Flight attendant reveals the top 3 mistakes tourists make in New York – & they’ll cost you money
A FLIGHT attendant who has travelled the world has revealed the big no-nos for Brits heading to New York this winter.
Sabine Bogensperger-Crowther has been a flight attendant for 25 years, and she has worked for British Airways for 18 and a half years.
One of the destinations that Sabine has been travelling to since the 1990s is New York City.
As both a flight attendant and holidaymaker, Sabine has visited the Big Apple on multiple trips.
On her trips to America, Sabine has worked out the mistakes holidaymakers end up making when they cross the pond.
Sabine told Sun Online Travel: “The big mistake people make is wearing the wrong shoes.”
Some people imagine they’re in Carrie Bradshaw in Sex in the City or Blair Waldorf in Gossip Girl and fall foul of wearing high heels as they trek around the city.
Despite looking at home in one of the world’s fashion capitals, Sabine recommended steering clear of the high heels.
She added: “Save your heels for the rooftop bars and restaurants and make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes during the day.
“Your feet will be killing you after walking around the city all day – especially if you’re wearing heels.”
Instead, Sabine recommended packing several different pairs of shoes.
In the same interview, she also encouraged holidaymakers to check the weather ahead of their trip to the Big Apple.
She said: “New York can get awfully cold, so make sure to dress for the weather.”
Sabine recommended packing items like hats, gloves, scarves, ear muffs, and warm boots to keep New York’s winter chill at bay.
It’s not just clothing items that holidaymakers don’t seem to get right when they’re staying in New York City too, it’s also the location of their hotels.
According to Sabine, first-time visitors to New York try to nab a room in Midtown Manhattan, which can be pricey.
Instead of paying over the odds for a bog-standard room, Sabine suggested checking staying in areas like Brooklyn because they’re a lot cheaper.
She said: “The money you save on your accommodation can be used on meals out and tourist attractions.”
If your hotel does end up being further afield, Sabine recommended making the most of New York’s public transport links.
She said: “Do the subway, people must do the subway. Make sure to ride the subway and use New York’s public transport.
“People take taxis far too often, and they cost a lot more.”
Fares on the New York subway start from $2.90, while the average taxi fare costs $19.62 according to the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission.
While there will be times when taking a taxi is more cost-effective, riding the New York subway can be a cheaper alternative.
New York isn’t the only city where tourists are prone to blunders either.
Earlier this year, 23-year-old language assistant Megan Owens revealed the three big mistakes tourists make while they’re on holiday.
Megan told the Sun Online Travel: “If the menu is written in several languages, or has pictures of the food, then it’s most likely a tourist trap.
“These menus are often laminated or covered in plastic film – Brits should stay away from them.”
Here are the big mistakes tourists make when visiting London.
And these are the easy tourist mistakes that can get you into big trouble in Italy.