SAFETY

Even though some individuals like to "LOL" at safety, it is something to be serious about. Places such as New York City can be a fabulous destination, however it can be very dangerous. The large amount of people obviously means that the crime rate is escalated. The best advice I can give you, as a frequent visitor of these fabulous streets, is to listen to your gut. If you get an uneasy feeling about something, turn around and walk the other way. Don't let a fear of danger ruin your time, just be smart and don't "LOL" about it.

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There's more than Manhattan!

I have noticed that majority of my posts focus specifically on the borough of Manhattan. I want to briefly give a overview of the other boroughs of NYC.

Brooklyn: Brooklyn is located in Kings county, across the water from the lower east side of Manhattan. Brooklyn has a population of about 2.5 million. Brooklyn is bigger than Manhattan in terms of square miles. There are many different neighborhoods in this borough just like in Manhattan. I am not familiar with these neighborhoods though. The ones I do know of is Coney Island, Bensonhurst, and Redhook. When most people think of Coney Island, they think of a amusement park. This is not entirely a wrong image, however is not 100% correct either. Coney Island is a neighborhood that contains several amusement parks. This is located near the water, and in my opinion is very similar to the Jersey Shore. This is not a very safe neighborhood. Redhook is also not a safe place to be, however it is where they filmed a season of The Real World. Bensonhurst is more of a residential/shopping place. I have a friend who lives there, and he has said to me it is a pretty good neighborhood. Therefore, I would not feel uneasy walking around there by myself.

Queens: I have never visited Queens NY. The only thing I can say about Queens is it is where LaGuardia International Airport is located.  From what I heard about it from friends, and from what I have seen on TV is very similar to Brooklyn, in terms of appearance and population per mile. It has good parts, and bad parts just like any city.

The Bronx: In my opinion, not a great neighborhood. The main thing I can say about the Bronx is that it is home of Yankee Stadium. So, if you ever go and plan on attending a game, you will be entering the Bronx to watch the game. The stadium is located very close to the Manhattan border, therefore I think if you are careful and go with multiple people, I would see no need to fear.There is also a zoo in the Bronx, if you are wanting a fun family attraction to visit.

Staten Island: This borough is located very close to New Jersey. I have never been to Staten Island, however from what I have been told it is the closest to Midwest living. By that I mean, it seems to have more amenities as we do in the Midwest. Jersey Shore star, Vinny is from Staten Island, as well as previous reality star Angelina.

Manhattan: I am not going to describe Manhattan because I could go on and on, and majority of my posts focus on Manhattan. I will tell you, that of all the 5 boroughs, Manhattan is it's own little world. The stores are different, and typically more upscale. For example, you will not find a Target in Manhattan. If you want to visit store similar to that you will need to check out other boroughs. I know for a fact that there is a Target in Brooklyn near Brooklyn CUNY. 

*photo courtesy of nytourist.com 

Hotel Review: Hotel Welington

This post is meant to be paired with my previous post about finding the best hotel price. In this post, I will be giving a brief review of the hotel that I stay at, as well as expectations and realities that exist with majority of Manhattan Hotels. 

Review: This hotel is located on 7th Avenue, just blocks away from Times Square. In terms of locations I would give this hotel a 5 out of 5. It is close enough to the heart of NYC, but far enough away where it is typically a bit calmer and quieter. This is especially good for night time. It is also a neighborhood that I feel comfortable walking around in day or night. This is a plus, because you can walk to and from Times Square and other surrounding attractions at night without fear of being attacked. Another great thing about this hotel when it comes to location is its closeness to the subway. There is a subway platform right outside the hotel. When you exit on the side of the building on 55th Avenue you can enter the subway there. This is the N-Q-R stop. This stop will allow you to go downtown, and uptown. In my opinion, it is a great central location for subway users. 

The rooms are smaller than most hotel rooms in other cities, but for a Manhattan hotel room, it is very spacious. Each room has private bathrooms, which is a plus when looking at hotels in this city. Each room has baseboard heaters as well as window air conditioner units. The rooms are very clean, and most of them are newly renovated. At this time, not all rooms are renovated yet. I have stayed in a non-renovated room. The bathrooms are very clean, and very nice. They are also very spacious. They have heated floors and a tub/shower combo. The only downfall to having a non-renovated room is the decor mostly In my opinion, those rooms just look outdated. They are just as clean, and comfortable as the new rooms. Each room also has a desk with mirror, chair, closet and a TV with basic cable. Specialty channels can be purchased for an extra charge. They also have full-service concierge, that will store your luggage if you arrive before check in, and when you check in they will bring your bags to your room for you. *don't forget  to tip*

In my opinion the only negative is that fact that this hotel doesn't offer free internet. The only way to connect to internet is to pay for it, and it is not cheap. Also, I have an AT&T iPhone, and when inside the building my internet on my phone wouldn't load anything. I could call out, receive calls, and text with a slight delay. I'm not sure if this is because of the buildings materials, or if they have a signal block to force you to pay for their web access. Either way, you can go across the street and access a Starbucks wifi signal for free.

Expectations: When visiting majority of cities, you have a pretty basic expectation of a hotel room. Most cities have large spacious rooms, with amenities such as free breakfasts, private bathrooms, and swimming pools and workout facilities. When visiting NYC, and staying in Manhattan these aminities are not common, with hotels less than $200 a night. When booking your hotels, make sure that you are buying a room with a private bathroom. This seems like it should be standard, but with cheaper hotel prices, they commonly share bathrooms with other rooms. So, if this is something you are not a fan of, be aware when purchasing. 

*This is why I like the Wellington, because I can book it for near $100 a night, and it has private bathrooms*

Times Square, USA

Times square is by far the one spot that most people think of when they think of New York City. Times Square is located in Midtown Manhattan. Times square is known as "The Crossroads of the World." Times Square is located at 7th Ave and Broadway. It forms a X like shape, and spans between west 47th St. and west 4nd St.

Times Square is the heartbeat of Manhattan, and I even believe it is the heartbeat of all the boroughs combined. There is so much to do there. You have Broadway, plays and attractions located there. You can sit on the Times Square Stairs, and see where the New Years Ball is dropped ontop of the Toshiba tower. Visit the American Eagle Outfitters Headquarter store. See the three-floor indoor ferris wheel at the Toy's R Us store. This is arguably the most massive toy store I have ever seen. You can experience all Manhattan has to offer with a variety of street food venders. Visit the three story high Walgreens, and pick up anything you could ever need. Visit Planet Hollywood, a restaurant/bar where all the stars go.

When you are standing in the middle of Times Square, imagine what it would be like on New Years Eve when it is crowded for blocks and blocks. Imagine all the famous events and celebrities who have stood in the same spot that you are at that point. 

Where ever you are staying in the city, there is a MTA Subway stop directly in Times Square. It is impossible to miss, because at every check point it is clearly labeled Times Square (42nd St) Station. Now, when you are walking around Times Square you will be stopped by pushers and advertisers for various Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. Just simply take the pamphlet they are trying to give you and say thank you. Do not ignore and be rude to these people, because you never know what they could do if they feel offended. Also, just like with any location that you are not familiar with, do not go down alley-ways and only stay on main streets. Most importantly, have a BLAST.

Tip: Visit at night, and bring your camera. Also, watch out for traffic/cabs.

*photo's taken by David Cox 2012*