Everyone Who Lives In NewYork: I Need Your Help!

[Tormentormike]

Pretty much just restating whats already been put out there. Yes it'd be nice to get a place in Manhattan, but like everyone else has said, it's going to cost you an arm and leg. I live about an hour away from Manhattan by the LIRR, and anything around where I live is considerably cheaper. You can always just take a train into Penn Station which will bring you right to the center (sort of) of Manhattan.

What are you going for exactly? First trip to America, should probably throw out what you're trying to accomplish/see. Manhatten has a ton to do, but theres also a lot of things to do/see in the areas around Manhattan as well. (Not that you could really run out of things to do in NYC for a 2 weeks...)

Walk/Subway everywhere. I've only had one bad experience with a cab once, but I'll just put it out there. I was obviously looking like a tourist since I had a ton of bags/backpack etc, got a cab and asked to go somewhere. Some streets are one way (maybe all actually?) and he was skipping turns to get to our destination faster just to get more money. May be different for you, but just saying, you never know. Walking is generally the way to go.

If you're around Central Park, I know I've seen some guys who rent bikes out to ride around the park. Not sure of the price, but they are there. Restating the above, I'm actually surprised I haven't seen a cab hit people on a bike. I'd rather skydive with a faulty parachute then ride a bike on the streets in Manhattan.

Summary:
-Being a train/ferry ride away from Manhattan will save you money.
-Walking/Subway is the way to travel. (It can get VERY hot, plan your day trips accordingly)
-I thought I'd have more bullets of information, I guess I was wrong.

[Melchiah]

I've been to NYC once, and have no plans of ever going back. I encountered the rudest people I've ever been exposed to there. I did stay in New Jersey though, and like everyone else said, it's 5 minutes from the Lincoln Tunnel, and way cheaper.

[0ni0n]

I've been to NYC once, and have no plans of ever going back. I encountered the rudest people I've ever been exposed to there.

Well, in a city of 8 million & 10 million tourists, it's hectic. People are just blunt and straight forward. I hope you can give it another try because the city has plenty of redeeming qualities.

[Not Kuno]

Well, in a city of 8 million & 10 million tourists, and it's hectic. People are just brunt and straight forward. I hope you can give it another try because the city has plenty of redeeming qualities.

I'm guilty of pushing through people that walk slow as fuck because I have a train to catch mother fuckers get out of the way.

[Quixon]

Well, in a city of 8 million & 10 million tourists, and it's hectic. People are just brunt and straight forward. I hope you can give it another try because the city has plenty of redeeming qualities.

This...

95% of the people you are going to run into aren't going to have time to tell you how to get to Rockefeller Center.

[Cephius]

I've been to NYC once, and have no plans of ever going back. I encountered the rudest people I've ever been exposed to there. I did stay in New Jersey though, and like everyone else said, it's 5 minutes from the Lincoln Tunnel, and way cheaper.

While I think this is a particularly narrow-minded reason for not visiting the city, he does bring up a good point that hasn't been mentioned. That being: New Yorkers do not care for tourists and foreigners.

It's not like everyone is going to be calling you names on the street or anything overt like that, but to the average New Yorker (or even a New Jersian like myself) tourists are too easy to spot. They're seen more as of annoyance as anything else, and many people have the attitude of "there are enough people here already, if you're not one of us GTFO". Don't stop in the middle of the sidewalk to take pictures. Don't walk slow when everyone else is moving fast (injuries aside and all that). Don't ask strangers where stuff is, they'll likely just ignore you. If you get lost, find a cop or tourist center. If there aren't any around, ask a store owner.

And finally, never ever attempt to ignore street crossings and jaywalk or even cross a street before the "walk" light turns on. NYC drivers will not stop for you, if you force them to prepare to get honked/cursed at/screamed at.

[Not Kuno]

And finally, never ever attempt to ignore street crossings and jaywalk or even cross a street before the "walk" light turns on. NYC drivers will not stop for you, if you force them to prepare to get honked/cursed at/screamed at.

This is a filthy lie. I cross when I damn well please, and so does everyone else.

[Cephius]

This is a filthy lie. I cross when I damn well please, and so does everyone else.

Yeah, but everyone crosses as a pack (usually when the crossing light turns on) so there is some protection! If you try to cross by yourself you're asking to get yourself killed.

[MrW]

Everyone else pretty much nailed it on the head. Best bet is to stay in Jersey if you don't have family to stay with. Also, LEARN THE SUBWAY BEFORE YOU GET TO NY. You'll thank yourself later. Good luck finding a place when you go! Luckily for me when I lived there I used to crash at my Uncle's place in the city.

[0ni0n]

This is a filthy lie. I cross when I damn well please, and so does everyone else.

Yup, the only difference is that green light means walk while red light means run. Exercise prudence and don't look like an idiot.

[MrW]

Travel with the pack and you'll be fine. But please dont J-walk. You WILL get a ticket.

