How Aussies can avoid getting ripped off in the US on holiday
Australian tourists going to New York City or Los Angeles for the holidays — take note. There are lots of scams going around that can leave your wallet empty.
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If you are travelling to the US during the holidays here are the best tips to avoid getting ripped off in New York and Los Angeles.
NEW YORK
TAXIS
The first risk of being ripped off is when you come out of the airport. Don’t accept rides from anyone and instead line up for a yellow cab, unless you want to use your Uber app. Taxis from JFK airport to Manhattan are a flat rate of $US52 with a $US4.50 surcharge between peak hours (4pm-8pm weekdays, excluding holidays).
When you are looking for taxis in New York only use yellow or green taxi cabs. Keep an eye on your GPS to ensure the driver is taking you the best way.
Black cars, known as gypsy cabs, will offer you a cheap price but they aren’t metered so beware.
ACCOMMODATION
There is so much to do in New York that you are unlikely to spend much time in your accommodation so expensive hotels are often a waste of money. AirBnb is often a great way to find cost-effective options and live like a local. Don’t expect New York apartments to be much more than a shoebox but as they say, it is all part of the experience.
DO NOT RENT A CAR
While many Australians love to rent a car to get around when they visit new cities, do not do this in New York. Public transport is easy to get and largely 24 hours. If you do hire a car you will have to contend with traffic jams, crazy drivers and pedestrians, not to mention cyclists. When you get to your destination you will rarely be able to find parking and if you do find a parking garage it will cost you upwards of $US50.
RIDE THE SUBWAY
The subway runs 24 hours. It is the most cost effective option and will get you to most places in New York. Grab a Metro Card from machines in the subway. If you are only riding the subway for the novelty, just get a ‘Single Ride’ or select the ‘Value’ option to pay for each trip as you go. If you are planning to ride the subway all week then a weekly card is much better.
You will often find people busking, selling lollies for their basketball camp or simply begging for money on the subway. Don’t feel like you have to give these people anything, especially if they are doing cartwheels and breakdancing inches away from your head. While people-watching can be a fun pastime in the city, New Yorkers will advise you to resist making eye contact in confined spaces. Also, if your train rolls up during peak times and there is an empty subway carriage don’t think it is your lucky day because it isn’t. There will almost definitely be some overpowering odour inside that you won’t be able to escape once those subway doors close. Try and squeeze into a more crowded carriage. You will thank us for this advice later.
DON’T TAKE ANYTHING FROM STRANGERS
If anyone hands you something, resist the urge to take it.
People may hand you a “free CD” of their music but no sooner have you accepted it then they will want to autograph it for you. This is usually when they will ask you for a donation. While you may want to support local artists, often these CDs are blank.
There are also people dressed as Buddhist monks who will try and hand you a prayer card. These will also end up setting you back about $US5 or more.
The characters and performers in Times Square who ask if you want a photo with them are not doing this for free. They will expect a few dollars. By all means, get a photo with Mickey Mouse or Elmo or the Naked Cowboy but be sure to hand them some money afterwards.
ASK FOR THE PRICE BEFOREHAND
Vendors can sniff out a tourist from the proverbial mile away. If you stop at a street cart for a hot dog or snack ask how much it is before you order. Those carts around popular hot spots are also likely to cost you more money than others a few blocks away.
If you are in a retail store, tax is often not included in the sticker price.
THERE’LL BE A SURCHARGE FOR SHARING PORTIONS
Given portion sizes in the US are so big, it’s tempting to want to share or split, but some restaurants charge for that.
So, best advice, particularly if you’re staying at an AirBnB or serviced apartment, order a portion each and take leftovers home. Aussies are weird about taking leftovers, but not here, they’ll give you anything to take home. It’ll last you for days!
TIPPING
That brings us to tipping. Make sure you tip! Minimum wage here is much lower than in Australia so while you may think tipping is only for good service, it really is for all service, good or bad. The general rule is to tip 17 per cent. That however can make for some tricky arithmetic but less so once you realise the tax on your bill is usually 8.5 per cent, so you can just double that figure. Some New Yorkers though will tell you this is stingy and suggest you tip 20 per cent, which is generally a much easier calculation. If you are going up to a bar and buying drinks you can get away with leaving a dollar per drink.
Also, if you’re travelling with a family or a group of six, it’s customary for an establishment to already add the tip into your bill. Even if you aren’t a group of six or more, if they hear your accent places might add the tip on to the bill (which is called the check) knowing that you may be unfamiliar with tipping.
Always check your receipt and if it says “gratuity included”, do not tip, because you’ll be tipping twice!
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HORSE CARRIAGE RIDES IN CENTRAL PARK
If you really want to do this it is up to you but expect to pay an exorbitant amount for it. They usually cost at least a dollar or two per minute and those horses don’t move fast. A cheaper option is to rent a CitiBike and explore Central Park this way. New Yorkers are attempting to have the horse-drawn carriages banned over concerns about how the animals are treated so don’t be surprised if you get some dirty looks from the locals.
DON’T PAY FULL PRICE FOR BROADWAY TICKETS
There is a TKTS stand in Times Square, the South Street Seaport and Downtown Brooklyn that will offer you between 20-50 per cent off ticket prices for both Broadway and off-Broadway shows. While you won’t find tickets for popular shows like Hamilton, you will get a wide selection of options. If you have time, some Broadway shows will do a daily lottery, which usually occurs outside the theatre the show is playing at about two hours before the curtain goes up. However, if your name is drawn you have to be there in person to collect your deeply discounted ticket and there are only usually around 20 up for grabs. This is your best chance at getting a ticket to Hamilton, Broadway’s most sought-after show.
