New York: Mix Business Travel with Sightseeing
Having traveled to New York for business multiple times over the last year, there are a few bits of advice that every business traveler should know. From booking a trip to getting to a work site, planning a business trip to New York can be intimidating.
From the experts at TopView NYC, here to help are four tips that every business traveler should partake in.
Map It Out
Look at a map before you go. When someone says Long Island, the first thing that comes to mind is a small island. Long Island is anything but small.
If having to travel from Melville to Staten Island on Long Island, it is going to take some detailed planning to be to work on time. The same thing applies to heading in to New York City. Minimize surprises by mapping out the time it will take to get from the hotel to work during the anticipated travel time, this also includes mapping drive time from the airport.
Local Advice
Once in New York, talk to the locals and ask what they recommend as far as restaurants and things to do after work. If only using a quick google search of local restaurants, many hidden gems will go unnoticed. The hotel concierge may be able to give a suggestion for a restaurant that nobody has ever heard of but has the most amazing food in NYC.
For example, Harbor Mist Restaurant in Cold Spring Harbor, NY offers 50% off their regular menu on Monday and Tuesdays. Offering amazing seafood, not many outside of the locals would know to stop and enjoy great quality food for half the normal price (and you may even see a local celebrity pop in).
Dinner Time!
Plan ahead for meals and happy hours after work with New York counterparts. While it can be nice to assume that they will want to go out, never make that assumption.
Also, be aware that culturally dinner may be later than the Midwest or other areas. Don’t be surprised if someone asks to go to dinner and asks, “be there at 8:00 pm?” Restaurants tend to be emptier and quiet between 4:30-6:30, picking up as the evening goes on.
Exploration
Every traveler should take the time to explore their new city, especially since there will likely be time between the end of the business day and dinner. One of the best ways to explore is to find a good local walking or sightseeing tour. Almost every major city now has open top sightseeing tours, which is a great way to see the city.
For example, in New York TopView Sightseeing offers multiple tour options, and amazing discounts for travelers. When limited for time, a quick hop on/hop off tour can be the best route for a business traveler to see as much as possible in the shortest amount of time. The hop on/hop off set up allows for minimal advance planning and allows a visitor to see many more places than trying to figure out a regular itinerary.
While business travel can be subject to stricter time constraints than personal travel, a business traveler can still take advantage of the millions of things New York has to offer.
The work day can only last so long! Take time to get to know the city that is now part of your daily life, even if it is just for a few days. New York and New York City has something to offer everyone, from amazing coast lines, to the bustling city, to quiet vineyards.