Getting the Most Out of a Big City Adventure
Visiting a city for the first time can be incredible exciting. It’s always an adventure and it’s so easy to get yourself wrapped up in a rich tapestry of culture at every turn.
We have no doubt you’ll have a great time filled with unique experiences, but it’s important to plan ahead in order to make the most of your trip.
Here are some practical tips to get you ready for your big city adventure!
Plan Your Itinerary
The first step toward a (mostly) stress-free trip to the city is planning your itinerary ahead of time. You can choose to plan every moment or leave some things up to chance, but planning in advance helps prioritize all of your must-see attractions. An itinerary can minimize the stress of decision-making on the go, and it gives you the chance to purchase tickets in advance or make dining reservations if necessary.
If you’ve never created an itinerary, don’t worry! It can be as detailed or as simple as you want. Start with creating a list of all of the must-see sites, must-do attractions, and must-eat restaurants or cafés. This way you’ll have a good base to start prioritizing your time, so you can make sure you don’t miss anything you want to experience. You can stop here or you can take things a step further and purchase tickets for attractions that sell out quickly and make reservations for popular restaurants. Make sure to check cancellation and refund policies just in case plans change.
Even with packed itineraries, make sure that you are flexible with your plans. A big city often comes with unexpected events and pop-up attractions that you may want to experience, as these can enrich the entire experience. Big cities also come with traffic, transportation delays, unexpected closures, and all kinds of unexpected problems. Stay flexible so these things don’t ruin your trip.
Understand Transportation Options
Navigating a big city can be daunting, especially if you're unfamiliar with the public transportation system that runs it. Before you arrive you should make sure that you familiarize yourself with all the options available to you. Consider the ride share services, trams, buses, subways, and other transportation options the city offers.
Most cities have transit maps and apps that make planning your route a lot easier. Check into these before you get to the city, just so you have an idea of how you’ll get around.
When we’re booking our own hotels, we try to choose hotels close to the action or close to major transportation hubs to make getting around the city easier. Just make sure to take a quick look at the bed bug registry, because these “center of the action” hotels tend to be hotspots.
Stay Safe and Secure
When visiting a big city, it’s easy to feel like you’re walking into a crime nightmare. You’ll read stories, watch the news, and see all of the bad things that happen on the streets of the city and that can cripple you with fear. Don’t let it! All of that is just a reminder to be vigilant. Bad things happen everywhere (even in small towns). Just keep your eyes open and be aware of your surroundings at all time.
One of our best tips is to get travel safety bags. These tend to have slash-proof fabric and locking zippers, keeping your belongings more secure. Our favorite travel bags have been (and always will be) Travelon. Our Travelon bags have given us immense piece of mind in crowded and unfamiliar city centers like Rome, Paris, and more.
One tip we have found helpful over the years is when you’re in an unfamiliar area and you find yourself lost, maintain a sense of confidence. Always act like you know where you are and where you’re going. This minimizes you as a target for scammers and helps prevent some dangerous altercations. This is not fool proof. If you find yourself in an unsafe situation do not hesitate to call for help and do what you can to get to safety. This can be as simple as finding and staying in a more public area versus a quite alley.
Remember, even when you’re visiting an area that is considered relatively safe like Fremont Street in Las Vegas, you always need to make sure that you remain vigilant and aware of your surroundings.
Have Fun!
Through all of the preparation and safety measures, don’t forget to have fun on your big city adventure!
Explore the local culinary scene. Check out local shops. Really embrace the local culture.
One of our favorite parts of visiting a big city is the opportunity to explore the culinary scene that it has to offer. Every city is going to have its own unique flavors and dishes, that’s why we always make it a point to try out as much local cuisine as we possibly can. We always recommend others do the same.
No matter how you choose to enjoy your time in the hustle and bustle, have a great time (and take lots of pictures!).