The Ultimate Student Travel Guide to New York
By nature, New York City is overwhelming. And for their school trip, trip leaders are faced with choosing the right activities for their group. But most trip leaders are destined to determine the status quo -- mainly because they don’t know there are other, better options available.
Of course, groups need to see all the top spots in New York. No student tour should miss the Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, Broadway, Wall Street, and the World-Class Museums. But what about experiencing New York like a New Yorker? That is the difference between status quo and premium. We’ll cover:
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Where to Stay -- Student Tours To New York City
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Where to Eat -- Student Travel To New York City
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What to see - School Trip To New York City
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What to see (Honorable Mention) - School Trip To The Big Apple
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Washington DC, Boston, and Philadelphia - School Trip To New York City
With the right information, you’ll design a premium class trip that you and your students will love. Let’s get started.
Where to Stay -- Student Tours To New York City
Depending on your students’ goals, budget, and age, we can recommend where to stay. Some groups prefer to stay in a New Jersey hotel and take a short bus ride across the Lincoln Tunnel into Manhattan. Rooms in New Jersey tend to be larger and include a private breakfast for groups. Some group leaders also enjoy the comfort of traveling by bus. Staying in New Jersey also tends to lower the cost of your student trip.
Other groups prefer to stay in Times Square or near a subway station. Hotel properties close to Times Square tend to have smaller rooms, but they’re close to the action. And since your group is traveling by subway, you may not want a bus. Your breakfast will be delivered to the hotel or you’ll grab something to eat.
Ultimately your choice of where to stay comes down to trade-offs. Do you want larger rooms and the comfort of having a bus on tour? Then stay in New Jersey. Do you want to be in the heart of the action and walk and subway to your activities? Then stay in Manhattan. No need to worry. There is not a wrong choice. We’ll help get you and your group into the right hotel to achieve your trip goals.
Where to Eat -- Student Travel To New York City
Meals should be an experience. Eat at Applebee’s back at home. When you’re in New York, eat like a New Yorker. You want your educational trip to be memorable. Since food and smells are tied to memory, food matters. Have a beautiful white tablecloth meal before seeing your exciting Broadway show. Eat pasta in Little Italy. Sit down to a banquet-style Chinese dinner in Chinatown. Your trip is not average. Don’t settle for average food on your tour.
What to see - School Trip To New York City
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Bikes in Central Park
Biking through bucolic Central Park is a nice break from busy Manhattan. Pedal at your own pace, and see the sites and attractions along the way. You will zoom through the trees and feel like a kid riding with your students. It’s hard to believe that so much natural beauty exists so close to the 8 million people that make NYC home.
The process of riding bikes in Central Park is easy. You’ll hear a short safety talk, put your helmet on, and pedal behind your guide. You and your students will see parts of the park that not many people experience. You’ll smile, laugh, and have fun. Next time you’re in New York, ride a bike in Central Park. You’ll be glad you did!
2. The Beast
Ditch the ferry boat and ride to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in style. You and your students will love the beast speed boat. Hold on tight. You’ll hit speeds of 45 MPH on the open water. Your group will feel like they’re on a roller coaster en route to the iconic Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Riding the beast is a great educational travel experience. You’ll learn the history of the sites and have a blast along the way. Groups love riding the beast in NYC. Visit the nearby Intrepid Air and Space Museum. Step into a submarine and see the once top-secret missile command center. Walk the deck of a military aircraft and see a spaceship.
3. Broadway Classroom
Create an unforgettable Broadway experience! You and your students will work with current Broadway performers in a Broadway Classroom. Learn at masterclass workshops and behind-the-curtain tours.
Taught by Broadway professionals, workshops and masterclasses are a great way to enrich the theatrical experience. Choose a classroom theme that speaks to you and your students: dance, vocal and instrumental music, acting, auditioning, and improv.
4. Lower East Side Tenement Museum
Tour the home of an Immigrant Family from the 1800s. Learn their story of hardship and perseverance. You and your students will step back in time into a preserved tenement and imagine a much different New York. The Lower East Side Tenement Museum is a beautiful way to experience history through the people. Students who are less interested in history come alive during this activity.
5. Ethnic Neighborhoods - Chinatown, Little Italy
Gain an understanding of other cultures and visit an ethnic neighborhood in New York. Meet the people that work and live in these vibrant communities. In Manhattan, groups love to visit Little Italy and Chinatown. These are lovely places to sightsee, shop, and have a meal. Greater New York City is home to dozens of ethnic neighborhoods. Consider visiting nearby Queens, Brooklyn, or the Bronx. Sorry Staten Island, you’re just too far away!
Transform your school trip to New York into an experience of a lifetime.
What to see (Honorable Mention) - School Trip To The Big Apple
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Have breakfast at the Highline - Pick up bagels at Brooklyn Bagel and Coffee Company. Walk a few blocks to the Highline. Enjoy breakfast surrounded by lush native plants. Feel like you’re in a treehouse above the city. The Highline is a special place you’ll only find in New York City.
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Architecture Tour - There is so much more to New York architecture than skyscrapers. Your guide will describe famous buildings in midtown Manhattan. You’ll learn about the spectacular architectural styles of Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Chrysler Building, Grand Central Terminal, and many more.
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Art Experience - New York is home to world-class art museums. Groups love the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenheim, Museum of Modern Art, and the Frick Collection. Make sure to plan an educational workshop when you visit.
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Breathtaking Views - Visit the Top of the Rock and the Empire State Building for Panoramic Views of the City.
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College Tour(s) - Inspire your Middle School and High school students with a college tour in New York. Walk the beautiful upper west side campus of Columbia. See how NYU’s urban campus may be perfect for some of your students. A college on tour is an excellent investment in your students’ futures.
Washington DC, Boston, and Philadelphia - School Trip To New York City
If time permits, consider adding another city or two to your New York adventure. A great trip might include 1-3 days in Washington DC, Boston, or Philadelphia. You and your students will gain an understanding of what makes each city unique. Planning an additional city or two on your New York trip is a great way to see more and do more with your students.
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Let's Talk
Your Educational Trip to New York
Plan a New York trip that will inspire you and your students. No trip leader wants a ho-hum trip. You want to lead an exciting journey that you and your students will never forget. As a trip leader, you want to pick the best activities for your group. Below is your guide to your best New York Trip.
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Where to Stay -- Student Tours To New York City
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Where to Eat -- Student Travel To New York City
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What to see - School Trip To New York City
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What to see (Honorable Mention) - School Trip To The Big Apple
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Washington DC, Boston, and Philadelphia - School Trip To New York City
When your trip is completed, you’ll feel proud of the journey you led. Your students and fellow chaperones had a great time. The food was delicious, and the activities were enriching. You and your students experienced the best of the big apple.
We can help you design a premium New York trip that you and your students will absolutely love. If you want to lead an unforgettable New York trip with your students, there are three easy steps:
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Click the let’s talk button, and on our call, we’ll listen to your perfect trip goals
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We’ll present you with two unique itineraries.
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You’ll select your itinerary and lead your best trip ever!
