My travel philosophy is based on traveling like a millionaire on a starving student budget. As a result, I am always looking for the best experiences available at a destination at the best price. Undoubtedly, the best price of all is: FREE. Knowing this, I often seek out freebie tours available to visitors wherever I travel. Fortunately, there are several exceptional experiences available for free in NYC. There are free tours of Central Park, Grand Central Station, Times Square, the New York Public Library, the High Line, and many neighborhoods in the five boroughs that make up New York City. Traveling in the Big City can be expensive, so save a few dollars wherever you can. Save your money and still experience the best the city has to offer. Get the most “bang for your buck”, wherever you travel. These tours give you the entire bang for absolutely no bucks. Now that’s truly the ideal trip for anyone.
To learn more about these free tours, see the full article at http://www.theidealtrip.com/new-york-city.html. Do you know secrets to traveling on the cheap? Do you know of more freebies available in NYC? Share your insights by commenting on this post or emailing me at theidealtrip@gmail.com. The Statue of Liberty is an iconic symbol of New York City, a true must-see sight, and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. We have set aside a full day during our one-week visit, just for those very reasons, to take the ferry over for a tour including neighboring Ellis Island, a part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. To learn more about both the World Heritage List and the Statue of Liberty, see the UNESCO website. Ferry tickets to visit the monument can be purchased from Statue Cruises, the official provider of tickets and tours to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. We purchased our ferry/admission tickets for the trip in advance online and are looking forward to a great day in New York Harbor. For more information and tickets, visit the Statue Cruises website. If you have recently visited the Statue of Liberty or have a story to share about Lady Liberty, please comment below or email me at theidealtrip@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you! In preparation for our upcoming trip to New York, I have finalized a solid itinerary of sights and activities. But, I have been doing more than just itinerary planning—I have been strengthening my relationship with my mother. How have I done this? First, I have encouraged my mother to start walking more each day in preparation for our NYC sightseeing (which will include a walk on the Brooklyn Bridge and a tour through Central Park). Second, I have also been filling her in on the itinerary developments as tickets are purchased and reservations are made. How do these strengthen our relationship? I feel that these actions are important relationship-builders and achieve several things: 1) She has a new goal to work toward; 2) she has something pleasant to think about for the future; 3) she can look forward to our time together; and, 4) It gives us an opportunity to communicate more and connect in new ways. She can anticipate a fun trip and I can enjoy conversations with her about our upcoming trip. Try this yourself if you are planning a trip or considering a trip to help strengthen a relationship. I think you will find that travel is not only about the time you spend together during the trip, it is also about bonding and communicating more long before the trip takes place.
How has travel improved relationships with the most important people in your life? I would like to hear from you. Click on “Add Comment” below or email me at theidealtrip@gmail.com to tell me about it. I look forward to your comments! I will be taking my mother for her first trip to the Big Apple. I have developed a special itinerary just for the two of us that includes some of the iconic must-see sites in New York along with some less-visited locales. The itinerary also includes a balance of active outdoor activities and casual indoor activities each day. My mother is in her 60s now, so I want to make sure we keep a sane pace throughout our visit. I always try to create itineraries that are appropriate to the travelers with me. When traveling with kids, I plan plenty of short activities and lots of breaks. When traveling with my parents, I try to accommodate any mobility or health issues. Our one week NYC trip will take us through many Manhattan neighborhoods, over to Brooklyn, into New Jersey, and include a tour of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. To balance such a busy schedule of sightseeing each day, I have also made sure to include low-key activities such as a leisurely picnic in Central Park, live theater performances, and dining with a view. I find that almost any trip is made better by a mix of scheduled activities and more casual moments. Sitting at a sidewalk café where the locals gather to watch the world go by can be a highlight in any city, and, often tells you as much about a place as the local history museum. Keep this in mind the next time you are planning a trip. I am always seeking a healthy balance in my life and it is no different when traveling. Strike that right balance and you are sure to experience the ideal trip wherever you are in the world.
How do you stay balanced while traveling? Do you have some great tips, tricks, or techniques to share? Click on “Add Comment” below or email me at theidealtrip@gmail.com to tell me about it. I look forward to your comments! Preparations for my next trip are well underway. I am off to New York City in the early fall. New York City is truly one of the Great Cities of the World. And I am really looking forward to spending time there to do and see the things that are unique to that city. Follow this blog as I report on the best tips for planning the ideal trip to New York City. I will tell you about helpful time-, sanity- and money-saving hints for your visit to NYC. I will share cost-cutting options for Broadway theater tickets, free things to do in New York, ways to feel like a local New Yorker, how to maximize your time in the city, find delicious and inexpensive dining, and recommend the best sites for you to see. I know you will find this information helpful whether you are planning an upcoming trip to New York City like I am, are an armchair traveler, or just looking for good ideas that make travel better no matter where you go. Read more and take a big bite of the Big Apple with me!
Have you visited New York City recently? Are you a New Yorker? Do you have great advice or recommendations to share with others? Click on “Add Comment” below or email me at theidealtrip@gmail.com to tell me about it. I look forward to your comments! Happy 4th of July to all my readers! I hope you have a fun and safe holiday, wherever your travels may take you! Share your best 4th of July holiday experiences with me by commenting on this blog or sending me an email at theidealtrip@gmail.com. |
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