Vacationing in cities of any size is completely different from traveling out in the middle of the country. However, all city destinations offer extraordinary activities, adventures, and attractions you won’t want to miss out on during your travels. Therefore, you must add a city or two to your vacation destination list for all your future travels.
Check Out These 8 Tips to Have an Amazing Time when Spending Your Vacation in a Big City
1) Choose Your Accommodations Carefully
It is so easy to have sticker shock when looking at hotels in a city destination. However, I recommend skipping over the prices of hotels and choosing where you will stay by its location. It is best to stay in a hotel that is close to the attractions and landmarks you want to visit, because it is much easier to navigate your way around. Plus, you won’t need to rely on public transportation as much to get to where you want to go.
2) Master Public Transportation
Even though you stay in the perfect hotel close to everything you want to see while vacationing in a big city, you are still going to find yourself needing to use public transportation on occasion. Depending on where you are visiting, you may find yourself utilizing a subway, bus, taxi, or one of the many ride-sharing options. I recommend researching all your options before your vacation, so you do not have any surprises once you arrive.
3) Download Numerous Apps
If you know you are going to be using ride-sharing options during your city vacation, you will want to have those apps downloaded onto your smartphone. It is also an excellent idea to download apps like Urbanspoon and TripLingo. The first one will allow you to see how the locals rate the restaurants you are considering eating at, while the latter will share tons of cultural information about the destination. Most cities also have their own app, which can be helpful in planning your vacation and finding deals once you arrive.
4) Plan Your Itinerary Carefully
As you are planning your itinerary, you must place landmarks and attractions that are close to each other on the same day. After all, there is no point in crisscrossing the city multiple times during your visit, because you didn’t plan your days properly. You will see so much more when you decide to see the places that are close to each other at the same time, In fact, this is how you should technically plan every vacation you take, even if it is not in a major city.
5) Stay in Well-Lit Public Areas
It is so easy to get turned around and lost when you are visiting a city, because the area is massive. While you may think it is safe to go down a small alleyway, the city is not the best place to test your fate. There are many friendly people living in larger cities, but there are also those people who are always looking to take advantage of visitors when they are at their most vulnerable. If you are unsure of where you are and don’t know how to get back to your hotel, it is best to find a well-lit area and call a ride-sharing service.
6) Keep an Eye on Your Belongings
You should never carry more than you need to through a city. However, with that being said, you should always keep an eye on what belongings you are carrying with you. As handy as a backpack is for holding your important papers and wallet, they are really easy for someone to unzipper and reach into as you are walking around. I recommend either carrying the bag in front of you or purchasing a bag that has zippers that cannot be opened without multiple steps.
7) Always Stay Alert
There are many more scammers in cities than anywhere else, so you must stay alert at all times. In addition to pickpockets, you will have people telling young children to ask you for money or to distract you, so the adult can steal from you. It is fairly easy to research the latest scam tactics being used in the city you are planning on visiting, so check them out beforehand and plan accordingly.
8) Dress and Act Like a Local
There is nothing that screams tourist more than you walking around with your head buried in a map with a huge camera in your hands. If you do not want to be taken advantage of, I recommend making sure you know the route you want to take in advance. And when it comes to pictures, you can take them, but try to keep it low-key, as if you are a photographer doing your job.
These eight tips will ensure you have an amazing time during your city vacation. While I know spending time in a large city can be slightly overwhelming during vacations, everything you do will create memories that will last a lifetime.
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