How to Get Around in New York City

New York City is amazing.  With so much to see and do, you'll never be bored.  However, getting from one place to another can be maddening.  So, what are some of the best ways to get around?

Well, there are a few options out there.  Lets go through some of them.

Taxi

Cabbing it in New York is such a New Yorker thing to do.  This option is great if you are in the suburbs and need to get somewhere quickly.  I wouldn't use a cab in the city as traffic is horribly jammed all the time, it's not worth it.  I only used it to get from my Airbnb to the airport.  The cabs are all meter fared by the govt.

Hop-on Hop-off Bus

Most people who are new to the city, like to to have a tour-guided bus to get their bearings.  I tend to use this option if I am in a new city but I didn't this time for the same reasons as the taxi.  The bus would take a long time in traffic to get around so I looked for an alternative way to get around and still see the sights.

Subway

The subways were great for getting from one place to another in great time.  There are some cons however.  The smell and humidity in the subway can be unbearable at times.  The other is that unless you know where "Uptown" and "Downtown" take you, you might have some issues.  Clear train stop signs are no where to be found so much of your day is guessing if you are going on the correct line or headed the right way.  Otherwise, we used the subway to get around the best we could.  It is also cheap to use.

Uber/Lyft

Ride sharing options are also available.  You can use Uber/Lyft as an alternative to a Taxi.  It is not much cheaper and not very useful in the city if the traffic isn't moving.  However, it is great if you are staying outside of the city.

Via

Via is a new ride sharing option that recently launched in Manhattan.  You can ride anywhere in NYC including JFK, LaGuardia and Newark Airports for a flat rate of just $5!  Just download the app! You can learn more about  Via here.  Via

METRO CARD

Last but not least, if you plan on taking the metro buses, subways or trains, you will definitely need this.  It is a Metro Card.  I was in NYC for five days so I purchased a Metro Card for $32 which covers unlimited trips for 7 days.  There is a 3 day pass as well for cheaper but depending on your length of stay, you can determine what suits you best.  I bought mine from the Jamaica Stn after landing at JFK airport.  I highly recommend this card as it saved my friend and I from having to fiddle with change all the time.  We also used it ALOT! We definitely got our monies worth!  Transportation fare is $2.75 a ride.  Do yourself a favour and get this card!