New York, New York!

Transcript

1. New York, New York! An unexpected journey Anatoly Tukhtarov atu@ciklum.com Workplace
2. Eric Clapton
3. Roger Waters
4. Visa routine • Apply for nonimmigrant tourist B1/B2 Visa • RTFM 1. Download and fill out a blank 2. Pay consulage fee (160 USD) in any Reiffeisen Bank office 3. Save the receipt 4. Fill out and submit a DS-160 form (digital image required) 5. Schedule and pass the interview 6. … 7. PROFIT!!11
5. DS-160 • Filling out a DS-160 form is THE most complicated part of Visa application • Don’t hurry, be careful and RTFM first • Photo is extremely important. There are restrictions and the guide. Use online tool to adjust your photo (uses Flash) • Each section of the form has tool tips and links to related FAQ section. Don’t hesitate and use them if you’re not sure what to do
6. You don’t need any inquiries, references and so on. Just bank receipt, DS-160 confirmation and your id None electronic devices allowed inside the embassy building. I used railway’s storage
7. Residence Use any service you like, there are tons of options for NYC • Consider Manhattan and Brooklyn options • Always read feedbacks, since vats number of hotels (mostly Manhattan’s) have nice pictures, but IRL they are pretty far from OK • There are always special prices during tourist seasons (summer and long holidays like Christmas)
8. Flight • Start monitoring prices as early as you can (at least 6 months before the trip) • NYC is highly demanded direction, so there always are some discounts on early preorders • Direct flight by UIA from Kiev is pretty nice • Options with transfers might be cheaper, up to 100 USD • Don’t be a miser: buy a cancellation insurance
9. Arrival I traveled with a single backpack, so can’t help with luggage info • You’ll probably arrive at JFK Terminal 7 (the farthest) • Passport control may take long time (~1,5 hours) if several flights arrive. Majority of this time you’ll spend in a line • There are special automats for self-registration. Just follow the instructions and you’re fine • Luggage is checked by airport’s services after passport control • Use taxi or Uber in order to reach your residence upon arrival
10. Transportation • I won’t recommend taxi services, since this option is expensive and slow over constant traffic jams • Subway is the best option, since it’s not affected (mostly) by traffic jams and the network is bride • Buses are super handy for late night transfers, since they might stop by demand, if safe • Don’t even mind to rent a car
11. Subway. MetroCard • One cannot purchase a ticket or a MetroCard online • MetroCard is a must, since it’s used for entrance. They are issued by automats on each station • There are two types of automats: one that takes cards only, and big machines that take both cards and cash • I was able to purchase and refill a MetroCard only by cash
12. Subway. Navigation • Use NYC Subway app or (and) Google Maps • Navigation is tricky. Signs point to the borough (Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, etc.) or a part of Manhattan: Uptown, Downtown, etc. • Some directions have 2 trains: regular and express one. Express skips some stations; is faster. But such trains might be cancelled or significantly delay during weekends and late nights
13. 3G and Wi-Fi • Each location has a Wi-Fi hotspot (some are limited in time) • Link NYC kiosks provide pretty fast Wi-Fi for a public place; have charging hubs. It costs you constant adverts • There are special tourist plans by US mobile operators like T- Mobile and AT&T. I used first. It costs 30 USD and has 2 Gb of 4G internet. More than enough for up to 14 days
14. Foods • Food is not a problem at all: city is overwhelmed with food institutions of any style, cuisines, size, taste and so on • New Yorkers love fast food, so there are lots of options of it • I’d like to recommend Whole Foods Market network: cool place to eat already cooked meal or buy fresh products • In food courts you’ll most likely pay for weight, not separate dishes • Single meal will cost you about 25 USD • Oh yeah, one small thing: be ready for ounces, pounds and other non metric units
15. Attractions • Main attraction is the city itself • Each big attraction has helpful website with tons of information and tickets service • Buy tickets online for each attraction you’d like to visit • There is cool option called CityPass. Main feature is some discounts in attraction’s store or special options for an attraction • Also take a look at Free Tours by Foot. There are nice and interesting options; even if you don’t visit a tour, it may help you to create your own • You’ll never visit all famous NYC’s attraction in a single trip
16. Main walking routs Personally, I enjoy walking the city and observe the people and life in it • NYC’s parks and skyline made the biggest impression upon me • Visiting the Central Park is a must! • Try to walk from Battery Park up to the Central Park by Broadway • Check out famous 5th Ave starting from Washington Square Park • Cross the Hudson river by walking the Brooklyn Bridge • Observe Downtown skyline from Brooklyn Heights (especially in the evening)
27. Observation decks Must see (try to visit during the night and day) • Empire State Building (if you purchase a CityPass you’ll have a second ticket for a night visit during the same day for free) • Rockefeller Center (aka Top of the Rock) Optional (opening landscape is not so beautiful) • World Trade Center One • Chrysler Building
31. Museums The number of museums in NYC is just tremendous. Pick several and be ready to spend the whole day there. Must see (imho, sure) • The Metropolitan Museum of Art (arrive 30 mins before opening) • American Museum of National History (arrive 30 mins before opening and enter via Subway station 81st Street-Museum of National History) Pick exhibitions you’d like to see; these museums are big • USS Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum • 9/11 Memorial & Museum
44. Statue of Liberty National Museum Arrive in the morning • Ferry to Liberty Island & Ellis Island • Liberty Island is small one and holds the Statue. Entrance to the pedestal costs 18 USD. Crown entrance tickets can be purchased only during the visit • Ellis Island is bigger and contains Museum of Immigration (just a regular museum; you can try to find you relatives if they immigrated to the USA)
47. Don’t wait! • Visiting NYC will make you change your mind about almost everything • NYC is a fantastic place for a tourist with lots of attractions and ways to spend the time • Don’t wait ‘till tomorrow, do it today!
48. Thank you!