Planning Your Trip to NYC
Many who do not live in New York City romanticize the idea of a small vacation to the city but avoid it due to the cost. Trips to New York are actually becoming less expensive. Staycations are becoming a popular trend in NYC, as well. These trips can not put a huge hole in your pocket if you plan according.
Pricing
With hotel prices declining due to a building boom, the rates of hotels are about 11% lower than they were in 2014. The average one night stay in a hotel in 2014 cost $252 compared to the now average of $224. This shift in NYC is a complete opposite of the national trend of higher room rates.
Low hotel prices and other factors may be contributing to the 1.6 & increase of tourism in the city in 2017 alone. 2017 set a new record of 61.7 million visitors this year. For example, tourist looking to for certain can find them at the Wellington Hotel near Times Square on July 10th for $217 a night.
Hotel growth is going strong in the city with about 180 properties in different stages of building. As well, with more tourists relying on Airbnb and other home-sharing sites, the number of affordable hotels are contributing the to better prices.
Planning
NYC can become overwhelming to those who are not from the city so it is important to have a plan as a tourist. Are you interesting in seeing a show, try new restaurants or experience the nightlife? Figure out what you want out of your trip. Analyze how much time you have to spend in the city and how much your budget is. Whether you choose to fly, drive or take a train, it can be dependent on how much time you spend in the city.
Prioritize what you want out of a vacation or trip. It will help with getting the most out of New York. Create a plan around relaxation, sightseeing or shopping. There is something for everyone in NYC so find what will get you the most pleasure out of your stay. If you can, try to make a stop at each borough of the city to have well-rounded experience of every aspect of NYC.
NYC In Spring Time: Most Popular Events
With the Spring season in full swing, New York City is already starting to come alive, with milder weather, warm breezes, and noticeably more tour groups. Children are again outside playing, and residents of the city have gathered at beloved parks to engage in sports games or to just relax. Spring is when you New York comes alive, and to experience it, is refreshing. If you’re looking to keep up the momentum, taking advantage of this great weather, or perhaps, planning a visit to the Big Apple, here are some of the most exciting things taking place in the city.
Sakura Matsuri: April 30-May 1, 2016
While DC will be hosting the National Cherry Blossom festival–a commemoration of Tokyo’s gift of cherry trees to the nation’s capital over a hundred years ago–New York City will have its own celebration in April, as it has since 1981, marking the end of Hanami: the Japanese celebration of spring, which translates, literally, to “flower viewing.” The two-day event will take place in the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, which has over 30 varieties of cherry trees. There will be live music, history, and lots of events for everyone in the family. It’s one of the most popular attractions in the city. Check here for more information.
Tribeca Film Festival: April 13-24, 2016
Cinephiles from all over the world flock to New York City to experience this one of a kind event. Nearly half a million of them, to be exact. Started by Robert DeNiro in 2002, the festival has quickly become one of the most popular internationally, thanks to its celebrity audience and a-list panels. This year promises films from Academy Award nominee Viola Davis and Academy Award winner, Tom Hanks, as well as talks with stars like, Chris Rock and Patti Smith. The options include tickets to a single event, including films, talks, and parties, or purchase passes to attend a number of events. Visit the festival’s website for more detail.
Electric Daisy Carnival: May 14-May 15, 2016
Can’t make it out west for Indio, California’s highly popular Coachella music festival? No Worries, Electric Daisy promises to provide a remarkable experience for veterans and first-time visitors, as a celebration of music and art. The festival, produced by Insomniac Events, first made its way to New York four years ago, and attracted 45,000 guests from along the east coast, for both days of the event. This year, things are expected to be even bigger. This year, the event takes place in Queens, where there will be carnival rides, art installations, tons of people, and a great time for lovers of electronic music and raves. Check out the website for the NYC festivities to read more.
If all else fails, you can always promenade through beautiful Central Park, or the ever-expanding, modern alternative, High Line park. Times Square will certainly be up and running, and views from the Chrysler Building are stunning or Empire State are awe-inspiring at this time, with slightly less of a wait than you’d experience in the summer. Seriously, there will be no shortage of activity in America’s largest city. Right outside the door, there’s adventure waiting to take place. Join in on the action, and enjoy the season while it lasts.
Activities for a Winter Weekend in NYC
Below freezing temperatures in the city don’t provide much motivation for exploring. This past weekend was far too frigid for a cruise to visit Lady Liberty or to take a walk through Central Park, though New Yorkers love both. Yet, as a city that is as adaptable as it is massive, we find other ways to entertain ourselves that don’t involve standing in the cold for hours on end and risking frost bite. For those of you who’ve run out of ideas or are simply looking for inspiration, here are a few of my favorite things to do on the weekends.
