Travel News | Travel Advice

A seven day trip to New York planned carefully should allow the keen visitor enough time to see all the top places that should not be missed from the itinerary. Probably one of the first stops will be the Empire State Building and whilst it may be on every tourists list, that doesn’t mean it is not worth it, especially the view from the top. There is of course some competition between the Empire State Building and the Tour boats can take visitors out to see the big lady ‘The Statue of Liberty’ but be prepared for long delays these days; the view of her from Ellis Island is an option worth considering.

Fortunately, the Staten Island ferry is still free and can provide great views of the Statue of Liberty; dropping off at the terminal is the best place because it is where there are some good street artists. If you are spending seven days in New York you’ve got to see the site where the World Trade Center Towers stood, something that changed all our lives. The area where they stood is surprisingly large plus the emptiness feels strange and if you like taking photographs, you may be disappointed here because it just doesn’t feel right. An emotionally lighter attraction is to visit some of the famous stores like Tiffany’s or the Lower East side area where there are numerous bargain warehouses to look around.

Other stores like Bloomingdales are the kind of place where you can look at the goods but must not touch to the other famous store Macey’s where there is always a sale on. At the time of writing the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum was closed for refurbishment but should be open by the fall of 2008; although often underestimated, once it opens its doors again, it will be well worth a visit. There is a great deal there with the USS Intrepid taking center stage being a Second World War aircraft carrier but there is a Concorde and other underwater vessels there too. The real New York City Police Museum is open for visitors and whilst admission is free; donations are expected of around five dollars to help with running it; it contains a great deal of information about the World famous Police Department and you can buy souvenirs too.

For those who like to see the darker side of a city the Lower East Side Tenement Museum is ideal as it shows the conditions for many immigrants back in 1864. If Central Park is on your list of places to see then there is another museum aptly named the City of New York Museum which has exhibitions exploring the city’s past, its present and the future. More can be learned about the city’s past in this grand building and although once again admission is free, a donation of 9 dollars is advised. There is a huge amount to see and do in this city and if you are staying anything less than seven days in New York, you will hardly scratch the surface!

When traveling many things can and do go wrong so following a few simple rules could prevent many of those problems fellow travelers encounter on the road. Usually these problems could be prevented but may give a false impression of the location you have visited. In the worst case scenarios, passports, credit cards and cash may have to be replaced. It doesn’t matter if you are visiting a local market or out for an evening meal, traveling safely is about the application of common sense when you are in an unfamiliar location.

Trust your instincts if something doesn’t feel right, do something about it. It is a common mistake for many travelers to carry all of their valuables with them in the belief they are safer, this could not be further from the truth. You know that when you go out for the day or evening there are only certain things you need, so just take those and leave the rest behind in the safe or security deposit box. One tip that has saved many travelers hassle is placing money in various locations so it makes it harder for thieves and pickpockets to get it all at once.

A follow on to this tip is to carry two separate credit cards instead of two from a joint account as this adds an extra security measure should one be stolen; this travel safely tip means this way you are not without a credit card. Some of the easiest possessions to steal are bags and cameras owing to the way people carry them without even recognizing that they are an easy target for thieves; ensure the straps are over the head and across the chest if you want to hold on to them. Don’t make it easy for them when you walk around by having bags and other valuable objects attached to straps next to the road where it is a simple matter for thieves on bikes to just grab at or cut the straps with a knife. The reason most people fall for these tricks is because we are more relaxed on vacation and the people that carry out these crimes are very good at it.

It is often our arrogance that lets us become victims of theft and other deceptions because we do not believe that anyone will pull the wool over our eyes but this is how the criminals earn their living. For instance, when carrying small bags (rucksacks for example), it is not a difficult job to place a small combination lock on it to put thieves off; remember they are always looking for the easy victim! Some people are always losing their keys which isn’t a good idea when you are on vacation so a quick remedy is to buy a D-shackle or similar and attach it your belt or backpack with the keys attached. Probably the most common theft is that of a guy’s wallet from his back pocket so try placing it somewhere else on your body that will be hard to find and steal from. There is absolutely no reason why when you are on vacation you shouldn’t be able to travel safely and have a great deal of worry free fun; just stick to the points mentioned here and use your common sense at all times.