Organize your stay New York (Manhattan)
Money New York (Manhattan)
In New York, as in the rest of the United States, the unit of currency is the dollar (US$). Denominations are 1, 2 (very rare), 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 US$. Denominations higher than US$50 are sometimes refused, particularly at metro ticket offices and in cabs, but also in certain stores and restaurants.
Uniformly green and white, American banknotes all look alike and require a minimum of attention. Especially as they are all the same size. Make sure you don't make a mistake when paying, and always check the change you're given. As forcoins, they are 1 cent(penny), 5 cents(nickel), 10 cents(dime), 25 cents(quarter) - used in buses and laundromats -, 50 cents(half dollar) and, finally, 1 US$, which are now gold-plated(golden dollar). The 1 and 5 cent coins are all small and copper-colored; all the others are silver-colored.
Exchange rates change daily, so check with your bank before you leave, or visit a specialized website such as www.xe.com. According to Boursorama.com, the exchange rate on July 30, 2024 was : 1 US$ = 0.9 €; 1 € = 1.08 US$ (actual branch rates).
Budget & Tips New York (Manhattan)
Money has a way of slipping through your fingers in New York! The cost of living has risen dramatically in recent years. While real estate prices have always been higher than those in Paris (already insane), other expenses have traditionally been cheaper in New York than in France. Bad news: this is no longer the case. For European tourists, the United States is an increasingly expensive destination. A stay in New York generally leaves you with lasting memories and a bank account that looks rather grim... It's hard to eat in a decent restaurant for less than US$10, it's hard to stay in a barely salubrious hotel for less than US$100, public transport is prohibitively expensive (US$2.75 for a subway ride, US$33 for a week's pass ), it's hard to eat without leaving a 15-20% tip, it's hard to stay in New York without doing some shopping, and so on.
One thing to bear in mind when drawing up a budget for a stay in New York: you're about to plunge into the world's temple of consumerism andentertainment . The extremely enterprising spirit of New Yorkers means that, wherever you are in the city, you'll be asked to spend money. A little snack at 4pm in front of a cosy bakery , a pair of jeans, I Love NY souvenirs, a concert by an artist you've been dreaming of for years but will never get to see in France, and so on. The list of temptations is as long as your arm!
Passport and visas New York (Manhattan)
To enter the United States, you need a biometric passport. France is part of the Visa Waiver Pilot (VWP) program, which allows all French nationals to enter the USA without a visa, for a maximum stay of 90 days. Since January 2009, to benefit from this visa waiver, it is necessary to make an online declaration for tourist stays in the United States. To do this, you need to fill in the ESTA online form(https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov) and pay the administrative fee of US$21. Be sure to fill in the form at least 72 hours in advance, and only via the above-mentioned site. Many fraudulent sites offer to take care of this administrative procedure for exorbitant fees. To enter the U.S., all you need is a valid machine-readable biometric passport, a non-refundable round-trip ticket and no intention of extending your stay. Finally, a visa is required for stays of over 90 days. Several types of visa exist (student, work, etc.), but they are all fairly difficult to obtain.
To find out everything you need to know about the type of visa to apply for and the procedures to follow, visit https://fr.usembassy.gov/fr/visas-fr/. To obtain a visa for the United States, you'll need to go to the U.S. Embassy in Paris(http://fr.usembassy.gov). If you're not in France, here's a complete list of U.S. consulates and embassies where you can apply for a visa: www.usembassy.gov
Driver's license New York (Manhattan)
For stays of less than three months, a French driver's license (one or three sections) valid for more than one year is valid in all states. You must be at least 21 years old (in some cases 25) to rent a car in the United States. As soon as your stay exceeds three months, your French driver's license is no longer sufficient, and you must obtain a driver's license in your state of residence. As laws vary from state to state, we advise you to contact the French consulate in the state concerned.
Health New York (Manhattan)
There are no health risks involved in traveling to New York and the United States.
Security New York (Manhattan)
The prevailing climate of insecurity conveyed by the films is a distant memory, since New York is now the least dangerous big city in the United States. The rotten apple is no more since the years of Rudy Giuliani's zero-tolerance policy. On the whole, you feel very safe in New York (more so than in Paris and other major European cities, in any case), people are relaxed on public transport, and there are people everywhere, whatever the time of day, especially in Manhattan.
There are, however, a few neighborhoods to avoid. The northern Bronx, eastern Brooklyn and the Bedstuy district in particular are not recommended at night. More surprisingly, parks are the most dangerous places to be at night in New York, including Central Park. Learning your way around will make things easier, especially if you follow the explanations with a map in front of you. Observe the basic rules of caution that apply everywhere, stay on your guard, and you won't encounter the slightest problem!
Time difference New York (Manhattan)
There is a 6-hour time difference with France. When it's 5pm in Paris, it's 11am in New York. This is true in both winter and summer, since daylight saving time takes place on roughly the same dates in France and the U.S. (give or take a week or two).
Spoken languages New York (Manhattan)
Contrary to what you might think, English is not the official language of the United States, since the country has none! New York is a polyglot city, with English, Spanish and Chinese the three main languages. Add to these Russian, Polish, French, Italian, Yiddish, Portuguese, German, Greek, Korean, Arabic, Japanese, Hungarian, Vietnamese, Hindi, Slavic, Scandinavian and Indo-European languages, as well as those spoken byNative Americans, and you've got almost the whole planet!
Given the geographical concentration of the various communities, the distribution of languages spoken differs from borough to borough (for example, Spanish is spoken much more in western Queens and the Bronx than elsewhere; Russian is spoken by a large majority in southern Brooklyn, etc.). Few people will answer you in French in New York, except in hotels where the staff is multilingual, but you can get by with some broken English.
Communication New York (Manhattan)
You won’t risk being cut off from the world during your stay in New York. Wi-fi is available free of charge in many restaurants, shops and, of course, in hotels. New York City provides the public with a free wif-fi network called LinkNYC. In addition, there are more than 1,700 Link kiosks (www.link.nyc) throughout the city, where you can recharge your mobile phone, connect to wi-fi and call an American number, all for free.
Electricity and measurements New York (Manhattan)
The United States operates at 110 volts and 60 Hz. Sockets have two flat plugs, and light bulb sockets are screw-in (no bayonets). Whether you bring electrical equipment with you or buy it locally, don't forget to bring adapters(converters), on sale at Best Buy and Duane Reade, among others. If you buy equipment locally, be sure to buy the adapter before you return. But be careful! American standards are totally different from French ones, so make sure you only buy compatible equipment.
The USA refuses to use the metric system, which doesn't make life any easier for us. Distances are measured in inches, feet, yards and miles. Weights are measured in ounces, pounds and tons. Liquid measures are even more complex and confusing: imperial (English) and American measures are in pints and gallons, but are different (1 imperial pint = 1.25 american pint).
Luggage New York (Manhattan)
Pack as usual, but don't forget, whatever the season: an umbrella, a cardigan, sweater or sweatshirt (air conditioning is on full blast everywhere: metro, cabs, hotels, stores, museums, etc.), an international driver's license and your student ID card, if applicable. In winter, remember to pack extra warmth, as the mercury drops much lower than in France: scarf, thick socks, large coat, winter sweaters, gloves, hat, etc.
