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It's only as dangerous as you make it. If you have street smarts you will be fine anywhere. I'd say the only thing to worry about is if you are into the party/bar scene. Anything can happen when you get drunk..anywhere.
I would be scared to go to Texas for the same reasons your parents are concerned about you coming here. LOL
I'm normally a big advocate of women traveling alone - that is, for women not to shy away from experiences just because they may not have a man to escort them. But it does somehow seem a little odd for someone at 21, and I'm wondering what's behind this, if there's a secret unspoken dream or hope. It would make more sense if you were visiting someone, or traveling with a friend.
The way you write of your situation, I'm guessing that you may still be living with your parents and have never lived out on your own. If that's the case, I can understand their concern. You also don't say anything about ever having travelled alone before. It's true that NYC is generally considered a safe place, although we had two recent awful crimes with tourists - but my thought is that your parents may think that you haven't yet developed the "radar" that helps you discern when you're getting into unsafe situations. If I'm guessing right, that you're always lived at home and never travelled anywhere by yourself, it's possible that your parents may have a point.
Hope you are going with a friend, just because it's a lot more fun than being alone.
NYC is not that dangerous. There are very very few areas below 100th St. in Manhattan considered problematic and even those are problems only past midnight.
You can do whatever you want but it sounds odd. Turning 21 isn't something most people celebrate alone. And no matter how responsible you think you are, no matter how well you believe you can hold your liquor you have no experience. I am a grown woman with years of experience and I don't feel safe alone at the bar. It's just not smart, it basically makes you a target. Especially if you're from out of town and cute. There's men out there unfortunately that prey on girls like you. For some guys drunk = yes.
I hate to say this but going alone as a young women will just limit you - heck a young guy going alone will be limiting. If you want to go out and drink you might be dealing with someone picking you up that you don't want to or getting lost late at night and although in a safe place increase your chances to be a victim of crime. The most common crime in the tourist areas is theft of electronic devices and purses/wallets usually late at night. For example a big upcoming hip hop producer was robbed from his car on W46th Street and had thousands of dollars taken from him. Such a big robbery is uncommon but still a small possibility.
Now as has been said if you stick to daytime stuff and do evening things not involving drinking too much and you work with the hostel to arrange taxis at night if you are in an unfamiliar area then you should be fine for your first visit.
But I think you would have more fun with a friend. Possibly try a guided tour and see what their thoughts are. This guy is good: Jared the NYC Tour Guide | About Jared Goldstein. Consider Also check the NYC.gov site.
Just to illustrate I a middle aged adult got a little lost in the South Bronx despite preparing as best as I could to set a route to the area I wanted to go. I ended up in an area where when I asked for directions from the employees of the business (a go go club) one of the guys asked if I knew where I was. I said I did and had a little experience being near or in what were considered unsafe areas. The employees were quite helpful and led me in a safe direction to my destination. I have lived in NYC for 20 years. I doubt you will venture to where I went which eventually was a safe small section of the Bronx, but in some ways as a newcomer you will be like me in that situation. I should have had another guy with me in hindsight or did this during the daytime.
Email the tour guide for prices and his thoughts on your NYC trip. I do think you could have a good time alone, I just think you'd have a GREAT time with a friend or someone you know.
Goodness! I thought I'd get emails when someone replied, but I didn't!
Thank you so much to everyone that replied! I have lived out on my own before, but I am currently living by myself at my father's house. He works in a different state. Also, I certainly don't plan on going out to bars. I might go to one just to say I did, but that's about it. I really plan on doing tours and seeing shows on and off Broadway. I don't see myself having a hard time finding someone at the hostel to hang out with though. Also, I'm from Dallas and the surrounding areas, so I'm very used to cities. Maybe not quite like NY, but Dallas is still cool. I go to plays at a place called The Under Main by myself in Deep Ellum, and I've never had problems there.
