10 classic tourist traps in New York

When you're a tourist in New York, there are small things that catch you out every time. Read this article and you'll know what to watch out for!

1/ Confusing Express and Local subway trains

On your first visit to New York, you’ll almost certainly board the wrong subway at some point. The system has two types of trains: Local trains stop at every station, while Express trains skip stations and move much faster.
The problem comes when a train is about to leave the platform. Your instinct is to rush aboard before the doors close. Then you realize you’ve jumped into an Express train heading much farther than you intended.

Another common mistake: confusing Uptown trains, which head north, and Downtown trains, which head south.
It’s easy to mix them up when a train is at the platform and you board without looking carefully. Tip: check the direction before you get on.
For more on getting around New York, see our guide to the New York subway.

If you have a valid transit card like OMNY, you’ll avoid this problem. But if you’re paying cash on a bus, watch out: you must have exact change to buy a fare.
If you don’t have exact change, the driver may refuse to let you board, blocking the entrance. Your only option is to get change at a nearby store and catch the next bus.

Order a cola or any cold drink for the first time in the US, and you’ll be surprised: the server brings your drink with the glass half-filled with ice. That’s how Americans like their beverages. The catch? You pay for a full glass of cola but get mostly water.
To avoid this, ask for “no ice” when you order. Make sure the server understands. Don’t hesitate to send the drink back if they forget and bring you a glass half-full of ice cubes.

At Starbucks and some New York restaurants, you order your drink or burger and wait for your name to be called. It’s convenient—unless your name is hard for Americans to pronounce. That’s when things get tricky.
Let me share my story from Burger Joint, a burger place in the Parker Meridien hotel. On my first day in New York, when asked my name, I said “Didier.” The server wrote down what he heard. A few minutes later, as names were called out, the noise grew louder and the servers looked panicked. Everyone turned around looking for someone named “Daïedaïe”… That was me. Since then, I either give an American name like Mark or Philip, or Barack—something recognizable.

After hours of walking New York’s streets, you’ll be hungry. But be careful: New York restaurants serve huge portions on enormous plates. If you order an appetizer and a main course, you’ll likely have no room for dessert.
I’d suggest ordering one dessert for two people, and you can always order another if you’re still hungry. Honestly, it’s nearly impossible to leave a New York restaurant still feeling hungry.

Europeans and Americans use air conditioning very differently, and you’ll notice it the moment you arrive at the airport. In Europe, AC is usually set to a gentle, moderate level. In the US, air conditioning is always turned up to maximum to remove humidity and dry the air. The result? On the New York Forum, people constantly report catching sore throats and colds in New York.
Always carry a light sweater or jacket in your bag. This is especially important in summer, when the temperature swings are extreme. Watch out for the subway in particular: the platforms aren’t air-conditioned and are stifling hot, while the trains are ice-cold. You’re guaranteed a temperature shock.

This is probably the trickiest trap in New York—and it will cost you money. You’re shopping or looking at a restaurant menu, you decide to buy or eat, and then at checkout you discover: the prices shown don’t include tax. That’s how it works in New York and across the US. Prices are displayed before tax, and tax is added at the register.
At restaurants, you also need to add the tip, which is roughly double the tax amount. It’s worth calculating this before you order.

When you first arrive in New York, you’ll get caught out checking the weather on an American channel or the screens in Times Square. Here’s why: temperatures are in Fahrenheit, not Celsius.
If you see 30°F on TV or a Times Square screen, bundle up: it’s -1°C (28°F). On the other hand, if the thermometer reads 80°F, don’t worry—that’s a pleasant 27°C (80°F).

At the checkout in a New York store, there’s always pressure to move quickly. It’s easier to pull out a bill than to dig through your coins for exact change. Big mistake. After a few days in New York, you’ll have dozens of coins you don’t know what to do with.
Now that you know, organize your coins so you can quickly pull out $2 in change. Use your coins in vending machines, especially at post offices for stamps or at PATH stations (the train connecting New York to New Jersey).