- Grab A Bite
Everyone has to eat, but nobody wants to wait outside for a table at a restaurant or to be crammed into a small Manhattan cafe, and rushed from your seat as soon as you’ve finished eating. Smorgasburg, and other markets like it, are the perfect solution. Though traditionally an outdoor event which takes place along the east river–in both Williamsburg and Downtown Brooklyn–during the winter this New York City staple transforms into an incredible food oasis that is completely indoors (lucky for us). This year, foodies can find more than 100 vendors from all around town, housed at Industry City in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn.Smorgasburg is the ideal choice if family or friends (or yourself) can’t decide on one particular thing to eat. There’s literally something for everyone, including kosher, vegan, and vegetarian options. Additionally, there’s a chance to do a bit of shopping for one-of-kind finds at the market’s partnering Brooklyn Flea. Pro Tip: Take cash (they have ATMs on site if you forget), have fun, and visit shorter lines to at least fill your stomach while waiting in queue at the more popular vendors. - Get Cultured
Another way to beat the cold without skimping on entertainment, is to spend your afternoon at the museum. I think it’s better to reserve such for the winter and rainy weather anyhow. Modern museum’s like the Guggenheim on the Upper East Side offer a number of great programs during the weekend, from personal tours to film screenings, in addition installed exhibits and personal collections.For a family friendly experience, kids love the American Museum of Natural History, also in Manhattan, on the west side. It’s impressively interactive and affordable, with tons of exhibits that are sure to engage and adults and children alike. It opens and closes at the same time during the weekend and weekday (10am-5:45pm), so need for extra planning. Just be sure to have a lot of patience and good shoes for walking. - Play A Game
For the more active children or for adults who just like to have a good time, how about a competitive but fun game of bowling? There are couple places in the city for the activity, but a personal favorite is Bowlmor in Midtown. This highly stylized, family friendly place is opens around 11:00am on weekends, and is rather calm until 5:00pm. The traditional chinese decor and very clean space offer a very memorable and pleasant experience.They also have an arcade room, if bowling gets too boring, and a full menu of food, with options ranging from nachos to “artisan flatbreads,” and salads. This is a one stop shop for a day of fun and excitement that includes everyone. It certainly beats tossing a ball in the house. Check it out.
About Avraham Glattman
Avraham Glattman is the owner of First American Properties Group, a real estate business based in New York City, New York.
Avraham brings over 26 years of experience working as a real estate agent in the city, where he continues to work today. He graduated from Newport University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Management and remained at the university to attain his Masters of Business Administration (M.B.A.). After graduation, he jumped straight into the real estate field in 1992 in the greater New York City area. Throughout his career, Avraham has explored listings across the New York area, keeping a detailed account of the locations, pricing and comparable properties in the housing market.
After gaining a wealth of knowledge about the real estate marketing in New York, Avraham Glattman decided to take it a step further by creating First American Properties Group with his longtime business partner, Pete Jacov in 2008. First American Properties is a real estate and development company that services the five boroughs of New York. The company currently owns residential and commercial properties in Queens, Downtown Brooklyn, Harlem, and Manhattan. The company focuses on monitoring the growth and development in different areas of the city, so they can work to establish more patterns of growth and help revitalize the area.
While monitoring the different areas of New York City, Avraham Glattman consistently keeps an eye out on up-and-coming neighborhoods that he could potentially invest in. For example, after seeing Harlem, Avraham was immediately impressed by the neighborhood’s charm, leading him to invest in properties in the area. With a convenient location next to the subway and charming business like music venues in the area, it was not hard to see what attracted Avraham to the area.
Today, Avraham Glattman continues to find new investments with First American Properties Group, alongside his business partner, Pete Jacov. Together, they are working towards the goals that they set for First American Properties Group. The goals include acquiring property in the Harlem area to renovate and sell, as well as acquiring properties in all five boroughs.
Avraham Glattman is also the proud owner of 1927 Café Bar Popularr. Located in Harlem, the café serves a variety of open-faced Mediterranean sandwiches, called ‘Toastics’, and many types of coffee. Café Bar Popularr is proud of the rich artistic traditions of Harlem, and invites local musicians, authors, and comedians to visit and share their talents with friends.
Avraham was born and raised in Israel, where he went graduated high school. Not long after, he served in the Israeli army for three years, before he was sent to the United States to work with an Israeli newspaper in Brooklyn, NY. Not long after making the move to New York, Avraham met the woman that would become his wife in 1991. Together, they have three children.
In his spare time, Avraham Glattman enjoys spending his time with his wife and three children and loves to explore new parts of New York City. Avraham’s incredible dedication to both his work and family brings him immense happiness and purpose each day.
To learn more about who Avraham Glattman is, visit AvrahamGlattmanNewYork.com.
