🇺🇸 7-Day Itinerary: New York → New Jersey → Philadelphia

Just wrapped up my first trip to the U.S.—super exciting! ✈️ Xiamen Airlines: 16 hours there, 17.5 hours back (my butt went numb 😵). Visited three iconic cities! 🏨 Accommodation: NYC: Hilton New York Times Square Right in Times Square 🎆, steps from the 42nd St subway 🚇. Room with a view of Times Square! No free toiletries/slippers/hairdryer. Only 2 water bottles provided. Original rate: ~$1000/night, but booked via Xianyu 🐟: 4 nights for $560 (~¥4000)—great value! 👍 DC: Hilton Washington DC Capitol Hill (Chinatown) 15-min walk to Union Station 🚉 and White House 🏛️. Xianyu deal: 3 nights for $470 (~¥3415). 🚇 Transport: NYC Subway offers single-ride, weekly, and monthly passes. Ticket machines have a Chinese language option! Recommended: 7-Day Unlimited Pass – $34 + $1 new card fee = ~¥257. 💡 The metro card is thin—don’t bend it! Swipe firmly or the turnstile won’t read it. Unlimited rides for 7 days. A single ride costs $3—so the weekly pass pays for itself after 12 rides. Use Google Maps 🗺️ and check “Uptown” vs “Downtown” direction! No security checks, but stations are old. AirTrain to JFK/LGA: $8.5 (not covered by weekly pass). 💰 Tipping Culture: U.S. has strong tipping customs. At sit-down restaurants: 18%–30% tip 🧾 (often automatically added). Fast food (McDonald’s 🍔) or self-service kiosks: choose “Skip” for no tip. Food stalls or takeaway: usually no tip. Stand-up eateries: also no tip (yes, some places have no seats!). 👮 Safety: Many unhoused people on streets (often Black individuals). Some may ask for money/food—just ignore, keep walking, don’t engage. I was asked twice in NYC, once in Philly—said nothing and walked away. Lots of police patrols 🚓—felt safer than rumors online. Cannabis is legal 🍃—smell is strong in some areas. Better to avoid going out after 10 PM. 🍜 Food: Eating can be challenging—so many burgers and tacos 🌮! Strongly recommend Flushing, Queens 🚇🍜—it’s like a slice of China in the U.S.! I went 3 out of 4 days (30-min subway from Manhattan). Other cities? Just head to Chinatown when you miss real food 😉. #NewYorkTravel #USATrip #TravelTips #NYCSubway #SoloTravel #EastCoastUSA