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My love for travel

Thursday, February 23rd, 2012

The trick to packing is to roll your clothes.   You can fit more if you roll and not fold.  Don’t pack white socks and Nike’s.   Unless you want your pockets picked.  Yep, that’s what makes you stand out as a tourist; white socks and Nikes.

It was the summer that I was excited about.  My friends and I were going to Spain for a month.  I met the girls at my summer job that year.  We were working at a midtown outdoor restaurant and lounge.  Everything was planned; we would visit Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona and we would stay in hostels.

In Madrid we had late night tapas; we dined mostly in the  outdoor restaurants for two to three hours, just as everyone else did.  No one was ever in a rush to leave and the waitress was never eager to bring the check over.  In Valencia we had paella.  We also found a decent hotel for a very decent price and indulged over selves in the luxury.  It was a nice break from staying in hostels; which were to my surprise, pleasing and extremely affordable.

Our trip ended in Barcelona, where we basked on the beach during the day and danced with the city at night.  We were standing in front of a cathedral on our last day; wearing white socks and Nikes.  It was a sunny and crowded day.  I was being tossed and turned and struggled to find my way through the crowd to reach my friends.  When I did reach the girls, I noticed that my friend’s backpack was open.  A few moments later we realized that she had been robbed.  Her money and driver’s license was gone.

We were told that we stood out as tourists because of our attire.  It was an unfortunate experience but we hoped that the culprit made good use of their new found fortune.  The experience didn’t frighten us too much or scare us away from traveling.  We chucked it up to learning and got better at blending in.

Traveling is just one of my great loves.  Not just family vacations and spring break, but visiting other countries, trying new food, and experiencing culture.  The pickpocketing experience was a lesson on safer ways to travel.  If you pack right, blend in and try not to look like a lost tourist, traveling will be much more rewarding.

Rona, Columbia University, School of General Studies

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Super Shuttle is Super!

Thursday, December 15th, 2011

We’re all in a rush for the semester to be over. With the holidays around the corner, there’s nothing more exciting than the upcoming holiday spirits, with all the gifts and quality family time. Will Dad get you that Hermes scarf you’ve been nagging him about for the past year? What new delicious dishes will Grandma cook this year? Nonetheless, there are always things that are not so joyful about the holidays. How did you end up spending so much money on gifts when you were given the promise of sales by retailers? And how could we forget that annoying relative who fathoms at the fact that you couldn’t get into Harvard? Or Mom crying as to why  you’re still not in a relationship. But no matter the family dispute or the cheesy Holiday flicks, there is nothing more annoying than the chaotic airports. The frenzied traffic and airport security make you feel like you’re in Mission Impossible.

I remember the time that I was in such a rush to get to the airport in time that I forgot my passport at home, out of all the things one would forget (Murphy’s Law). I had no time to call a shuttle service and in desperation resorted to taking an unknown bus to JFK.  I made it to the airport in time, but my luggage didn’t. Turns out that the bus had accidentally replaced my bag in the bus going to LaGuardia. I missed my flight and had to beg JetBlue to place me on their next day’s flight. Following this experience, I now always anticipate ahead of time and call in Super Shuttle, the only reliable and affordable method of going to the airport. SuperShuttle will accommodate to your needs, and they even pick you up at home, and always ahead of time.

Campus Clipper is offering a 10% discount on SuperShuttle rides.  Campus Clipper knows students always travel and being so busy with the pressure of exams and grades, we can be forgetful. For this reason, call in SuperShuttle this holiday season.

 

 

Stephanie Kali, Marymount Manhattan College

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Heading to Canada

Friday, June 24th, 2011

Quebec City Summer Festival 2011

I was a little disappointed that I could not spend this summer studying abroad in Europe. As a college junior this may have been my last shot at a study abroad semester. But hey, if I can’t go to France then I can at least go to the next best francophone land – Quebec!

Quebec is not just the home of Celine Dion, it has a rich history and the thriving metropolises of Montreal and Quebec City. And, to celebrate itself, it has a number of festivals throughout the year. The next one is the Quebec City Summer Festival 2011, an eleven-day-long event which will take place from July 7 to July 17. The festival attracts more than a million people each year and tickets are sold online and by phone. A single day ticket will cost about $30. For more information, visit www.infofestival.com.

The festival’s main attraction is music, and it’s been thrilling music lovers for the past 44 years. As Canada’s biggest outdoor artistic event, the festival has stages located in Old Quebec, Port of Quebec and the Saint-Roch district. Over a span of 11 days, the festival features over 1,000 artists and nearly 300 shows and the genres represented include rock, hip-hop, electro, jazz, classical, French song and more. This year’s line-up includes Elton John, Metallica and Simple Plan, among many others.

