Ways of Traveling out of New York City while You’re Learning English April 26, 2017

As the days get longer and the temperatures warm up, you might start to feel the urge to get out of New York City for a bit and explore other areas of the country or even the world! While you’ve been in the city, you may have noticed that it’s relatively easy to get caught up in the day-to-day hustle and lifestyle, which makes it difficult to go outside of the city limits. I know that I have to remind myself every couple of months to take a trip outside of The Big Apple, even if it’s to visit family for the weekend or just hop on a train to a different town and explore what that other area has to offer. I start to get antsy in the spring and want to visit a place full of nature and quiet, or maybe I just want to travel to a different city and get a feel for another city’s speed and life. Really, it all depends on how I’m feeling at that time!

One of the greatest parts of living in New York City is that it’s a huge transportation hub—possibly the most populated in the country. This makes getting into (and getting out of!) the city a breeze. I’ll be breaking down all your options of travel for you so you can be prepared for the next trip you might have planned in the future to take advantage of the sunnier skies and warmer temperatures. If you’re still adjusting to the English language, this will also help you approach your travel options as better prepared. Plus, once you make this trip once, you’ll be a pro once you’re ready to come back to New York City on your return trip, and other people will be asking YOU for advice!

1. Buses

We’ll start with this method, as it’s arguably the cheapest option for travel outside of the city limits. Whether you’re traveling within New York state or the Tri-State region or if you’re looking to expand to other time zones, there are endless bus options for you. The Port Authority Bus Terminals offer all kinds of routes and bus lines depending on your needs—depending on your length of travel, your comfort requirements, or your time constraints, you can find anything that matches your bus wish list. Luckily, this terminal is so widely used, so if you find yourself having trouble translating or understanding what you need to do, there are endless booths and employees there that will help you find your destination and will explain the process to you. Again, if English isn’t your native language, New York City is the ultimate melting pot, so they’re used to hosting people from other areas of the world.

2. Trains

If you’re traveling somewhat locally, I’d recommend looking into NJ Transit for getting around the immediate outside regions of New York City. These routes are reasonably priced and offer quite a bit of variety when it comes to routes and times. If you’re traveling a bit farther away from New York City, Amtrak has got you covered. This is primarily how I travel when I go to visit friends or family in my hometown—it’s quick, reasonably priced, and very reliable. More than likely you’ll be leaving out Penn Station, located right next to Madison Square Garden, so you will be right in the center amongst other travelers, both locally and internationally. There will be many people there that are willing to help you translate if you’re struggling with English or if you’re having a hard time figuring out the process.

3. Planes

Again, since New York City is such a large transportation hub, you have great options when it comes to flying in and out of the city. No matter where your ultimate destination is, you are more than likely to find options at either La Guardia Airport or JFK Airport, both in Queens. Even if you can’t find anything that suits your needs at these two locations, I’ve also flown out of Newark, NJ a few times, and this airport has been a pleasant experience all around. Obviously, being at an airport should be a comfort to you if you’re adjusting to learning English since there will be many workers there willing to help you find your way or help you along with your translation.