Go to New York on my own?

woodchuck

Looking for a bit of advice about whether or not it’s a good idea to go to New York on my own for a holiday. I’ve been on city breaks in Europe on my own before and had a great time (get to do things that I want at my own crazy pace!) but I had always planned on going to New York with a friend of mine who has similar interests and is also a sightseeing junkie like me :P However she’s no longer able to go this year so I’m not sure if I should wait until another time when we’re both able to go. We’re talking about next summer, but that might not pan out either as this is something that keeps getting put off for various reasons. I’m just reluctant to wait around for another year or two when I’m in the position to do it myself at the moment! But likewise I might not want to go twice within a short space of time if she is available to go sometime next year. To be honest I’d probably prefer to use the money to go to a new place than visit somewhere a 2nd time (she’s already been btw but is keen to go back with someone who has the same interests as her)

I guess what I’m asking is:
1. Is it a safe city for a young woman to go to on her own? I wouldn’t plan on going out drinking in bars or clubs, but I would like to go to at least one show so could be out reasonably late in the evening and don’t know if the subway is safe after dark?
2. Also would it even be enjoyable on my own or is it the sort of place you need a friend to enjoy it with?
3. Is it the sort of place you’d go back to within a short space of time? Baring in mind that I have little or no interest in shopping though :P

Any advice would be appreciated

MagicMarker

I went on my own a couple of years back, stayed in a hostel, mets loads of people and had the time of my life tbh.

Walking around Manhattan at any time of the day or night is perfectly safe. In fact I'd feel safer there than I would walking around Dublin.

TBH though I can't speak for the subway late at night, never used it particularly late myself.

dx22

Ive just come back from 10 days in New York and i was on my own. I felt extremely safe at all times even at night (i am a male tho), safer than anywhere else i have been before. People are amazingly courteous and friendly there.

In great cities of Europe Paris, Barcelona etc you have to be so vigilant for pickpockets etc however in New York i never felt i had to look over my shoulder once. Its a very safe and secure city due to the policing policies during the ninties and the aftermath of 9/11.

Its a wonderful city so much to do and see, go for it you will have a great time!!

bbnewyork

NY is perfectly safe. There are isolated incidents, but with millions of people, that is going to happen. I take the subway all the time and it is fine. Of course if you are alone at 3am anywhere in the world, not just NY, you need to be smart!

I've never felt nervous in the city, it is an amazing environment.

You will have a total blast, even by yourself. Even at a "crazy-pace", you can't take in all of the city in a short period of time so plan what you really want to see!

I am of course biased, can't hide that..."New York" being in my username and all.
I'll just say that I've been going into NYC pretty much weekly my entire life (not including my current time here in Ireland) and it never ceases to be a riot.

Good luck, hope you decide to give it a shot!

woodchuck

Thanks guys Ok I think I might have to look into going over on my own so I was thinking of November, does anyone know if that is an ok time of year to go? Also not sure if I should try to totally avoid thanksgiving or if it would be a good day to be over there?

In terms of getting around at night, if it's just once or twice would a taxi be safer than the subway?

Also how long would you recommend going over for!? I was thinking a week at most or does that sound like too much or too little? This may depend on prices of accomodation and flights though.

Sorry about all the questions btw

g'em

I'm seriously considering going to New York on my own sometime soon too so I'll be interested in the answers to those questions as well!

Are there any areas of NY that would be better to stay in for someone traveling solo?

theparish

The one memory that sticks out for me about New York is the ammount of police in the city.Wether it be on the street or in the subway stations, on the Hudson, in the sky they were everywhere.I went on my own for 5 nights and loved it,there is so much to see there.I stayed in a hotel but would go for a pint at night and if I got chatting to somebody fair enough.I think a decent hostel would be a good idea to meet people.Another bonus is that it is almost impossible to get lost in Manhatten.

bbnewyork

woodchuck wrote: »

Thanks guys Ok I think I might have to look into going over on my own so I was thinking of November, does anyone know if that is an ok time of year to go? Also not sure if I should try to totally avoid thanksgiving or if it would be a good day to be over there?

In terms of getting around at night, if it's just once or twice would a taxi be safer than the subway?

Also how long would you recommend going over for!? I was thinking a week at most or does that sound like too much or too little? This may depend on prices of accomodation and flights though.

Sorry about all the questions btw

November will be (super) cold! That's all. Nothing wrong with being out on Thanksgiving. A few family-run places might be closed but 99% of all other places will be running like on any other day. Plus, there are so many perfectly free sights that are always accessible during any holiday!

If you're traveling just once or twice, a taxi is technically safer. Just don't go broke paying for them. That being said, the subway is generally not unsafe considering how much it is used. The worse that will happen is you get stared down by some creepy strap-hanger, in which case you move down the car. You're not going to get attacked or anything, barring the odd incident here and there. But if you're nervous about late-night subway rides, just grab a cab.

One week is just about right for the average tourist. Definitely not too long a stay! Honestly even I haven't seen close to everything there is in NYC, but 1 week is good for the essential sights and activities. Usually that's the bigger museums, the monuments, a handful of ever-delicious meals, and maybe some live entertainment such as music or Broadway if you're into it.

