Like many people I was super excited to visit New York and experience the yellow taxi’s, skyscrapers and giant burgers, and it did not disappoint. Living and working in London I assumed I was accustomed to city life and the busy streets of NYC would be no bother to me, however I was in for a shock. My trip made London seem quaint and cosy, New York City really never sleeps.

After a night flight we hurried to our hotel to get some much needed sleep, eager to see the city in its morning sun. The first day was spent getting our bearings and spotting all the recognisable sites such as the Empire state, Crysler building and Times Square. They are all as big and striking as I have seen on TV. We then decided to take a ferry tour around the island. This is highly recommendable if you want to get great pictures of the skyline and see the Statue of Liberty close up. The ferry took us around the island and under the famous bridges; this was great but beware of the wind! We found the guides to be very friendly and full of interesting facts and knowledge, pointing out sights we didn’t even consider, such as Pier 59, which is untouched and still waiting for the Titanic to dock.

The majority of our stay was spent mid to south of the island as this is where our hotel was situated, however on one particularity sunny day we walked to Central Park (I found that walking was the best way to get to our destinations as the streets are well linked and you get to appreciate the sights and discover much more on foot). Central Park really is huge and if you don’t have a map you are likely to get lost! We could not Visit New York City without getting to the top of a skyscraper and so we chose the Rockefeller centre. On the ground level we found an ice rink and lovely shops but the top is where you want to be. Whilst it was not the cheapest attraction to visit it really was worth the experience, and you can stay at the top as long as you want. If you get up there just before sunset the view will be amazing, as will your pictures as you can see right out to the Statue of Liberty.

Whilst exploring we did find some more affordable places to visit; Grand Central Station was a winner. As it’s a train station you can have a look around for free. The building is really extravagant and you can wonder at it whilst Shopping or having a rest at Magnolia Bakery. You wouldn’t even realise that it is a station rather a shopping centre, as I did not see a single train! The smaller districts were also a lovely way to escape the busy areas; Soho and Greenwich Village had many café’s and places to eat as well as smaller more unique shops to browse.

One of the most common things people ask about the city is the shopping. I could not write about New York without mentioning the shopping. The most recognisable departments would be Macy’s and Bloomingdales, which have floors and floors of products and people eager to get themselves a designer bargain and I have to admit we had no issues joining them. Make sure you remember to tell the assistant that you are a visitor and they will give you a 10% discount on your purchases, this was a very welcome surprise to us. We had no trouble paying on our FairFX Prepaid Currency Card and were able to use the app to top-up on the go. The shop assistants were far friendlier than I have experienced before and this really did make a difference when in such a faced paced place.

I could go on more about the experiences I had but I would still feel as though I did not get to see everything, and a second trip is in order. You need to be selective and plan what you want to see because there really is so much to do. I certainly will be going back, but after my five-day visit I was exhausted, it took another week at home to recover. For anyone who is planning on going this year, I’m very jealous!

Rosa Dods

• A step-by-step guide to using the FairFX App
• Simon England discusses "where to travel in 2014 to take your Pound further"
• FairFX Wins Best Dollar Travel Card Award
• A fun-filled weekend in Berlin
• TRAVEL MONEY - ON AND OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
• "Not a FairFX member? Well, if you're looking for the best currency rates - you should be!"
• TRAVEL MONEY TIPS - How to take your holiday money further
• Short Break in Madrid, with a Currency Card
• Short breaks that won’t leave you short on money this Valentine’s Day
• Sensing South America – Our Journey So Far