What Europeans Should Know about Traveling in New York

Byline by Steven McKenzie of NYCVacationRentalsOnline.com

Visiting the United States is an exhilarating experience for anyone, but if you are European, here are some tips you should know before visiting New York City:

Shopping Malls

Dotted all over Europe are some fantastic shopping malls, but these do not compare to what you will find in NYC. They are simply massive and you should prepare yourself to spend a lot of money. When I first stepped into Saks 5th Avenue, I could not believe my eyes, and there was something for everyone. The great thing about shopping centers in New York is that the prices are much cheaper compared to what you would normally find in Europe.

Sporting Events

Football, or soccer as it is known in America, is widely regarded as the most popular sport on the planet. But, if you are in New York, do not expect many Americans to share the European interest in the game. Before you arrive, brush up on your American football, basketball, ice hockey and baseball, because you will likely be bombarded with news and results from these popular American sports.

Drinking Age Limit

For any young, New York party goers, be aware that the legal drinking age is 21 and underage drinking is strictly forbidden in the United States. So, if you are under age, you can either wait till you turn 21 to hit the numerous parties and clubs, or simply have fun without the liquor. If you plan to do what many young New Yorkers do, and get adults of legal age to buy the drinks, be careful because the law is against you.

Fast Food

You all have heard of McDonalds, Burger King, KFC and Subway, but these are just the major fast food chains that you would also find in Europe. In New York, far more fast food options exist and all are offering various types of foods on the go.

All 50 States are Different

So, you have arrived in New York, ready for a good time. After a few days in the Big Apple, you decide to visit other parts of the United States. Take note that in Europe the weather patterns are generally similar across Northern Europe, as well as throughout Southern Europe. However, in America no such continuity occurs, so you could be in New York in the snow and catch a flight to Texas where it could be 25 degrees. So make sure if you are doing a tour around the US, that you are fully aware of the weather patterns.

Road Trip, be Prepared to Drive

Driving around Europe is fairly straightforward. In a few hours you can be in a different state, or in a completely different country. The same cannot be said for road trips around America. So if you are planning to use New York as your base to visit other parts of the US, bear in mind that 8 hours driving is not a long distance to travel.

These are just some of the things that Europeans should consider when visiting New York City or any other state of America. If you have some great travel tips, leave a comment, I would love to hear about the.

This article was written by Steven, a travel writer and blogger for Nycvacationrentalsonline.com, suppliers of over 350 New York vacation apartment rentals and holiday apartments in Brooklyn.