Fully equipped with the likes of a kitchen, a flat screen TV, Wi-Fi connection, cosy and stylish furnishings, beds that are ideal to recharge in for the next day and even the possibility of gym access and more, these luxury short term rentals will bring all stays in NYC to life.
Where to Stay in New York
New York comprises of 5 boroughs, each one having their own unique feel. These include:
- Manhattan
- Staten Island
- The Bronx
- Brooklyn
- Queens
Each of the boroughs are familiar to most travellers; though that’s mainly due to the omnipresent media and TV shows (King of Queens, for example). However, it goes without saying that the busy borough of Manhattan is the most widely recognised. Manhattan’s many neighbourhoods, and attractions for that matter, have graced the Silver Screen for many decades to the point where some of the notable highlights are familiar to those that haven’t ever been to New York. Considering all of the above, it is of no surprise that Manhattan is the most popular borough of the city to stay in; long term and short term stays.
But where should New York’s many travellers stay? Well, that largely depends on the purpose of the visit and what kind of experience a traveller desires from their trip. With long term and short term apartments in all boroughs, and close to some of the most engaging attractions, guests will have no problem enjoying themselves when they choose TheSqua.re.
Facts About New York
But before guests settle into their fully furnished short stay NYC apartment, they need to look up the city and its rich history first. From its pre-colonial history, the arrival of the Europeans, the War of Independence and conquering the financial market, NYC has had quite a ride.
Before bags are packed and planes boarded, here are a few facts that guests should know:
- New York was originally a Dutch colony called New Amsterdam
- 8,175,133 million people live in New York City
- More than 800 languages are spoken in New York
- France gifted the Statue of Liberty to the United States in 1886 for its centennial celebration
- New York City became the first capital of the United States in 1789.
- The New York Public Library has over 50 million books and is the 3rd largest library in the world
- Times Square was originally called Longacre Square, until The New York Times moved there in 1904
- The United Nations headquarters was established in New York City in 1952
- New York is the 3rd most populous state in the US, after California and Texas
Other assorted facts for New York include:
- Total Area: 468.484 sq mi (1,213.37 km2)
- Land Area: 302.643 sq mi (783.84 km2)
- Water Area: 165.841 sq mi (429.53 km2)
- Metro Area: 13,318 sq mi (34,490 km2)
Now for a bit about the economy:
- The economy of NYC encompasses the largest municipal and regional economy in the US
- Wall Street is the financial anchor, leading NYC to be characterized as the world's premier financial centre
- With a GDP of $807 billion and GMP of $1.9 trillion, NYC is one of the top economies in the US
To deal with its high volume of visitors, New York is served by three airports that provide international and national connections:
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
- Newark International Airport (EWR)
Things to Do in New York
After when the luxury short term apartment in New York has all been booked up, travellers will then begin to ask a simple question: “What should I do first?” Fortunately for them, there’s so much to do that it is quite hard trying to figure out where to begin, but the Q&A below can point you in the right direction.
- What are the most popular things to see in New York?
These are the top 10 attractions in New York:
- Times Square
- The Statue of Liberty
- Empire State Building
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Central Park
- American Museum of Natural History
- Rockefeller Plaza
- Intrepid Air and Space Museum
- Brooklyn Bridge
- Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration
- What are some free things to do in New York?
Here are 10 free things to do in New York:
- Spending Friday evenings at the MoMA
- Visiting the Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- Doing yoga at Bryant Park
- Watching outdoor movies at two major parks
- Riding the Staten Island Ferry
- Going to the Chelsea Galleries
- Attend a cultural event at the New York Public Library
- Taking a tour of Central Park
- Taking in the views from Brooklyn Bridge Park
- Tour the Brooklyn Brewery
- Where should you spend your nights in New York?
This is where guests need to spend their night in NYC:
- Catch the Staten Island Ferry
- Spend Friday night at Bronx Museum of the Arts’ First Fridays
- Spend the night at the Brooklyn Museum
- Go to KT Fridays at the Rubin Museum of Art
- Head out to Brooklyn Bowl
- Go to the Top of the Rock observation deck at the Rockefeller Center.
- Go indoor rock climbing
- A night walk across Brooklyn Bridge
- Go to Feinstein’s / 54 Below
Places to Visit in New York
The best things about cities are their abundance of attractions. While there are many attractions to hold the attention of everyone, there are always going to be ones that top any list. Once guests are fully settled into their short term apartment in NYC, they can begin to explore the depths of the city.
New York’s 10 must-see attractions can be found below:
- Times Square - A major commercial intersection, tourist destination, entertainment centre and neighbourhood, it can be found on the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue. Times Square is one of the world's most visited tourist attractions, with an estimated 50 million visitors annually.
- The Statue of Liberty - Built by the French as a gift to the US, this is arguably one of the most iconic attractions in the city and is synonymous with the freedoms and liberties of the American people. Second only to the American flag in recognition, no trip is complete without a selfie.
- Empire State Building - While many will remember it as being the monument that defeated King Kong, many more will remember it for its astounding views of the city that no other public attraction in the city can deliver.
- Metropolitan Museum of Art - With a permanent collection of our two million works and 6,953,927 visitors every year, this is the top gallery in the city for works of art that will amaze as well as inspire.
- Central Park - The top green space in New York City, long walks are a thing of beauty here, with a lake, horse carriage and much more to be enjoyed on every adventure here.
