Destination: Brooklyn, NY

Flight: If you book in well in advance, and depending on which airport, you can purchase a round trip ticket for under $300.

Hotels: Unlike Manhattan, hotels can sometimes be hard to come by according to where you stay in the Burroughs. The Days INN on 39th St. in Brooklyn is a good value if you want to get the real Burroughs experience. Nestled in the Greenwood area, this inexpensive hotel offers rooms for as low as $135/night, but I would not recommend it for the inexperienced traveler who might wanna pay the NY premium for a location more conducive to visitors.

News/Current Events affecting Travel: N/A

Language: Brooklyn is an extremely diverse area, and I am sure you could find a neighborhood that speaks any language, but of course we are still in America, so your English will do fine. Just Remember the Brooklyn slogan, “Faagetaboutit”

Culture: Brooklyn is one of the most diverse cities in the United States and is a hot bed for culture, but in order to experience it, you’re going to have to hit the streets, and explore neighborhoods. If you are a less experienced traveler, or want to see the generic NY images you see on the post cards, stick to Manhattan. The real NY is not forgiving, so you got to be on your p’s and q’s. However, this being said the whole image of a mugger waiting around every corner is a gross exaggeration. If you have some level of street smarts, you’ll do ok. Rely on local advice. These people have often been in the same neighborhoods for many generations and they know their areas like the back of their hand. Contrary to popular opinion, NY is not made up of angry guarded people, and they will talk to you, but absolutely do not waist their time. Time is money in this bustling city, and people guard theirs very closely. Other than this, get explorative (keeping caution in mind) and find out why Brooklyn is so rewarding. And don’t be fooled by exteriors. The faces of buildings in Brooklyn are very deceiving, the most exclusive clothing stores or restaurants sometimes have rough graffiti covered exteriors. That’s just the way it goes here.