Growing up just 20 minutes away from New York City was probably one of the best things about my childhood, but there was one thing that always stuck out like a sore thumb -- a tourist. You can spot one coming from 20 miles away. If you're planning on traveling to the big apple any time soon, make sure to follow these tips so that you can look like a true New Yorker and blend in.
1. I heart New York T-shirts. This is one of the many things that screams "I am a tourist." Do not buy these T-shirts by any means; New Yorkers don't even wear them, so you don't need to either.
2. Double-decker tour buses. The people working these tours know how to trick you out of your money and spend an unnecessary amount of it. There are plenty of ways to go sightseeing around the city, but you don't need a giant bus to tell you how to do so.
3. Using the subways and metro cards. You must always buy a Metrocard when using the subways. There's nothing worse than a tourist trying to go through a lane without one or they don't know how to use it. People go in and out of the swipe lanes very quickly, and will have no problem shoving you out of the way. If you don't know how to use your card, step aside and ask for assistance.
4. Staring. Please do not stare at anything or anyone. New York is a city where people like to creatively express themselves in any way possible. If someone on your bus or subway is wearing hot pink eye shadow with a zebra print top and neon orange shorts, you don't stare at them. People will get offended and most likely yell at you in front of everyone.
5. Don't stop, point and look up at things in awe. There are very magnificent buildings, churches and places in the city, but there's nothing worse than running into a tourist who stopped to take 20 photos of times square because they were so enchanted by it all. KEEP MOVING!
6. Do NOT by any means rent a car. For starters, parking is
7. New Yorkers take their sports teams VERY seriously. The Yankees/Giants and Mets/Jets feud is the real deal, so keep your comments to yourself. Also, NEVER come to the city wearing a Red Sox shirt. You will get booed on the street and it'll be embarrassing.
8. Do not scream and make a scene if you see a celebrity. Most celebrities have townhouses in the city, so it's very common to see someone in Trader Joe's or even grabbing a pretzel or a hot dog from a street vendor. Some might be willing to take a photo or two, but some don't want to be bothered. Be courteous and know that they're they're just trying to go about their day like everyone else.
9. Do not pull out a paper map of the city and stand in the middle of the street. We have smartphones for a reason, so use them! They're much more efficient than any piece of paper, and you will find where you need to go 10 times faster.
10. Know that things are expensive. An average meal will cost you an upwards of $20 or more. If you want to do things in the city, you must budget yourself because it's easy to over spend and run out of money. Also, be mindful of the tax on everything; come prepared to have your wallet drained faster than you can say New York City.
