New York—the Capital of the World, the city of Sinatra, Yankees and cheap pizza; the city that never sleeps. Approximately, around 50 million people come to New York every year, some for pleasure and many for business. If you belong to this other group, New York can be very overwhelming due to many opportunities for business, accommodation, transportation and entertainment. Luckily, you can always rely on this simple guide to survive and enjoy your New York business trip.
Arriving to New York
New York has three airports, the biggest being John F. Kennedy, especially popular for international travelers. This Queens establishment welcomes over 53 million passengers every year, mostly due to its practicality and good connections. If you take the AirTrain from the airport to Manhattan, you only need to pay $5 per ride. La Guardia is mostly used by domestic fliers, and it’s quite close to Manhattan. Another option is Newark, an airport with fast immigration clearance, but most travelers stick to JFK.
Where to stay
Your accommodation will most likely depend on your company, but also on where most of your work will be located. No matter where you go, hotels and plentiful and fit for all budgets (from $50 to more than $500 per night). If you want to experience a more authentic New York feel, this city is the birthplace of Airbnb, so you can rent a private apartment, which is an especially good option for longer business stays.
Take a break in a local park
No matter how dedicated you are to your work, you can’t spend your entire NYC trip buried in documents. New York is known as a ‘concrete jungle’ but despite that nickname, the city has a wonderful relationship with the outdoors. There are several walkways perfect for hiking and hundreds of parks all over the city.
Of course, make sure to visit Central Park, probably the most popular park in the world. This giant spans over 1.3 square miles of trees, fields and other greenery. If you only have one day to explore the park, your safest bet is to look into bike rentals in Central Parkand grab a two-wheeler. If you choose an electric bicycle, you can explore a big chunk of the park and even find time for a picnic. Renting a bike in New York is an overall great idea because you can also use it to commute.
Escape Manhattan
It’s safe to say that the majority of your stay will be reserved for Manhattan, but if you want to escape this city, there are plenty of options. One of the best ones is to visit Governor’s Island, basically an adult playground with biking trails, kayaking, mini-golf and walking routes and tours. And if you want to catch up with work in nature, there are practical spots where you can grab coffee and dive into work.
Get discounts on tickets and attractions
If you can use your company’s account for your private expenses, then you don’t have to worry about costs, but most business travelers work on a limited company budget. In that case, try to save up some money by investing in New York CityPASS and a subway card.
Don’t neglect the nightlife
New York is the city that never sleeps, so don’t go to bed at 10 P.M. every night. And even if you need to do some work or networking in the morning, consider moving those tasks for P.M. hours. Bars and restaurants are great spots for meetings and team building. There’s also Broadway, always a great way to spend a free evening, as well as countless comedy clubs where you might catch an up-and-coming comedic star.
Frequent business travel can be exhausting, but being a business traveler in New York is a great adventure. If you follow these tips, you’ll successfully mix business and pleasure and come back home full of energy and big dreams.
