Holidays in New York - Weekend Breaks
Holidays in New York have a reputation for being fun-packed, fast moving and exciting - provided that they are well planned that is. In order to help you get the most out of your holiday, we have compiled a list of practical advice and important things to consider when planning a trip to the Big Apple.
See - MQSEARCH for the latest advertised holidays if based in the UK and for vacations - here if you are based in the USA.
General advice
New York is generally a safe and exciting holiday destination provided visitors take some basic precautions and follow a few general guidelines. Like any major city in the world, it is best to avoid potentially dangerous areas late at night. While the subway is open around the clock, trains after 12 only come every half and hour or so and sometimes even less frequently. If you know that you are going to be travelling late at night in less desirable areas of town, booking a taxi in advance is advisable.
Out and about in the city
A few guidelines to keep in mind: the legal drinking age in New York is 21. Restaurant and bar personnel are extremely strict so don't be offended if you are asked for some kind of identification even if you are way over the legal drinking age. Make sure you keep in mind the additional expenses you may need to budget for while taking a holiday in New York. An 8.25% city tax applies within the city, as does a 13.5% hotel tax, so when you book your accommodation check whether taxes are included. Gratuities are expected by waiters, waitresses, bartenders and taxi drivers. Anything from 10% to 20% is seen as acceptable - if you are uncertain of how much to give 15% of the total amount is usually a safe bet.
Security considerations
The United States security regulations are very strict and security checks at all airports are incredibly stringent. JFK, LaGuardia and Newark are no exception to this rule, so when flying into any of these airports you should expect to be waylaid at security points. Make sure that you have your passport accessible at all time and avoid making any remarks that might make officials suspicious. In most cases, airlines flying to America will require you to check in at least three hours prior to departure time. Regulations are strict, so try to avoid being late at all costs or you may not be allowed to board you flight.
Travel and Visa
Visas regulations should be carefully checked before you even consider purchasing your plane ticket. The United Kingdom is part of the US Visa Waiver program and therefore UK citizens do not require visas to enter the United States. This waiver only applies provided visitors have machine readable passports and do not intend to stay in the country for more than 90 days. A short break to New York should therefore not present any administrative problems whatsoever. A number of other countries including France, Germany, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand are also included in the Visa Waiver program so citizens from these countries are also exempted from requiring travel visas. Citizens of all other countries are required to apply for visas before entering the United States. Finger printing and iris recognition are now being used, and with regulations and approaches changing on almost a weekly basis it is sometimes hard to keep up with what is expected. If you are doubtful as to whether or not you need to apply for a travel visa or are unsure of specifications applying to you, you can check your exact status on the United States Department of State website.
New York - Weekend Break