When you are not enjoying the music at the festival, you can explore the rest of Quebec City, where you can go on whale-watching cruises, ride in a hot air balloon, have a night out in Grand Allee, or watch live hockey.  You can also visit the city walls (did you know that Quebec City is the only fortified city in North America?), or visit the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, which is like Quebec’s version of the Met. To get your shopping fix you can visit boulevard Laurier where you will find the world’s second largest indoor amusement park placed beside high fashion stores. You can also go over to Petit-Champlain where you will find boutiques, bistros, and restaurants in a charmingly European atmosphere. And, if you are feeling religious or have an appreciation for architecture, you can visit the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal, or Notre-Dame-des-Victoires to name just a few of the 130 churches and cathedrals that can be found in Quebec.

However, if you are unable to cross the border and get to Canada this summer, you can always go to a French restaurant like Cosette Café Bistro and experience a different culture right here in New York.

Bushra Tawhid

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Urban Social

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

Hail a cab and head towards fun.

It is a common misconception that the only kind of social life in college that is obtainable and attractive is found in student dorms. But this is not at all the case for those who commute or are simply bored with the routine of beer pong and predictable frat parties. I remember a month or two into my first semester of college when I visited one of my best friends for the weekend at the celebrated private university that she attends in Boston. I was expecting to be wowed by her social life since I attend a commuter college in NYC, but I found it to be simply not my type of fun. I was surprised that in a place famed as a “College Town” there wasn’t much to do but roam from dorm party to frat party to dorm party again. The monotony of big school social life was just not exciting. I realize for some it really is but for me it just wasn’t.

I will admit it was rather nice knowing the streets were infested with people my age from all over the United States and the world, which I found to be inspiring in many ways. It seems youth is admired not just by the old, but by the young too. It was just slightly disappointing to realize that for all the different people from all the different parts of the world concentrated on those streets, individuality still fell prey to the uniform social life religiously followed by most college students. Don’t get me wrong––it was an interesting experience, and I continue to visit this particular friend throughout the year to get my fix of dorm life, since a change of scenery is always nice, but my heart and social life lie in the Big Apple.

New York City is a playground for college students because of its many hip neighborhoods as well as the easy access provided by the subway system. There is an abundance of things to do and see in the worlds of music, art, comedy, and of course nightlife. And don’t forget food! New York City is home to some of the world’s best places to eat, and also there are so many different types of cuisines to try, like great Indian street food, which you can find at Bombay Talkie in Chelsea. In simple terms: a city of immigrants makes for a city of delicious, diverse food choices. The city is also well known for its vast reserves of high quality standup comedy. Seeing standup is always fun when you’re with a group of friends because there’s the promise of drinks, food, and laughs. What more could you ask for after a week that most likely consists of sleep deprivation combined with the stresses of work and school? I highly suggest checking out the People’s Improv Theather, which is affectionately known as The Pit. The Pit is located right down the block from Baruch College and is very student friendly. Also New York is chock full of art museums and festivals to visit with friends during the day where you can soak up some culture and then later at night you can find a place to dine or drink on pretty much any New York City block. The club scene is probably the best in the nation, with many of the most popular ones concentrated in the Meatpacking District. There are also tons of live music restaurants (Café Wha? of Greenwich Village) and music venues (Music Hall of Williamsburg, Webster Hall, Bowery Ballroom, Mercury Lounge) where college students flock throughout the week to listen to bands that are the epitome of cool, both old and new.

I would take the variety of my commuter social life any day over the bland one experienced by those that neglect to push beyond the dorm, or attend college out of NYC. I’m not saying that there is no such thing as fun outside of NYC but there are certainly more options when it comes to having a college social life. Sometimes it takes a trip away from home to make you realize how great the city that you call home is in the first place. I learned that fun isn’t necessarily confined to the four walls of a cold dorm room, and instead it infinitely surrounds me once I walk out my door and rush to catch the train.

-Anjelica LaFurno

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Why Is It So Hot in the Subway?

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

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As I was listening to the news on TV while cooking my light dinner, I heard something like “there is about 105 degrees inside the subway stations in New York City.” 105 degrees the temperature there is, indeed.

An ex-camper, I love walking long distances, and I do walk whenever it is possible and not too far. Now that it is so hot in the city, walking is not as pleasant as always. And still, waiting for a train is even harder to tolerate.

Imagine: you are standing inside a station for about 10 minutes. You inhale hot air, far from being fresh, not mentioning the smell of garbage or something even worse that people, not too concerned about others, left there. Sweat is rolling down your back. Your hair is all wet and sticky. A little relieved, you see a guy selling bottled water, which seems a bit refreshing for a moment – until you ask him for the price. And you keep wondering: where the hell is the train? And also: why is it so hot in the subway?

Overheated and wet, you get on the train that finally arrives. Sitting inside, you indulge in fresh air and think, “God bless air conditioners.” However, your happiness doesn’t last long: you are slowly feeling colder and colder, as your wet clothes and hair, soaked in sweat, do not feel so good and refreshing anymore.

If you find yourself complaining about being cold now, then just get off on the next station and wait for another train in 105 degree heat. And think about other countries that do not have air conditioning either in their public transportation system or their homes, so maybe, you have really nothing to complain about.