- American Museum of Natural History - One of the largest natural history museums in the world, it is home to 33 million specimens of plants, animals, fossils, minerals, rocks, meteorites, human remains, and human cultural artefacts.
- 30 Rockefeller Plaza - Home to Top of the Rock attraction, visitors can enjoy some of the best views of the city, including Central Park that you can’t get on the Empire State Building.
- Intrepid Air and Space Museum - Visitors can walk around the aircraft carrier, USS Intrepid, the submarine, USS Growler, and the Space Shuttle, Enterprise. Here, the air, sea and space are taken care of.
- Brooklyn Bridge - An icon in its own right, and sitting alongside the best in any list, this miraculous piece of human engineering is 1,833.7 m long and is always crowded with those seeking to take in the view.
- Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration - The US is a nation of migrants and immigrants, and this museum tells the story of how the nation has been shaped by opening up the country to those seeking refuge. All will leave here astonished.
Places to Eat in New York
Another highlight of city life is the vast selection of restaurants and world cuisines. While guests may be in the US, they can still savour other corners of the globe. Each neighbourhood has something to offer, from luxury restaurants in Upper East to themed restaurants in trendy areas, American diners around street corners to restaurants in Little Italy and Chinese cuisine in Chinatown. When visitors don’t want to use their luxury apartment’s fully equipped kitchen, they can eat out and set their taste buds alight.
- What foods should visitors try in New York?
Here are 10 foods that every traveller should try:
- Pizza
- Bagels
- Hotdogs
- Doughnuts and Cronuts
- New York Cheesecake
- Pastrami on Rye
- Cupcakes
- Burgers
- Brunch
- Japanese food
- What are the best restaurants in New York?
That is a difficult question to answer, however, here are 10 that have to be checked out:
- Atla
- Via Carota
- Estela
- Atomix
- Le Coucou
- Le Bernardin
- Eleven Madison Park
- Gramercy & Flatiron
- Wildair
- Per Se
- What are the top posh restaurants in New York
Here are 5 of the most expensive restaurants in New York:
- Masa
- Per Se
- Kurumazushi
- Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare
- Eleven Madison Park
- What are New York’s cheaper dining options?
When visitors need to save a bit of money, they should consider these cheap places to eat in New York:
- Joe’s Pizza
- B and H Dairy
- Baohaus
- Crif Dogs
- Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles
- Los Tacos No. 1
- M and O Market and Deli
- Mamoun’s Falafel
- Punjabi Grocery and Deli
- The Kati Roll Company
Street Food in New York
The hot dog stand is as synonymous with the Big Apple as the Statue of Liberty is. Exploring the streets will lead guests to many hot dog stands ready to pile on the onions and mustard. But there’s more to New York’s street food than hot dogs. Donuts, bagels, falafel, Mexican food, mac & cheese, chilli and lobster rolls are just some of the other foods that can be bought on the streets.
A few street food vendors that are worth mentioning include:
- King of Falafel & Shawarma
- Milk Truck
- Red Hook Lobster Pound food truck
- Lumpia Shack
- Dirty water dogs
- Calexico
- Solber Pupusas
- Bolivian Llama Party
- Breakfast cart bagels
Shopping in New York
New York is renowned for its shopping attractions and as one of the major fashion hubs in the world. There’s an assortment of places where guests can splash and spend at their leisure. So, when they want an adventure outside of their short term NYC rental, these are the shopping attractions that should be taking centre stage:
- Fifth Avenue
- SoHo
- Columbus Circle
- Meatpacking District
- Herald Square
- Lexington Avenue
Transportation in New York
For the uninitiated, New York’s transport system can appear overwhelming. Like many large metropolitan cities, there are many ways of getting around the city, with the subway, buses and cabs being the most popular options.
The New York Subway is one of the most famous mass transit systems in the world. Throughout the borough of Manhattan, the subway is the easiest way to travel around. A subway fare is $2.75.
Alternatively, the bus is a good way of travelling around the city - and additionally allows passengers to see New York without having to go underground. With all of our short term apartments in NYC being close to metro connections, guests will have no trouble getting around the city.
If visitors are looking to travel outside Manhattan, there are other options. The Long Island Rail Road, NJ Transit and Metro North Rail allow visitors to New York to access New York’s boroughs and New Jersey.
There’s a lot of water around New York - Manhattan is an island after all. Launching in 2017, the New York Ferry offers an alternative way of travelling around the city. With 21 ferry terminals across the city, the ferry is an increasingly popular way of travelling for tourists. Evidently, the ferry takes a little longer than the Subway, however, the price is the same as the subway at $2.75.
A breakdown of transportation can be found here:
- New York Subway
- Staten Island Railway
- Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH)
- Long Island Rail Road
- Metro-North Rail Road
- NJ Transit
- Staten Island Ferry
Weather in New York
Like many cities in the west, New York’s weather varies from season to season. New York’s average temperature varies throughout the year, with the months of April to September generally being the warmest months. But, in the city during the peak of summer can get very hot, so guests need to be sure to stay hydrated.
New York weather in the winter can be very cold, with temperatures frequently reaching below zero Celsius. Staying wrapped up is a better option, but there are seldom more picturesque sites than Central Park in the snow.
The average temperature in New York in the Summer is around 27°. In winter, the average temperature is 5°, while the average temperatures in Spring and Autumn are 7° and 12° respectively.