[Not Kuno]

Travel with the pack and you'll be fine. But please dont J-walk. You WILL get a ticket.

Eh... Just don't jaywalk on like 5th ave or something big and you'll be fine. The smaller streets you can do whatever you want.

[Melchiah]

I don't mean rude as in ignoring a question, I knew better than to ask residents silly tourist questions. I mean rude as in aggressively rude, like a greeter at the Empire State Building telling us all how funny we talked. That's just one example, and I know everyone isn't like that there. It's just there was enough of that "fuck off" attitude to make me feel unwelcome, thus I don't care to go back. I guess it's just a different way of life in the South, we don't treat people like that, even northerners.

[Cephius]

I don't mean rude as in ignoring a question, I knew better than to ask residents silly tourist questions. I mean rude as in aggressively rude, like a greeter at the Empire State Building telling us all how funny we talked. That's just one example, and I know everyone isn't like that there. It's just there was enough of that "fuck off" attitude to make me feel unwelcome, thus I don't care to go back. I guess it's just a different way of life in the South, we don't treat people like that, even northerners.

New Yorkers are rude to your face, Southerners wait until you're gone to talk shit about you all the same really!

[Mulligan]

I don't mean rude as in ignoring a question, I knew better than to ask residents silly tourist questions. I mean rude as in aggressively rude, like a greeter at the Empire State Building telling us all how funny we talked. That's just one example, and I know everyone isn't like that there. It's just there was enough of that "fuck off" attitude to make me feel unwelcome, thus I don't care to go back. I guess it's just a different way of life in the South, we don't treat people like that, even northerners.

I'm from new york and I got plenty of that fuck off attitude when I would go to Virginia for work, but I didn't assume it was just the type of people there. You're going to find assholes everywhere, but don't generalize and say its everyone in a city. There were plenty of really nice people in Virginia as there are in NYC. I'll admit that you find more assholes in touristy spots though.

When you're here, make sure you do the following: walk around the village, go see a Yankees game in the Bronx, and if you like music, go see some local bands play in Brooklyn or on the lower east side. And yeah do the empire state building. I lived in the area my whole life, but went there for the first time two years ago. It was pretty awesome.

[MrW]

Lived in NY till I went to high school and have yet to go to the Statue of Liberty. Lower East Side is a great idea. The Village is good times at night and Houston St. has some fun places to shop for random shit. Orchard St. for some decent nightlife as well.

[wonderlust]

nyc is so expensive to live in you wont find a lot of ppl w/spare rooms so i'm not sure how successful you will be. as many ppl already suggested, craiglist.org is a good alternative to a dingy hostel. if i were you i would post and i'm sure ppl strap for cash will respond.

CouchSurfing - Participate in Creating a Better World, One Couch At A Time could also be a good alternative. i have a few friends that do this and have met really cool ppl. i know a few host couples as well.

personally i would not stay in new jersey, the only time i go there is if i have a need to relive my mall rat high school days or eat really good korean food. brooklyn and even queens is a good place to stay, they are still considered 'nyc' and even if you do manage to find a place in manhattan to stay you should still visit there, there's a lot of delicious food in the outer boroughs and you can experience all the diversity nyc has to offer

nyc is not the most bike friendly city but we're trying ^^;
like everyone else suggested i would avoid it since you are new here.
however in central park you can rent bikes and ride along a path, that's pretty fun and safe.

things to do/try during your visit:
-PS1 in queens
-walk across the brooklyn bridge (grab some pizza and/or ice cream on the brooklyn side)
-take the FREE staten island ferry to and from south manhattan, buy a beer and sit outside and watch the statue of liberty go by
-nap in central park
-eat dimsum in chinatown and go to the arcade and get your ddr on or play ping pong
-try a bagel, pizza, and frozen yogurt ;x

can also suggest some shopping/restaurants/bars/clubs if need later ^^

[0ni0n]

Here you go! It's only about 7-8 stops (taking line 2 or 3), a 20min ride, from brooklyn to mid town manhattan and back.

Spoiler: show

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/7162/nycsubwayam4.gif

[ikariiiii]

Walk/Subway everywhere. I've only had one bad experience with a cab once, but I'll just put it out there. I was obviously looking like a tourist since I had a ton of bags/backpack etc, got a cab and asked to go somewhere. Some streets are one way (maybe all actually?) and he was skipping turns to get to our destination faster just to get more money. May be different for you, but just saying, you never know. Walking is generally the way to go.

solution: stop being a pussy

in all seriousness, i take cabs all the time when i'm downtown, and if i see that the fucker is going the long route to get to my destination, i tell him off. and I do this nearly EVERY time i'm in the city, and i pretty much move around for free. don't let those guys dick you around, because they will.

it also helps to ask locals how much it would cost to get from "x to x", just to have a base number.

[Kuya]

Though i do intend to go back to NY ( i have family there), the difference in the way people behave there and say here, is very poignant. For example, some dude rammed me with a shopping cart because he wanted to get in line before me.