MUSEUMS
Many New York museums offer entry with a suggested donation. This is not mandatory so feel free to contribute what you can. These include the Museum of Natural History, MoMA P. S. 1 and the American Folk Museum. Others, like the Museum of Arts and Design, have days when you can enter for free. Check out their websites for the best times to go.
SPORTING EVENTS AND CONCERTS
If you want to check out a football, baseball, ice hockey or basketball game while you are in the city they can be expensive. Stubhub is usually the best way to find cheap tickets. The same goes for concerts.
NEW YEAR’S EVE
If you’re flying over for the holiday season, there are still a few things you can do to keep the costs down. If you want to see the famous ‘ball drop’ at midnight, be prepared to camp out in Times Square from the crack of dawn. It’s a brutal wait, as temperatures are freezing and it’s difficult to have close access to public toilets (New York has a serious lack of public bathrooms).
As such, revellers have been known to wear adult nappies should nature call. (Gross, we know.)
Otherwise, New Year’s Eve in NYC can be expensive. For a great view, heap to the “Top of The Rock” at Rockefeller Centre (last elevator up goes at 11.55pm).
Alternatively, find friends, acquaintances or loved ones with a mid-town balcony.
LOS ANGELES
Many of the same rules apply for Australians visiting LA, however there are some local tips that will help you navigate your way around the city.
AIRPORT TAXI DRIVERS CAN BE DODGY
Given Uber hasn’t been allowed to pick passengers up at the terminal, taxis still have the run of the transport options at LAX (one of the worst airports in America).
And given most airport taxi drivers can spot tourists a mile away, they will often take you on the “scenic route” to your hotel. This can mean a $US50 fare becomes $US90.
Be confident about where you’re going. And if the driver asks if you want to take La Cienega Blvd, say yes!
Alternatively, ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft have now been given access to get passengers at LAX. The catch is, you’ll need to get a free shuttle from the terminal to a massive car park, where you can arrange and Uber. Sounds horrendous, but it’s really quite easy. And you’ll know from the start what your fare is.
DO HIRE A CAR
Using public transport to get around is harder in Los Angeles so hiring a car is usually the best option.
Given most locals drive it is usually easier than New York to find affordable parking.
Hiring a car from the airport is usually your best bet. Thrifty and Dollar are usually the most affordable rent-a-cars, while Enterprise offers better options if you want a luxury car. Hertz and Alamo are better if you have a large group and need a mini-van.
ACCOMMODATION
There is a scam in LA on Craigslist and AirBnB where properties are offered at much cheaper prices to local hotels. Tourists will then be told the property has been reserved for the dates but that money has to be wired to complete the reservation. Never do this.
FAKE TOUR GUIDES
There are often con-artists in front of gift stores on Hollywood Boulevard offering exclusive discounts on open-air bus tours to celebrity homes and movie studios. After agreeing on a price there will often be hidden costs, like fees and surcharges and no refunds provided. The best advice is to research reputable tour guides online with good reviews.
AMUSEMENT PARK SCAM
Never purchase tickets to Disneyland or amusement parks on eBay or Craigslist. Often people will say they have excess gift cards or unused days on a multi-day pass at a discount. Travellers often find these tickets have zero value left on them and by then the seller is long gone.
Only buy Disneyland tickets from an authorised seller online in advance and check the terms, conditions and expiry dates
TALENT SCOUTS
Be sceptical if you are approached on the street by a “casting agent” or “talent scout” who says you have what it takes to make it in Hollywood. The corner of Hollywood and Vine is a notorious place where these shysters will offer to take you on a casting call. Legitimate talent agencies rarely approach people on the street and certainly won’t ask for an upfront fee.
CHINATOWN
Over the years tourists in Chinatown have been offered to take part in a “traditional Chinese blessing” by a “mystic” who will ward off evil spirits.
The mystic will bestow powers on an item and then place it in your bag. It is then switched during a fake ceremony and the tourist is told to keep the bag closed for a week or the blessing will be lost.
Victims will usually find a cheap souvenir in the bag when they finally open it up.
MUSEUMS
The Getty Centre, Getty Villa, California Science Centre at Exposition Park and the Hammer Museum in Westwood are free every day. Others like LACMA, the Huntington Library and the Norton Simon Museum offer free admission at least one day a month.
SEE A TV SHOW TAPING
There are TV shows being taped every day of the week and many of them are free. Some of the best sites are TV TIX, TvTickets.com and 1iota, however avoid so-called tickets being offered on Craigslist. Best to get these in advance as well so that you have a better chance at securing a spot and you have more show options. Although, if you’re an Ellen DeGeneres fan, best to plan in advance; there’s a four-year wait for tickets to the popular comedian’s show.
EATING ON A BUDGET
You don’t have to visit in restaurant week to get cheap meals as many places offer a prix fixe menu on Sundays. Lucques, Crossroads Kitchen and Church & State are just some of the popular spots where you can get a deal on nice meals. If you want to go a little cheaper, California is known for its seriously good Mexican food. You can find amazing Taco trucks on most main streets (particularly on a weekend) or cheap restaurants for the best burritos on a budget. Try Tacos El Venado in North Hollywood or Worldwide Tacos on W. Martin Luther King Blvd in Los Angeles. This tiny shack has 150 varieties of incredible tacos available (yes, really) so there’s something for everyone. If tacos aren’t your thing, you can’t go past Pink’s hotdogs on North La Brea Avenue. The roadside shack first opened in 1939 (as a hot dog stand). Now they serve 2000 hot dogs and 200 hamburgers a day. Be prepared to wait, though; the line can stretch around the block.
Originally published as How Aussies can avoid getting ripped off in the US on holiday
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