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Local Guides

First Time Guide to New York City 5 Day Itinerary by a native New Yorker

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I’m so proud to be a native New Yorker and I love to help first timers plan their first trip to New York City. I’ve made a five day itinerary for NYC with advice on what to see and eat mostly in Manhattan for all budgets.

This is a local guide, so although I cover the famous sites, I encourage you to see the smaller neighborhoods/places that make New York special. The Big Apple has so much to offer year-round, so most of these tips can be also used over the holidays. There’s a FREE downloadable map with all the best places to see in New York City in 5 days.

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Things to do in Maastricht, the most beautiful city in the Netherlands

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Maastricht is one of the most charming cities in the Netherlands and it can be easily explored in a weekend. The city is perfect for a slow, romantic weekend away from Amsterdam spent exploring a beautiful cathedral bookstore, strolling the tangled streets, touring historic caves, and eating/drinking delicious regional cuisine at affordable prices.  For architecture and food lovers, Maastricht is a city that you will not want to leave off any trip to the Netherlands.  Read the best things to do in Maastricht!

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The Best 20 Day Trips from Amsterdam by a Dutch resident

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I’ve been living in Holland for over four years now. One of the best parts of the Netherlands is how easy it is to take day trips within the Netherlands! I include insider tips from my time living in Amsterdam for the best day trips from Amsterdam to other gorgeous Dutch cities, including Gouda, Leiden, and Giethoorn. I include easy day trips from Amsterdam as well as off the beaten path day trips from Amsterdam.

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Insider Tips for NYC during the Holidays by a New Yorker

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The holidays in NYC are the best time to visit New York City. As a New Yorker born and raised, I’ve written tips for the holidays in NYC, the best things to do in New York at Christmas, tips for the Christmas windows in NYC, tips for the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade, and how to survive Times Square New Year’s Eve.  Keep reading for insider tips for New York during Christmas!

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Your insider guide to New York’s Chinatown by a native New Yorker

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When friends and acquaintances find out that I was born and raised in Manhattan’s Chinatown and that I still live here, they always ask, “What would you recommend in Chinatown?” (First, always, to not block the sidewalk, as Chinatown streets are busy and narrow!) As a local, I waver on giving my actual recommendation, for fear of people packing my favorite hole-in-the-wall. But there are too many good things in Chinatown for me to keep my favorite places a secret. This guide to NYC’s Chinatown includes insider tips for visiting Chinatown, must-knows, and my favorite places to eat in Chinatown. 

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Secret New York: 30+ off the beaten path spots in New York City to love

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New York City is full of the weird and the wonderful. As a native New Yorker, I’ve given up on seeing every corner of this city as it’s impossible. However, you don’t need to look that hard for off the beaten path spots in New York city if your eyes are open and your Metrocard is topped up. Together with Moeima Makeba, we’re here to show you 30+ secret spots in New York City that you’ll be hopefully fascinated with.

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Tips for celebrating New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam

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Considering visiting Amsterdam for New Year’s Eve? Amsterdam is one of the best European cities to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Europe within. Read insider tips by a resident on the best things to do on New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam, the best parties on NYE in Amsterdam, and where to buy fireworks in Amsterdam.

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20 Things Nobody Tells You About Visiting New York by a native New Yorker

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I’m a proud New Yorker who was born and raised in New York City. When someone asks me what they should know when visiting New York for the first time, I don’t always know where to start as there’s so many things to do in New York. I’ve decided to take a different approach here with some NYC local secrets to help you navigate your trip better.

Expect some humorous tips for first time visitors to New York (although those on their fifth trip to NYC might find this travel advice helpful). I sincerely hope that these New York travel tips come in handy and help you avoid some of the mistakes that people make on their first trip to New York. 20 Insider tips for New York under the cut.

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The best museums in Amsterdam and which museums to skip

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One of the best parts of visiting Amsterdam is to visit the many museums in Amsterdam.  As an Amsterdam resident, I had the Museumkaart, which gave me access to the majority of the museums in Amsterdam (as well as the rest of the Netherlands), which meant that I’d often take an afternoon to explore a museum. 

I hope that I can inspire you to visit some of my favorite museums in Amsterdam.  I also include some advice about what ‘museums‘ in Amsterdam to avoid. (I put this in quotes as some claim to be museums, but I truly think that you can skip them as they are bonafide tourist traps.)

I’ll first go into the best museums in Amsterdam (in my opinion) with a note about who they’re suitable for and which museums in Amsterdam to skip. 

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Two days in New York City: Your perfect 48-hour NYC itinerary by a local

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There’s so much to do see and do in New York City! If you have limited time in New York, you’ll definitely want to make the most of your time. As a native New Yorker, I’ve been asked by a few people for a weekend itinerary for only two days in New York City. I hope that this itinerary helps you see the best of New York in 48 hours!

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