Don't hesitate to throw any other questions out there. Although I'm making myself homesick replying to this thread! :rolleyes:

woodchuck

bbnewyork wrote: »

November will be (super) cold!

How cold are we talking!? I've read the temperatures in November are between 5-12C, which I think I could handle... but might try go earlier in the month (depending on cost) in the hopes it's on the warmer end of that! I thought December was the bitter bitter cold snowy month? And October is just a bit to soon for me to feel organised I think (I'm the type to take a folder on holidays...). I'm hoping to get the tail end of Autumn as opposed to the middle of winter, but correct me if I'm delusional

RGDATA!

1. Manhattan is a lot safer than Dublin, that was my experience over years working there.
2. If you have to do NY alone it's better than nearly anywhere i can think of, but at the same time it'd be a shame to miss out the nightlife there for lack of a partner. I've done similar trips and enjoyed them, but they all would have been more fun with someone else, that definitely comes into play after a few days. A week is a long trip on your own, unless you're going away to relax (which is not what NY is for)
3. NY is always worth another visit, you'll more than likely look forward to going back again

bbnewyork

woodchuck wrote: »

How cold are we talking!? I've read the temperatures in November are between 5-12C, which I think I could handle... but might try go earlier in the month (depending on cost) in the hopes it's on the warmer end of that! I thought December was the bitter bitter cold snowy month? And October is just a bit to soon for me to feel organised I think (I'm the type to take a folder on holidays...). I'm hoping to get the tail end of Autumn as opposed to the middle of winter, but correct me if I'm delusional

Early November should be cool but fine for walking around, I thought you were going towards the end of the month at first. Sometimes as we approach December, the winter starts biting early. You've got the right idea though, earlier in the month is a good time to hit the city. Summer is brutal for sightseeing, and so many people from cooler places make that mistake. You can't focus on really enjoying anything when you're trying to prevent a heat stroke!

- By the way, my opinion on being cold in November is way different than people over here, because I'm used to having crazy hot summers boiling my blood. So 50F feels cold after that.

woodchuck

bbnewyork wrote: »

Early November should be cool but fine for walking around, I thought you were going towards the end of the month at first. Sometimes as we approach December, the winter starts biting early. You've got the right idea though, earlier in the month is a good time to hit the city. Summer is brutal for sightseeing, and so many people from cooler places make that mistake. You can't focus on really enjoying anything when you're trying to prevent a heat stroke!

- By the way, my opinion on being cold in November is way different than people over here, because I'm used to having crazy hot summers boiling my blood. So 50F feels cold after that.

Thanks for that! Ideally I'd opt for going in early November instead of later, but I guess that'll depend on the cost of flights and hotels... will have to do my research Is there much chance of snow in late November?! Snowy temps are my limit for being able to function comfortably

bbnewyork

woodchuck wrote: »

Thanks for that! Ideally I'd opt for going in early November instead of later, but I guess that'll depend on the cost of flights and hotels... will have to do my research Is there much chance of snow in late November?! Snowy temps are my limit for being able to function comfortably

Not much chance at all, no. It would be an anomaly in my opinion.
Also, even if you are forced to go at the end of the month due to costs, it won't be intolerable. If you lived your whole life in Morocco or something I would say you're in for a shock, but coming from this climate you'll just throw a jacket on and be comfortable.

mikemac

Go see a football game, Giants or Jets.
Might be difficult to get tickets but it'll be an experience
Even if you know nothing about football

Or Yankee Stadium
Though I don't know when baseball is over

bbnewyork

g'em wrote: »

Are there any areas of NY that would be better to stay in for someone traveling solo?

To answer your question, Manhattan as a whole is pretty much fine. The roughest areas are generally the other 4 boroughs (Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island), and if you go to NYC I don't see any reason while you would be in them. Besides maybe The Botanical Gardens in the Bronx or something.
Manhattan is so expansive and packed with people, you would have to work very hard to wander away from the tourist crowd and find yourself in a bad area. You are always around a good amount of people, not to mention police. Just stay in the main hub of the city with all the other tourists, which is not hard at all as I mentioned, because it is massive and obvious.
Just don't walk through Central Park alone at night, the crowds fade away and this is just about the only place I've been really isolated. That's the only place at the heart of the city which is (consistently) trouble after dark.

woodchuck

So you wouldn’t recommend staying in any of the areas just outside the city and travel in each day? Just checking out some hotel prices and the further out the cheaper it seems (not surprisingly!). Any idea if North Bergen (New Jersey?) would be safe to stay in? Not that I’d plan on doing any sightseeing in the area I’d only consider if it there was a shuttle bus or something to and from Manhattan, so I’d probably just use it as a place to sleep and shower :P

bbnewyork

woodchuck wrote: »

So you wouldn’t recommend staying in any of the areas just outside the city and travel in each day? Just checking out some hotel prices and the further out the cheaper it seems (not surprisingly!). Any idea if North Bergen (New Jersey?) would be safe to stay in? Not that I’d plan on doing any sightseeing in the area I’d only consider if it there was a shuttle bus or something to and from Manhattan, so I’d probably just use it as a place to sleep and shower :P