Ekaterina Lalo

Check out my blog at www.nycvalues.blogspot.com

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Secrets of Commuting

Friday, June 11th, 2010

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If you are lucky enough, you will find an apartment near your college and a job near your apartment. What if you are not lucky enough? Then you will have to get a bicycle or learn how to use a subway.

Getting a bike is an appealing, but not a great idea. First of all, you may not have enough space to keep it. Secondly, you cannot use it when it is raining. In New York City it usually rains heavily, from an early morning until night, so there will be days when your bike will be a useless decoration, not to mention winter time with all this snow around.

Moving to New York City, you have to familiarize yourself with its subway system and bus routes. While a car is a necessity in rural areas, it costs an arm and a leg to maintain it here. Parking is expensive, especially in Manhattan, which adds up to gasoline and insurance costs. Hence, if public transportation is the best option, how do you use it effectively?

One of the things you need to do is planning your trip beforehand. Take a free subway map in any booth within a station. Find out what is the best way to get to your destination. Keep in mind that transfers within stations are free, but before you get off, make sure that transfer is available.

Once you plan you trip to an unknown area, you should go online and check whether there are some changes in schedule, as it usually happens every day. Routes are changed because of construction, some stations are closed, trains are going express where they are supposed to run local and what not.

By the way, local and express trains can be seen on a map as well. Notice that some trains skip certain stops and make sure you will not miss yours.

A mobile device with GPS may be a helpful tool. You just have to put in start and end point, and your cell phone will plan the trip for you. But keep in mind that this innovative technology is not perfect and cannot predict everything.

Following these simple advices, you should never be lost in the city. If you happen to, in spite of everything, do not be shy to ask a station attender or another rider. People in New York City seem distant and indifferent, but in reality, they are very helpful and attentive.

Ekaterina Lalo

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Let’s Dance: Subway Performances

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

New York City’s MTA has raised prices and made service cuts since my Freshman year in the city, but one thing it hasn’t cut is the arts. The subway system of Manhattan is a large and sometimes overwhelming beast, but at least it’s never dull.

As part of an initiative to keep the subway stations looking clean, interesting, and exciting, the MTA began the Music Under New York program. We’re not talking about the random homeless guys singing on the subway trains, or the great Mariachi band that frequents the N train. No, the MUNY program sponsors artists formally in the stations themselves, complete with signs and microphones. Artists must audition and attend orientation prior to performing for the NYC public.

One of my favorite performers is Alice Tan Ridley, who I normally see at the Herald Square station. She always attracts a crowd – this is actually her profession, and she is good at what she does. Ridley is well known not just for her soulful singing, but also for being the mother of Gabourey Sidibe, star of the recent movie Precious. She is adamant about not living off her daughter’s paycheck, however – so if you see her rocking out in the subway, feel free to throw a dollar or two her way.

So next time you’re looking for a show and don’t have money for a student priced ticket, just spend some extra time on your next $2.25 subway ride and find a show. There are almost always performances going on at the major stations (42nd Street, Herald Square, etc.) and a more detailed schedule can be found at the MUNY website – and let me know your favorite performer, I’m always looking for new shows!

-Meghan Q.

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Saving A Lot on Traveling

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

I am so excited and blessed to report that my mom just yesterday asked me if I would come home for Thanksgiving. This is not a gift I normally receive. I haven’t been out of Manhattan for any college Spring Breaks and I haven’t seen a Thanksgiving dinner in front of me since I was seventeen. She offered to pay for my ticket as my Christmas present, when I found the cheapest round-trip option. After booking on VirginAmerica.com (Expedia.com and Priceline.com show decent packages, but really do not have the best one-way prices, and therefore present far more expensive round-trip options than the sources themselves. Although, American Airlines’ quotes were outrageous outside the bargain websites. Try the airline site first, and then Expedia, is my conclusive advice.) – I’m lucky enough that Virgin flies for cheap from New York to LAX. You’re going to have an entirely different list of prices with less popular/busy airports – I’m all set to finish up my papers and research I have to do this week, and get packing!

Then I’ll come to the morning of, and I’ll be so ready to cart myself out the apartment doors and grab a cab and go. But I know now how much that will cost. $45 for the trip to JFK. Plus tip. Which makes it $60 (tipping nice drivers well is something I believe in. I think they’re very important to this city). If I’m smart, and I think about saving some of that 60 for something else I want, all I have to do is not actually take a cab. I can take the subway if I bring a smaller amount of luggage, or I can just take a shuttle and save like $20 without spending any extra hassle. Or bothersome lugging. That’s where we come in!! We bring you Supershuttle.com (and 2 coupons!)

Supershuttle.com for fare quotes from any zip codes to any airport

Hit up the website and put in your zip code. From my neighborhood, in the East Village, it will cost me alone $23.00 to get shuttled, with all my luggage, to JFK. And if I have friends traveling the same day, they’ll only have to pay $10 each. Both prices are way less than $45 + tip!! We’re also giving you 10% off (so -$2.30 for me). Or if your fare is less, use the coupon in our magazine for $2 off.

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