The 6 steps to organize your trip to New York

Planning a trip to New York? Follow these 6 essential steps to organize your getaway smoothly and make sure you don't forget anything important.

1/ Check Your Passport

Start by verifying that your passport is valid before booking flights and hotels for your New York trip. On the New York Forum, several travelers have shared stories of booking their entire trip—flights and accommodations—only to panic at the last minute when they discovered their passport needed renewal and processing would take weeks. A quick check of your expiration date takes just seconds and saves you from this stress.
You also need to confirm you can enter the United States without issues. To do this, determine whether you need a visa. Rules change regularly, so check this article on entry requirements for the United States to find out what applies to you and what steps to take.

Your flight is the first booking to make when planning a New York trip. It shapes everything else about your stay. While many flights depart for New York daily, availability is limited and you’ll want the best price possible. This might mean checking multiple departure dates and shifting your arrival or return by a few days depending on fares.
The current trend is to book as early as possible—airlines offer their lowest fares when reservations open. The earlier you book, the better your chances of a good price. Last-minute deals exist, but they’re unpredictable. And any savings on airfare can easily be lost on accommodations, which will also have fewer options available at the last minute.
Air traffic in 2024 exceeded pre-pandemic levels, and demand for flights is surging. Book early—more than ever before.

Flight booked? Time to find your hotel. The selection is much larger: New York’s hotel association represents over 270 hotels with more than 75,000 rooms. Finding your perfect match is possible.
Start by setting a budget for accommodations. There’s no magic here—the lower your budget, the more modest the hotel. Like anywhere else, New York has no five-star hotels at two-star prices. Your budget will naturally narrow down your options.
From experience, here’s another tip: choose a hotel in Manhattan. You’ll be in the heart of the action with New York’s energy right outside your door. You’ll save significant time on transportation and can easily return to your room for a rest during the day. This is far more refreshing than staying in Queens or New Jersey and commuting back each evening.
Read hotel reviews from travelers in our New York Hotel Reviews section to ensure your choice offers good value. You can also confidently follow the hotels listed in our New York Hotel Guide—all have received positive feedback from forum members, and I keep the list current based on visitor reports.

To enter the United States, you must complete an electronic travel authorization at least 72 hours before departure. Apply on the official US Department of Homeland Security website. Note: ESTA processing times have increased in 2025, so apply at least one month before your New York trip.
The form is straightforward—answer questions about your name, passport number, passport expiration date, arrival date, and more. Then pay: ESTA costs $40 as of September 30, 2025. Once approved, your authorization is valid for two years, so you can already start planning your next US trip!
To avoid mistakes, read this article explaining how to complete the ESTA form. You’ll also find other helpful articles in our US travel requirements section.

Before flying to the United States, verify your medical coverage. Contact your insurance provider or bank to confirm you’re covered for hospitalization or accidents. If not, purchase travel insurance for the USA.
Check this in advance—don’t take chances. Medical costs in the United States can escalate quickly and dramatically. Good insurance is essential.

Now that your flights, hotel, ESTA, and insurance are arranged, you can move to the most exciting part: planning your sightseeing! Read our New York guide for the essentials, and follow my ideal New York itinerary.
You can also book your New York tours and activities in advance, including passes, a helicopter tour of New York, or a New York cruise. Booking ahead in euros is convenient and saves you from exchanging as much currency. On our CNEWYORK site, you can also pay for certain purchases with ANCV vacation vouchers.
Want a personal guide in New York? Visit our page on guided tours of New York in French.
Finally, I recommend ordering the latest edition of my guidebook Destination New York. All 248 pages are in full color and contain everything you need to prepare your New York trip and make the most of your stay. Visit the Destination New York guidebook page for details.