This section is to help you immerse yourself in the culture of New York. No one wants to look like a tourist, because tourists are annoying and get in the way. You can always see one, camera in hand, wearing sneakers to avoid blisters after a long day of sightseeing and dining at franchise restaurants for fear of trying more local and unknown cuisine.
Our list here will help you, give you the true New York City experience, and keep you out of the clutches of scam merchants.
Leave your guides at home
Sounds weird and stupid, right? Well, just a little. First of all, everyone hates people who stand in the middle of the sidewalks, with their heads down, engrossed in a map or a tourist guide, oblivious to the pedestrians around them who want to pass. Don’t be one of those people. Even other tourists get annoyed with such people, and you will most likely be verbally abused.
Read your guides before you leave home, over breakfast, or before you go to sleep the night before. Know where you are going before you step onto the busy sidewalk! If you need to double check, pull over to the side so it’s out of the way, or better yet, put out the books and maps during a coffee break so you can focus more.
Second, by leaving the guides out, your bags/backpacks will be much lighter and less likely to hurt your back later. If necessary, pull out maps or take notes that you can refer to. If you can’t get rid of guidebooks, buy smaller, lighter editions like Lonely Planet’s “Best of New York.”
Do not entertain
This has many positive results. Genuine New Yorkers know where they are going and how to go about it. If you don’t want to look like a tourist, be confident and walk with authority. NYC moves at a mile a minute and its residents expect you to too! Once you have your bearing, walk there quickly. Not only will you save precious time and see more, but you won’t be pushed or pushed out of the way or insulted when people pass by. The biggest positive with this one is that you’ll burn tons of calories if you walk fast, which means you can eat more hot dogs.
Avoid tourist attractions
When you’re in a new city, it can be tempting to dress for comfort rather than style. This is fair enough, since you are the one who has to put up with annoying clothes or sore feet at the end of a long day. But keep in mind that New York is a fashion capital of the world and there are some places where sneakers just don’t work.
Ditch the sneakers and try comfortable walking shoes, there are plenty of modern and stylish styles that won’t make you feel scruffy. Sportswear is a popular choice for tourists, but try to mix styles and designs by wearing a jacket instead of a sweater or pants instead of jeans. Not only will you feel more comfortable if you stop in for a nice lunch or dinner, but shopping in exclusive areas will be less embarrassing and you’ll get less cruel stares.
starbucks is the devil
Yes, there will always be Starbucks and McDonalds, but do you really need to go there? You can go to those places at home whenever you want. Try to eat and drink where the locals do, ask – the local kiosk or taxi driver will know. A good bet is the receptionist or bellman at your hotel, if you can find one. Try the street vendor hotdogs, hot pretzels and coffee shops without a trademark, you’ll probably find better quality there anyway, not to mention possibly save some money!
get used to the smell
New York has garbage. Not just a little bit either, lots and lots of it. It lines the streets of downtown Manhattan, even though it is cleaned every day. Get used to bad smells and brief whiffs of a strange stench every time you pass through a dark alley. While the rotten smell is a bit more subdued in winter, it still isn’t going away, so don’t let it ruin your sightseeing.
have eyes in the back
If you don’t know where you’re going, and you probably don’t, don’t get caught up in the atmosphere of it all. Crime in New York is rampant, just like all the TV shows tell us, but you still have to be smart about what you do and how you do it. Keep an eye on your belongings at all times, don’t leave things lying around, as you could also put up a sign that says “I don’t know where I am, so feel free to steal from me”. Do not walk around with open bags or show your money. Yes, yes, all the things your mother tells you when you go on a trip without her…
Put the most expensive things out of sight for as long as possible. That digital camera around your neck begs to be taken away in the middle of rush hour in Times Square. Just take it out when you need it along with phones, PDAs, laptops and newly purchased items. Ladies, don’t go alone for the mandatory jog in Central Park, or after dark (even with a running buddy).
Keep your eyes open to the people around you and the place you are traveling to. Dark alleys with dead ends are not good places to hang out! Enough of lectures, you should already know the fundamental rules.