have to use it! Leave a Comment Phone: 4 1 1
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Not a danger (but perhaps because of a perceived danger) there is an incredible amout of security in most big buildings in Manhattan. Every one of the investment banks/asset managers that we met (save one a little north at Park and 53rd) had the following procautions:
(i) everyone who entered had to have picture ID;
(ii) we had to have an appointment and the security staff called to our host to confirm this;
(iii) we all had to get little stickers with our names, destination floor/host, time and date and purpose;
(iv) some buildings also took a webcam picture of us (which was printed right on the access pass) and;
(v) some searched or even X-rayed (!) our briefcases.
It's understandable and the personnel are very polite...just get to meetings 10 minutes early unless you want to keep your hosts waiting as you clear protocol. Leave a Comment
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Very pervasive, especially in highly crowded areas such as outside of the big stores, ie, Bloomindales or Macy's or in packed subway cars.
Keep wallets in FRONT pocket or in zipped bags. Make sure purses and backpacks are closed and if possible hold them in front of you.
Tuck any chains or necklaces into your collar as well. Leave a Comment
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There was a posting on the VT misc. forum (May 2004) which asked why 'Hollywood' had it 'in' for New York.
If you just take a brief moment to consider it, there has been an amazing variety of films which have seen the fictional total or partial destruction of New York. Here are just a few :
The Day after tomorrow
Terminator 2
Deep impact
Independence day
Godzilla
King Kong
MIB
I'm sure you could add many others to this list. One wonders if this depiction on film had anything to do with the selection of NY as a target in the horrific real-life events of 9/11.
Although moves were made for a couple of years afterwards to avoid the connection of New York with various disasters it would appear that with the release of 'The Day after tomorrow' it is back on the Hollywood filmmakers agenda.
In real life one must of course take account or any percieved terrorist threat, but in terms of other natural disasters many other cities are far more at risk - New York is not on any major earthquake fault line for example.
I don't perceive myself to be at any greater real risk than in any European capital city. Leave a Comment
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As I touched upon in my Tourist Trap - Times Square there are tons of Photo/Video shops in the Midtown area selling electronics at "discount prices". Unless you know exactly what you are buying and how much it should cost, do not believe these guys for a minute! If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is. If you really need to purchase electronics or video/photography equipment check out some of the following places and know your prices before you travel...
JR Music World - They are pretty big but I tend to find them over priced for most things, however, they have a large selection.
B&H Photo - See my review under shopping in NY
Best Buy - Its a chain so you know that you aren't getting screwed plus they have locations through out the US so if you buy something and you want to return it at home you can!
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Many tourists go to Times Square on New Year's Eve believing that they can see the famous Ball Drop. It is an unforgettable experience but it is also impossible to get to this area. You'll be walking around without any possibility of turning back. Getting trapped in the crowd is very scary and dangerous.
Instead, just walk on the streets and enjoy the holiday spirit of New York City. Leave a Comment
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Howdy do....okay, so NYC is considered the safest large city in the United States. But, if you are riding the subway alone, at night, I recommend you ride the front or first car.
With the conductor running the train, you are in a safer position. There are often conductors in the middle car, but I've never been able to make heads or tails of this, so just be safe and ride in the first! Leave a Comment
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There are people who walk around asking for money. Usually it's the same story, "hello, I'm a student, I've run out of money for the train and I need to get home, could you help me out w/ couple of bucks." As believable as it might seem, I've had the same "student" come up too me with the same story for the past few years! I mentioned this to a friend recently and the same person has approached her. While most people are genuine, watch for those woth alternative motives. Leave a Comment
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