I am deliriously in love with New York City. If you spend any time with me at all, you will hear about how I love to sleep with the windows open simply so I can hear and soak up the sights and sounds of The Big Apple. My romanticizing of NYC aside, the biggest problem I had when I first visited the city was that I was going, going, going, and then I was gone. I burned out so badly that the last few days of my first time were spent either miserable on the street or holed up in my room recharging, feeling like I was missing everything. But, it needn’t be this way. There is an art to visiting the best places in NYC without destroying yourself. I got a chance to stay at the Times Square-located hotel, looking to teach tourists how to see as much as possible while also recharging, the Tempo by Hilton. Sitting down with a native New Yorker and the Director of Marketing for the hotel, Matthew Belsito, he gave me some great tips for the dozens of trips I will be making to the city this year.
Our goal is to provide a sense of respite, an oasis from the energy of the city, where you can reset before taking on tomorrow’s itinerary. – Matthew Belsito, Director of Marketing for Tempo by Hilton Times Square
Slow it down – you’ll be back
There is so much to do here. From the moment I watched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at ten years old, I knew I wanted to experience everything. From Battery Park to Washington Heights: Freedom Tower, Wall Street, Times Square, Central Park, The Met, The MoMA, and every movie and TV scene you can think of, wait for me to take a pic and send it to my friends and family with a “Look what I found” text. And that isn’t even thinking about the FOUR OTHER BURROUGHS! As overwhelming as it feels, Matthew assured me I wasn’t alone in the drowning feeling.
“Try not to do it all at once! Even lifelong New Yorkers will tell you there’s no way to see everything, even if you live here. Don’t stress ‘crossing items off your list’ – instead, find a few things that you truly want to do. Spend an extra hour at MOMA instead of museum hopping or wander Central Park aimlessly instead of following a trail.”
Tempo is here to help
I find myself in New York City every month or so, with a desire to make the move as soon as possible. However, I wish I had stayed at Tempo on my first visit because I would have avoided a bit of a spiral while trying to figure out how to tackle the greatest city in the world. Ideally, I would have had an opportunity to be in the middle of everything (equidistant between all the top things a first-timer wants to do) but also had the room broken up into places to relax, recharge, and gear up for the day.
“Tempo brings a fresh, lifestyle-forward perspective to the neighborhood, rooted in balance, design, and intention. As Times Square becomes more dynamic and experiential, Tempo acts as both a launchpad and a retreat, offering guests access to the city’s energy while providing a centered, stylish space to recharge. Tempo is all about offering balance and helping you maintain your routines while on the road. We want to offer guests the flexibility to find what they need out of a stay here. That’s why our rooms are intentionally designed with separate “zones,” giving you space to power up, get ready, or wind down at the end of the day.”
What to see in a short time
At the end of the day, the best way to see New York is as a New Yorker. Most I have met will never go to Times Square, that is reserved for the tourists. But the big things to do around the city are things they will happily indulge in on occasion. So, I asked the native New Yorker, if I only had 48 hours, what should I do to experience the city and make me want to come back for more.
“It’s so hard to pick given the plethora of options, but some favorites of the hotel team:
- Walk the High Line for a beautiful view of the city
- Race a model boat in Central Park (or really do anything in Central Park)
- For a budget-friendly option, take the Staten Island Ferry. It’s free and offers incredible skyline views, plus a close pass by the Statue of Liberty.
- If you’re traveling with kids, or you’re simply a history buff, the American Museum of Natural History is a must. Just be careful… You could easily spend all 48 hours there.”
This city won’t keep me away. It will be difficult to ruin the experience for a guy like me. I mean, c’mon, I first learned about New York through the lens of ninjas and pizza. There is nothing more I need. However, if you aren’t as romantic about New York, you should absolutely check out Tempo by Hilton in Times Square if you want to have the best combination of relaxing and experiential city visits.
