Preparing for your first trip to the big apple

Here is everything I think you need to know for the most stress-free New York Experience.

Getting Around the City:

• The Subway - Though daunting, is your best friend. If you're not taking the subway, walking is a great alternative. One thing that amazes me about New York is how compact it is, most of the typical tourist spots are relatively close together.

Subway Tips: Get a subway card. Each trip on the subway costs around $3 per person so by getting a subway card you're bound to save so much money. One thing I found handy was having a photo of the subway system map on my phone, this made it easier to navigate and was reassuring to know if I made any mistakes (which I did by the way) I had the solution in my pocket.

• Navigating on foot - The layout of the city is relatively easy to navigate if you remember two simple things; streets are horizontal (East-West) and avenues are vertical (North-South)

• Bags - For some of your trip you're likely to be carrying heavy or large bags round, especially when waiting on flights. While you're killing time between travel arrangements, you have to make the most of the city and still explore. Bounce is the perfect solution. It is a safe and secure way of storing bags and is so easy to use, all done via their app.

Pre-Plan your trip:

Before you set off on your trip to the big apple, I would recommend sitting down with whoever you're traveling with and write a list of all the possible things you want to do when visiting the city. Google and do your research into the different things that the city offers. Write a list of attractions and restaurants you are interested in. This is so that you don't regret missing anything out after your trip.

Here was my pre-trip list:

Know What type of trip you want:

New York is such a big city with so much to explore and so many ways to do it. A lot of tourists will visit the city for a few days at a time, as it is a popular long weekend location. However, some people opt to stay further out of the city and explore the suburbs as well as Manhattan (I would 100% recommend this.)

If you're planning on a shorter trip, the most practical thing would be to stay in central Manhattan in a hotel. Hotels push you to be out more and a central location allows you to be out late with minimal safety risks. My favourite New York hotel is the Renaissance Times Square. This hotel is right in the hustle and bustle of the city and has a restaurant that looks directly over the centre of Times Square, I couldn't recommend it enough. For a stay with the essence of home, Airb&b's in Brooklyn are a comfortable alternative for those of you planning on staying for a longer period of time and want to stay away from the busy city.

So, all that's left now is to pack your suitcase and look forward to your trip!