<p>I plan on going to New York this summer to visit some colleges. I have family that lives in New York, however their house is too small so I won’t be able to stay in their home. I was planning on staying in a hotel, but is that a good idea? Also I plan on traveling out of New York too, and there is a chance I will go alone. So is it safe for a 16 year old girl to be alone in a place she has never been before, especially in New York, or the states surrounding it? I know it’s dangerous for a girl to go anywhere alone, but it would be great if anyone could give me some advice.</p>
<p>lolno
10char</p>
<p>I’d look up the crime rates</p>
<p>Well, Im sure you would be fine but problem number one would be you will not be able to check into a hotel. Most hotels require you to be 18 and sometimes even 21 to check in. You are probably better off just roughing it on a couch or something at you family’s house.</p>
<p>Don’t be scared new York is not very dangerous. As long as you stay out of specific neighborhoods, and maybe have someone with you at night while you are out you’ll be good.</p>
<p>Sent from my SGH-T989 using CC</p>
<p>Totally! I venture out into Philadelphia, the second largest city on the East Coast and fifth largest city in the United States, by myself and I’ve turned out fine! Just try to be aware of your surroundings</p>
<p>It is not safe for you to stay alone in a hotel (although I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t be able to check in). However, it’s definitely safe to hang out in NYC alone, as long as you have some amount of common sense. Don’t let anyone know you’re here alone, don’t go anywhere isolated, etc etc etc. You can PM me if you have any specific questions about neighborhoods or places to stay. </p>
<p>–18 year old girl who lives in NYC</p>
<p>Shine1-
Appeal to your NY family and tell them you will gladly couch surf.
Reassure them that no one has to take time off work to show you around.
If you have a safe base in NYC then you can easily teach yourself to navigate the city solo.
But you have to show them you have researched how to get around yourself and show initiative by mapping how to get from their home to each college and back on the subway/bus.
I think they just don’t want to be responsible for you or they are supporting your parents’ wishes of not wanting you in NYC.</p>
<p>No. Try to find a good friend to accompany you or at least an older person in your family.</p>
<p>No, especially for a girl. Perhaps some exceptions can be made about specific areas, but NYC is particularly unsafe for a girl that is alone.</p>
<p>If you are independent and not stupid it shouldn’t be a problem. As someone from a mid-sized city in the midwest who has gone to a few big cities, I have a little advice.</p>
<h1>1 Don’t talk to people. If someone comes up and talks to you, the odds are good that the person is either working in tandem with a pickpocket or trying to otherwise con you. When random people talk to you or bump into you, always check your pockets (if you have them) and your purse. Even a closed purse can be cut open, so try to carry it somewhat in front of you by putting the back part of it in you armpit, especially in the metro.</h1>
<ol>
<li><p>Don’t be afraid of the metro, just be aware of pickpockets and don’t make it super obvious that you are a newbie. It can be a very easy and cheap method of transportation, but you might want to avoid it while people are going to and coming home from work. They get busy, and more crowds on metros=bad.</p></li>
<li><p>Don’t look lost, even if you are. If you have a smartphone, just sit down on a bench or something and make it look like you’re texting while you bring up a map. Also, ask either employees at stores or moderately well-off families for directions if you need to.</p></li>
<li><p>At night it might not be a good idea to go around alone in a city that you don’t know.</p></li>
<li><p>Ignore beggars. Just don’t make eye contact and walk past them. Some are up to no good and many are mentally ill. As a young girl travelling alone, they would cause nothing but trouble with you. It seems wrong at first, especially if you come from a really Christian family, and it’s really hard for some people (my parents) but you get used to it.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>You should honestly just bring a sleeping bag or sleep on a couch in your relatives’ place, though, since hotels seem like bad ideas.</p>
<p>Don’t go out at night alone. If you leave somewhere late, call a cab. Other than that, just use common sense and try not to get too friendly with people.</p>
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<p>I’m 18, male, and live in NYC and my mom still does not want me to go out alone.</p>
<p>Its as safe as it will get. Just don’t wander around when its late.</p>
<p>OP, it really depends on which part of New York City. I think what you should do is stay in public areas, libraries, parks, restaurants and stay with a group of friends. For a population of 8 million people, there’s not that much crime, so I wouldn’t be worried, but if you want, carry pepper spray and hold it when you don’t feel safe. Anyways you’ll only be staying there for a couple of days, you’re making kids who live in NYC look bad.</p>
<p>First off, where do live now, suburban, rural? Are you specifically talking about NYC or other colleges in the state? What is your experience in big cities? What other states are you planning on visiting and how do you plan to get to those? How long would you be gone? Are you comfortable traveling alone? Could you get a friend to go with you? </p>
<p>It’s a big undertaking. Good luck on your decision.</p>
<p>You will be fine. Even at night time, there are lots of people outside. Just keep to yourself when on the streets. It’s also really easy to learn the metro system. I would recommend not using the subway at night though. You will be safer in good neighborhoods, but even in bad neighborhoods you should still be extremely safe. What people don’t realize is that there are a ridiculous amount of police officers in NYC. You will be alright as long as you aren’t stupid about talking to strangers and whatnot.</p>