New York is the most popular destination for business travelers, so if you’re a serious business person, you’ll find yourself in this city sooner or later. And when you arrive, you will need something to rely on if you want to avoid a huge shock. Hustle and bustle is a part of daily life for New Yorkers, and you might not be completely used to such a harsh tempo. If you want to have a successful business trip, here are some things to keep in mind:
Take care of accommodation
New York is huge and you’ll most likely need to travel between areas during your stay. If you’re lucky, your schedule will have you located in one spot, but if that’s not the case, pay special attention to the location of your accommodation when choosing your lodging. Consult Google Maps, mark your meeting locations and offices, and pick a hotel that’s closest to all of them. You don’t want to waste time on your commute.
Pick the right airport
New York has three airports—JFK, LaGuardia and Newark. JFK is the largest and always busy, so you might want to plan your flight well. If you can land before a convoy of four planes, you’ll save yourself a lot of time. LaGuardia is notorious for delays, it’s not ideal for those with poor time-planning skills. However, it’s very close to Manhattan (a $30 Uber ride). Newark is located in New Jersey, which is obviously not ideal, and the airport itself is very boring. But it’s close to Manhattan and well connected.
Rely on public transport
Download a New York subway map—it can be a lifesaver once you figure out how to use it. Also, invest in a MetroCard. It might be more expensive initially, but you’ll be able to skip lines and go from the subway to the bus quickly. These cards are good for about a year, so keep it in case you need to return. Make sure you have a good map app that can plot multiple locations on a map .
Rent a bike
Many people who visit New York only dwell in Times Square, but that spot is a huge tourist trap that won’t pay off. Instead, find a good bike rental in New York and hop in your bike. This way, you’ll get to explore locations like Central Park, many bridges and greenways. You can also escape the city and circle Governors Island a few times, so you can enjoy amazing views of Manhattan without traffic. Plus, you can also commute to work on your bike, get some exercise and skip the chaotic traffic.
See some of the sites
If you’re visiting Big Apple for business, you might want to hit Rockefeller Center. This building is a stellar example of Art Deco architecture and top-notch engineering. It’s also home to many successful businesses that will teach you a thing or two, or at least inspire you to push harder. You might also want to visit the New York City Public Library. This building houses vast humanities and social sciences research collections, but also other fun things from baseball cards to Japanese scrolls.
Unwind with laughter and drinks
All work and no play make everyone a dull person, so make sure to end your every successful business day with a few laughs and drinks. Your best option is to visit Comedy Cellar, a cozy, dimly lit room where comedians all over the world come to make you laugh and forget about work even for a few minutes. There’s a possibility someone famous will grab the mic or you might catch a newbie performance that will launch them to stardom.
Your first business trip to New York will probably not go as smoothly as you might like, but it’s a busy and big city, so issues are normal. As long as you follow these tips, you’ll come back home with a business well done!
Diana Smith is a full time mom of two beautiful girls interested in topics related to marketing and latest business trends. In her free time she enjoys exercising and preparing healthy meals for her family.
