| This section is to help you slip into New | | | | walking shoes instead, there are heaps of |
| York culture. No one wants to look like a | | | | funky and dressy styles that won't have you |
| tourist, because tourists are annoying and | | | | feeling dowdy. Sportswear is a popular option |
| get in the way. You can always spot one, | | | | for tourists, but try to mix up styles and |
| camera in hand, wearing sneakers to avoid | | | | designs by wearing a jacket instead of a |
| blisters after a long day sight- seeing, and | | | | sweater, or trousers instead of jeans. Not |
| dining in franchise restaurants out of fear | | | | only will you feel more comfortable if you |
| of trying more local and unfamiliar cuisine. | | | | stop for a nice lunch or dinner, but shopping |
| | | | in upscale areas will be less embarrassing |
| Our list here will help you, give you the | | | | and you'll get less cruel stares. |
| true NYC experience, and keep you out of the | | | | |
| clutches of rip off merchants. | | | | Starbucks is the devil |
| | | | |
| Leave your guide books at home | | | | Yeah, there will always be Starbucks and |
| | | | McDonalds, but do you really need to go |
| Sounds strange and stupid, right? Well only a | | | | there? You can go to those places back home |
| little bit. First off, everyone hates those | | | | any time you want. Try eating and drinking |
| people who stand in the middle of side walks, | | | | where the locals do, ask around- the local |
| head down engrossed in a map or guide book- | | | | newsagent or cab driver will know. A good bet |
| oblivious of the pedestrians around them that | | | | is your hotel receptionist or bellhop if you |
| want to get past. Don't be one of those | | | | find one. Try hot dogs sold from pavement |
| people. Even other tourists get annoyed by | | | | vendors, hot pretzels and coffee houses |
| those people, and more than likely, you will | | | | without a trademark, you'll probably find |
| be verbally abused. | | | | better quality there anyway, not to mention |
| | | | possibly save some cash! |
| Read your guidebooks before you leave the | | | | |
| house, over breakfast or before you go to | | | | Get used to the smell |
| sleep the night before. Know where you're | | | | |
| going before you step onto the busy sidewalk! | | | | New York has rubbish. Not just a little bit |
| If you need to double check, pull over to the | | | | either, loads and loads of it. It lines the |
| side so you're not in the way, or better yet- | | | | streets in central Manhattan, despite being |
| pull out the books and maps over a coffee | | | | cleaned away every day. Get used to bad |
| break so you can concentrate more. | | | | smells and brief wafts of strange stench |
| | | | whenever you pass a dark alley. While the |
| Secondly, by leaving the guidebooks out, your | | | | smell of rot is a little more subdued in |
| bags/ backpacks will be much lighter and less | | | | winter, it's still not going to go away, so |
| likely to hurt your back later! If you need | | | | don't let it ruin your sight- seeing |
| to, rip out the maps or make notes that you | | | | walkabouts. |
| can refer to. If you can't part with the | | | | |
| guidebooks, buy the less heavy, smaller | | | | Have eyes in the back of your head |
| editions like "Best of New York" from Lonely | | | | |
| Planet. | | | | If you don't know where you're going, and you |
| | | | probably don't, don't get caught up in the |
| Don't dilly dally | | | | atmosphere of it all. Crime in New York is |
| | | | rampant just like all the TV shows tell us, |
| This has many positive results. Genuine New | | | | but you still have to be smart about what you |
| Yorkers know where they're going and how to | | | | do and how you go about it. Keep an eye on |
| go about it. If you don't want to look like a | | | | your belongings at all times, don't leave |
| tourist, be confident and walk with | | | | stuff sitting around- as you might as well |
| authority. NYC moves at a mile a minute and | | | | put up a sign that says 'I don't know where I |
| its residents will expect you to also! Once | | | | am, so feel free to rob me'. Don't walk |
| you have your bearing, walk there quickly. | | | | around with bags unzipped or flash your money |
| Not only will you save precious time and see | | | | around. Yes yes, all the stuff your mother |
| more, but you won't get pushed or shoved out | | | | tells you when you go travelling without |
| of the way, or even sworn at as people pass | | | | her... |
| you. The most important positive with this | | | | |
| one, is that you'll burn tonnes of calories | | | | Put the more expensive stuff out of view for |
| if you walk fast which means you can eat more | | | | as much time as possible. That digital camera |
| hot dogs. | | | | around your neck is begging to be snatched in |
| | | | the crush of Times Square peak hour. Only pop |
| Avoid tourist attire | | | | it out when you need to along with phones, |
| | | | PDA's, laptops and freshly bought goodies. |
| It can be tempting when you're in a new city | | | | Ladies, don't go for the obligatory jog in |
| to dress for comfort rather than style. This | | | | Central Park alone, or after dark (even with |
| is fair enough, since you're the one who has | | | | a running buddy). |
| to put up with annoying clothing or sore feet | | | | |
| at the end of a long day. But keep in mind | | | | Keep your eyes open to the people around you |
| that New York is a global fashion capital and | | | | and where you're travelling. Dark alleys with |
| there are some places where sneakers just | | | | dead ends are not good places to hang around! |
| won't do. | | | | Enough lectures, you should know the |
| | | | fundamental rules already. |
| Ditch the sneakers and try comfortable | | | | |