Traveling is an amazing experience, no matter where you go. You are seeing a place for the first time – or again after a time away – and leaving your life behind for a vacation. It is rejuvenating, fun…and exhausting, at times. Even if your intention is to make it run as smoothly as possible.
That is because no one can plan for every possible eventuality, no matter how hard they try. The biggest problem for a traveller heading to New York is all about transportation. In such a large and crowded city, that can cause a lot of stress. Which is the last thing you want on holiday.
But these excellent transportation apps can help you get around that and stay relaxed.
1. PrimoSpot

Finding parking in a large city is painful. Which is why so many people in New York don’t bother buying a car, and instead stick with public transportation like the subway, the bus and cabs. But you might find yourself wanting a rental, which means knowing where to park. PrimoSpot works by letting you put in your location, and then finding all free parking lots and garages in the area. It will also show you the conditions of the spot, such as when it is illegal to park.
2. Roadify

This is another parking app. But it works a little bit differently. The spots are offered up by users, or they just inform others of their location when they come across them. Every time they share a spot, they are awarded Street Carma, which are points that go towards rewards. This might be a free coffee from a local cafe, a percentage discount at a local shop, some free food or anything else. While you are in New York, you can keep an eye out as well, and get some cool freebies as a result.
3. Best Parking

Sometimes you just can’t find free parking. Which gives you the next best thing: cheap parking. Best Parking is an app that looks at all of the paid garages, lots and curbs in New York – as well as a dozen other cities – and compares the costs and distance for you. So you can make an informed decision before you drive there. You can also calculate rates based on the time of your arrival or departure.
4. NYC Mate Maps

It is ridiculously easy to get lost in New York, even when you live there. When you are a tourist enjoying a vacation, it is almost expected. NYC Mate Maps takes your iPhone and makes it into a fantastic digital road companion. It has both a road map, a transit map and all transport times for local buses and subway stops. They just released an Android compatible version in the Android marketplace, as well.
5. Metropol

Another great map application to have in your arsenal, this one provides you with a real, solid foundation for building a travel schedule through New York, or any other major city in their collection. There are 70 current cities on the list, from all over the world. So it is a must have for anyone who is going to be doing a love of moving from place to place. You can also help others by providing a map of your own city.
6. TaxiMe

Taxis are always a decent option to get around while in NYC. But they add up quick, and you might not be prepared for the amount of fare run up on the meter when you get stuck in traffic, take an alternate route, or just in general. So this app is nice to have. It gives you the ability to calculate the estimated fare based on current averages in the city. That will help you decide if it is worth taking a taxi, or if you should stick with the subway.
7. RideTheCity

Maybe you like to bike, and plan on doing a bit to get around while in town. This is a great idea, for health, saving money and just helping to reduce the effect on the environment. There are a lot of bikers in NYC, but not all streets are safe for them. Which is why every one should have this app. It allows you to plan routes according to safe streets for riding.
8. TriptopNYC

Planning to catch a show, or meet someone for a bite? This application lets you see just how much time any given trip will take you. It is registration-free and you has a nifty comparison tool that lets you put in more than one route and see which is faster. You can also check two different addresses, if you want to see where you can get to faster.
Conclusion
Going to New York is truly an amazing experience. But there is a lot to be desired in transport if you aren’t from there. This can give you an edge and help you to get around more effectively, not to mention more safely.
Annie is a lifestyle blogger for Vacation Pass, the premiere resource of traveling deals and coupons. Check out our New York Pass Coupons section and plan you budget trip to NY now!


