I'm a travel writer in NYC – here are the questions I get asked the most

12.07.2024 - 19:41 / lonelyplanet.com / Hudson River / Ian Schrager

Jul 11, 2024 • 8 min read

What makes a real New Yorker? Some say you must be born in one of the five boroughs – I wasn't but I've lived here for 14 years, contributed to six Lonely Planet guidebooks on New York, and done everything New Yorkers complain about and covet... 

I've snagged impossible restaurant reservations, seen Tony Award-winning shows long before they went to Broadway, fallen asleep on the subway (do not recommend), gotten caught in summer rain storms while biking along the Hudson River (actually invigorating) – and I don't hesitate to give cab drivers directions if I deem my route superior. I love this city with the uncomplicated clarity of Milton Glaser's “I Love NY” logo. NYC is in my DNA.

So with my NYC credentials established, here are six questions out-of-towners often ask me about experiencing the nation's most populous metropolis like a New York-or-nowhere urbanite.

Location is king when it comes to lodging. Travel times between boroughs, and even parts of Manhattan, can take upwards of 30 minutes. Decide which neighborhood interests you most and pick a hotel in the area. 

For something central, skip Midtown (its nonstop energy overwhelms) and look instead around the art and park-packed West Village or Chelsea – you’re still close to must-see Manhattan sites. The budget-friendly Jane Hotel houses guests in ship-style rooms initially built for sailors in 1908 and is steps from Hudson River Park's piers and the elevated High Line promenade.

If you're into trendy bars, unique boutiques and a bit of edgy grit, opt for the Lower East Side. The Public Hotel, created by Studio 54 co-founder Ian Schrager, sits where the Lower East Side intersects with shop-heavy Nolita. 

Don't sleep on Brooklyn, either – plenty of well-appointed Williamsburg hotels overlook Midtown's skyline. Check out the Wythe, a short subway ride from the borough's best nightlife venues and one stop away from Manhattan. 

When low price points are paramount, try Harlem Flophouse (shared bathrooms in a 19th-century townhouse) or Pod Brooklyn (compact rooms in Williamsburg). Avoid travel around major holiday weekends – you'll pay a premium – and look for deals during Hotel Week from January through February. 

New York is a pedestrian town. You can take leisurely strolls around brownstone-lined blocks in the West Village and Brooklyn Heights, but the pace here is generally fast. New Yorkers use sidewalks for commuting and follow a set of unspoken rules: traffic flows to the right, walk no more than two people side-by-side and if you need to pause, step out of the way.

NYC's 24/7 subway system, operated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), is great for long distances – and though navigating the underground network can be