5 Reasons Why NOW Is A Good Time To Travel To New York City

Beginning April 1st, domestic travelers to New York City will no longer be required to quarantine upon arrival.

While travelers will still need to wear face masks and comply with local Covid protocols, they are welcome to engage in city life right away. This is a big win for American travelers and the tourism industry in New York City.

Are you ready to pack your bags and head out on a long awaited, much anticipated city adventure? I sure am! The following list highlights why I say NOW is a great time to travel to New York City.

1. Unused Travel Vouchers and Airline Miles- If you’re like me, you cancelled a few flights in 2020 resulting in a stockpile of travel vouchers and airline credits that have an expiration date sometime in 2021. That means they must be used in the coming months or they will go away forever. Additionally, you’ve probably continued spending on your preferred airline rewards credit card over the last year leaving you with a heap of miles that could easily translate into free round trip tickets.
   
2. International Travel Restrictions Remain In Place- While domestic travel restrictions have been lifted, the same is not true for international travelers. Incoming travel from some countries is prohibited altogether but the remainder must still show proof of a negative Covid test before entering the country, quarantine for a set amount of days, and then produce another negative Covid test. All this makes it less likely that NYC will be an international destination anytime soon. This means residents and domestic tourists will have the city to themselves.
   
3. Manhattan’s Workforce Isn’t Returning Full Time in 2021- Only 22% of Manhattan’s large employers will be requiring their employees to return full time to the office this calendar year, leading to further crowd reduction. Fewer people means shorter lines, increased availability of reservations, and greater opportunity to keep socially distanced.
   
4. Lodging Inventory Is Up, Prices Are Down- Typically, New York City hotel rooms are very expensive and hard to come by, especially the closer you get to your date of travel. Take advantage of low occupancy rates (less than 40%) and subsequent low prices by planning a trip now. I just scored an incredible rate ($225/night) on a 2 Bedroom/2 Bathroom unit for a trip that was seven weeks out. (I’ll share more of these details in an upcoming post).
   
5. Favorable Weather- Spring, Summer and Fall are the best times to travel to New York City anyway, but with social distancing in place the weather plays an even more important role in planning a robust itinerary. Good weather allows for days to be spent enjoying the city outdoors and I specialize in creating itineraries that focus on open air, outdoor activities. I will be curating my online content to focus on safe, conscientious activities like these, in the months ahead. Be sure to check back often!