Well I wouldn't stay in any of the boroughs, they aren't exactly friendly. There a nice pockets here and there but generally they aren't the best places. There are tons of areas outside the city that are alright, just do independent research. As for Jersey, I'm not an expert. There are a lot of nice areas but you would have to look into it. I am familiar with North Bergen actually, and it is only good for your home base, like you said - sleep and shower. It isn't what I would call scenic :rolleyes: - but crime is not an issue. If you just need a place to hunker down at night, most places in Hudson County like that are suitable, but I don't know about shuttle buses and such as I haven't gone into NYC from there myself. My "expertise" doesn't really apply to modes of transportation I must say, as I've just taken the LIRR straight into the city my whole life.

woodchuck

bbnewyork wrote: »

Well I wouldn't stay in any of the boroughs, they aren't exactly friendly. There a nice pockets here and there but generally they aren't the best places. There are tons of areas outside the city that are alright, just do independent research. As for Jersey, I'm not an expert. There are a lot of nice areas but you would have to look into it. I am familiar with North Bergen actually, and it is only good for your home base, like you said - sleep and shower. It isn't what I would call scenic :rolleyes: - but crime is not an issue. If you just need a place to hunker down at night, most places in Hudson County like that are suitable, but I don't know about shuttle buses and such as I haven't gone into NYC from there myself. My "expertise" doesn't really apply to modes of transportation I must say, as I've just taken the LIRR straight into the city my whole life.

Thanks! Yeah I'll just have to do some research Some hotels outside Manhattan seem to offer shuttles to the city, but I'll just have to check out the reviews to see how reliable they are.

Thanks a million for all your help I'll try to lay off the questions for a while :P

bbnewyork

Of course - no problem at all!

leesadin

I'm also going for a week in November and got a hotel for 600e for the week.. The Pennsylvania and Gershwin hotel are central manhattan and are around that price!! Although you can also go to some of the YMCA places and they are good value only problem is u have to share a bathroom which I wasn't willing to do.. Booking.com is a good site to check because you can book something without actually paying and then can cancel if you find something better.

woodchuck

leesadin wrote: »

I'm also going for a week in November and got a hotel for 600e for the week.. The Pennsylvania and Gershwin hotel are central manhattan and are around that price!! Although you can also go to some of the YMCA places and they are good value only problem is u have to share a bathroom which I wasn't willing to do.. Booking.com is a good site to check because you can book something without actually paying and then can cancel if you find something better.

Thanks for that, I think you must have got the last available room in the Gershwin though The Pennsylvania is a bit more expensive than I was planning, but I'll keep it in mind

I had heard before that it can be cheap to rent an apartment from locals who will be out of town. Does anyone have any experience of this? So far the websites I've found have been a bit pricey and I'd also be reluctant to use one that wasn't recommended.

scarymushrooms

I'm female and I travelled to New York by myself and loved it! It was really safe, and never ever once did I feel concerned. I was a bit apprehesive about getting the subway late at night, but nothing dodgy happened, and it would incredible rare that you'd be completely by yourself.

I stayed in The Pod Hotel, it's a fun little hotel and was rather cheap if I can recall. Had my own pod, which was really just a small single room, and a shared bathroom. Which was fine, as most of the rooms in the hotel have their own bathroom it seemed. It was about 4-5 blocks from 5th Ave, and the subway was even closer than that. A great little place, quite trendy and different.

Have fun if you go! It's amazing!

woodchuck

scarymushrooms wrote: »

I'm female and I travelled to New York by myself and loved it! It was really safe, and never ever once did I feel concerned. I was a bit apprehesive about getting the subway late at night, but nothing dodgy happened, and it would incredible rare that you'd be completely by yourself.

I stayed in The Pod Hotel, it's a fun little hotel and was rather cheap if I can recall. Had my own pod, which was really just a small single room, and a shared bathroom. Which was fine, as most of the rooms in the hotel have their own bathroom it seemed. It was about 4-5 blocks from 5th Ave, and the subway was even closer than that. A great little place, quite trendy and different.

Have fun if you go! It's amazing!

Thanks for that! A friend had also recommended the pod, but unfortunately the single rooms are sold out for the dates I'm looking at (normally I book well ahead of time, but I don't want to put this trip off for longer than I already have!). I think I'll just have to stay at a YMCA hostel or something :P Everything else is much more expensive unless I want to stay outside Manhattan, but I think I'd prefer somewhere more 'basic' at a central location.

I'm hoping to get flights and hotel for around 1000euro. Based on prices I should be able to stay 7 or 8 days... does that sound like enough to get the main touristy stuff done? I know people say you can spend weeks/months there and not do everything, but I'd just hope to get most of the main things done And I don't think I'd want to stay at a hostel on my own for much more than a week anyway :P

woodchuck

Booked my trip today Going for 7 days and 8 nights in early/mid Nov and staying at a hostel (just the cheapest option for a central location!).

Thanks a million to everyone for your advice