That's exactly what I thought with the taxis. I think my dad was trying to throw something at me as a reason for me not to go. Keep in mind that both of my parents were raised in very, VERY small towns. As in the church, the gas station, and the school was all they had. My sister and I were raised in Dallas.
As I said, I am definitely NOT going on my birthday! I don't drink much as it is (nor do I do anything crazy--the craziest thing I've done is get a tattoo three weeks after ankle surgery!), so I definitely won't be drinking a lot in NY. Honestly, I think my trip is mostly going to be to shows and cultural locations around the city. The mother of my mom's girlfriend has sculptures and paintings in the Museum of Modern Art, and my mom's girlfriend has a nephew that lives in Manhattan that has volunteered to show me around town a bit. So, I won't be completely alone the entire time. =]
Honestly, my biggest fear is the plane. I haven't been on a plane by myself since I was four. Yes, you read that right. Four. Even then I'm not terrified.
I'm a very independent young woman, and I love to experience different cultures. This isn't some party trip or a soul mate searching trip. I'm honestly going because I want to experience a different place for myself and not through the thoughts of someone else. It might be a little selfish, but I don't want to have to bend my plans to fit someone else's likes and dislikes. Is that bad? Maybe. I plan on spending my actual birthday with my family and close friends, and the trip to NY is a gift to myself. =]
Again, thank you so much to everyone who replied! =]
I would be curious about if you picked The Bowery House by location first, or price first. You are reasonably close to the 6 train, a local, as opposed to an express, so you can get most anywhere in Manhattan from there, Uptown or Downtown. where a visitor would want to go.
I would freak if my daughter, when she was 21, (she is still in her 20's) would even think of traveling alone if she was from Texas. Listen to your parents. You won't know it all till you get out on your own for a while. Going with a friend or relative is what this dad would suggest.
I notice you have not replied to any of the questions that have been asked, so maybe you aren't serious. This is a great forum for getting NYC info on nearly any subject. Use it often and use it wisely.
I would be curious about if you picked The Bowery House by location first, or price first. You are reasonably close to the 6 train, a local, as opposed to an express, so you can get most anywhere in Manhattan from there, Uptown or Downtown. where a visitor would want to go.
I would freak if my daughter, when she was 21, (she is still in her 20's) would even think of traveling alone if she was from Texas. Listen to your parents. You won't know it all till you get out on your own for a while. Going with a friend or relative is what this dad would suggest.
I notice you have not replied to any of the questions that have been asked, so maybe you aren't serious. This is a great forum for getting NYC info on nearly any subject. Use it often and use it wisely.
I'm most definitely serious about coming. =] I tried to answer the questions that one person asked in general, but I'm not sure if you missed that post or if I just didn't explain myself well. I'm coming to New York to enjoy myself and travel a little. Not to party or anything like that. I want to see shows and enjoy things that I don't get to experience in Texas. I don't plan on drinking by myself (I'm not a big drinker or into the whole party scene). I mostly plan on seeing shows on and off Broadway, going on a few tours, going to museums, and hunting down good places to eat. I plan on hitting the museums hard.
I was looking into getting the 7 Day Unlimited Metro Card, actually! =] I found that online and thought it was a great deal. Can you purchase it online or only at stations? Here, we have passes like that, but I've ever only bought them at stations.
Also, like I said, I will be meeting with the nephew of my mother's girlfriend, so he is family. He lives in Manhattan and wants to take me around town. I have invited different friends, but none of them can afford it or want to go. However, I'm okay with travelling alone, and I think I'll like it. The main concern of my parents is that I'll end up getting hurt, but based on research and the posts of others, New York isn't as bad as people make it out to be. Of course, no doing anything stupid. No drinking, no running around at night, etc. I completely understand why my parents are scared for me, but they let my sister go to Vegas for her twenty-first birthday. She is the party animal and the binge drinker. I saw what happened to her and backed as far away from that as possible! I don't like throwing up, thank you!
By the way, thank you to astroia 34567 for recommending Jared! I've been looking over the website, and I think I'll be contacting him closer to the end of September/ early October. =]
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