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We asked one of our great StudentUniverse.com customers about his trip to New York City. Check out what he had to say about his experience!

Cheap flights to New York City

What did you do in New York City?

I traveled to the New York area to visit my girlfriend during the Labor Day weekend. I spent two days around Newark which is a city in NJ but is supposed to be the stretch of New York City. And indeed it is. At night, I could see the colorful lights of Manhattan just through my bedroom window and it took only a 40 minute bus ride to actually get there. My girlfriend is a student in Seton Hall University which is a small catholic institution with church-like buildings as landmarks. I really enjoyed the peaceful ambiance around the campus, which, unlike most other universities, is separated by rails. There is vast grassland in the center and religious figures along the roads partially covered behind bushes. It just seems like a physical and spiritual oasis isolated from the chaos outside. By the way, the symbol of the university is a private, and it is said that the basketball team there takes much of its spirit.

We went to Manhattan for the last day of my stay with two of my high school friends. It was really a short tour, but filled with excitement. We simply walked around the Time Square and Broadway, since we think that was a better perspective than sitting on the tour bus, getting ourselves immersed in the city, feeling its breath and touching its skin. We stopped by at some fashion stores as well as fancy theaters, and had our lunch eating lots of snacks in a food-vent street beside Time Square, which made me feel like being in the crowded night market again while I was in China. In the afternoon, we took the subway to the South Ferry and had a fabulous trip to the Statue of Liberty. This was our first time being at the Atlantic Ocean coast and we said hello to those sea birds gliding over our shoulders. It was a pity that we didn’t go up in the statue because it was too late. But seeing the magnificence of the statue and learning lots about the immigration history and stories are just as satisfactory. Coming back from the ferry trip, we also visited the site of the World Trade Center and Wall Street, which were not too far, even by bare foot.

What’s a must see in New York City?

Never say you have been to New York if you didn’t even step in Manhattan. There is something for everyone: world-class museums and theaters, historic and newly-erected skyscrapers, fashion shops, assorted restaurants and creative folk art! You can also choose many exciting ways to take your trip: tour buses, ferries, sailboat and even helicopter rides! Moreover, you can get lots of information for tourists just when arriving at the train station or the bus terminal! You should also visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. There is some history to learn.

Most unusual thing you saw or did?

We accidentally bumped into a crowd celebrating the Brazilian Day around Time Square. That was really, really a CROWD! People blocked several blocks and all were yelling, singing and dancing with some famous stars on a stage. The hottest girls were wearing bikinis and boys with pictures on their faces. It was lucky for us to taste some exciting Latin music and also see the Brazilian love in revelry.

What sucked?

The subway service was bad. The ticket machine at the Time Square station swallowed a 20 dollar bill from us and neither change nor ticket came out of it. We tried to talk to a lady at the information desk yet her attitude was icy cold. We also called the service for help but nobody answered. It SUCKED! The weather was not good either, gloomy and drizzling when we were visiting the Statue of Liberty. The city seemed to be too crowded when I was there, too much hustle and bustle on every street!

Favorite thing in New York City?

Oh, I would say it was the sunrise in New York that I saw on the airplane! It was beautiful and peaceful!

Craziest thing that you saw or did?

Everybody tried to ride on the bull at Wall Street.

What was the culture of the city like?

It was pretty diverse, I would say – just like a world village. You can experience Latin revelry on the street, have dinners in a Chinese restaurant, watch a classical Broadway performance, and listen to music on the subway! On the other hand, everybody seems to be in a hurry, and sometimes they can be rude and cold. Their words were really simple and did not seem to be as warm-hearted as people in the small towns! Is that the so-called “NY Attitude”? I don’t know.

Best places to party?

There are some crowded bars in downtown Newark. But we didn’t hangout at all because some friends alerted me of the danger of being on the street too late at night.

Cheap flights to New York City