Joining your tour in New York?

Meeting Point:

There is a pre-departure briefing at the lobby of HI New York City Hostel at 12pm noon on Day 1 of your trip. Here you can meet your Adventure Leader and the rest of your first group. If you are going to be late to the pre-departure briefing, please inform us of this by emailing our Ops team on trips@thecoyotetrip.com.

Your hostel’s address:

HI New York City Hostel
891 Amsterdam Ave
New York, NY 10025

Phone Number: +1 212-932-2300

Room Upgrades:

If you have booked a room upgrade, you will still be based at the HI New York City Hostel.

How to get to your hostel:

By Taxi: You can use UBER or LYFT from arrivals at any of the city’s major airports. Do be aware that traffic is heavy in NYC!

By Public Transportation: The 103 Street metro station is the nearest one to the HI New York City Hostel – this is on the  IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line, and is served by the 1 Train. If you need specific guidance on using the subway to get to the accommodation from your arrival airport, email our team on info@thecoyotetrip.com.

Meeting Your Fellow Coyotes

Part of the joy of group travel is making new friends – and we want to help make that as easy as possible. For every trip, we create a WhatsApp group in advance, where you can meet and chat to your fellow Coyotes. By the time you touch down in America, you’ll be firm friends!

Our Ultimate Packing Check List

On all of our trips you will be required to carry your own bags, so pack light. United States has tonnes of markets and shops in case you forget something, and you can always borrow from others in your group – that’s what friends are for!

Documents:

• Passport (with a copy of the photo page)
• Details of your insurance policy
• Student card (if you have one)

Money:

• Your credit/debit card (be careful of high fees when withdrawing cash or using your card overseas, and make sure your bank knows you will be travelling ahead of time.)
• Currency – US Dollars.

The Essentials:

• First Aid Kit (with any basic painkillers or medications you need to take.)
• Phone (and battery pack for nights camping)
• Camera and charger (unless you use your phone)
• T-shirts
• Shorts/Skirts
• Long pants (for walking)
• Swimming costume
• Flipflops
• Sensible walking shoes/hiking boots
• Towel (quick drying towels recommended)
• Washbag
• Mosquito repellent
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Lightweight waterproof jacket
• Earplugs (for a better sleep in the dorms)
• Locks for bags
• Waterproof backpack cover (optional)

Top Tips from The Coyote Trip

Try saying that tongue twister really fast.

On the weather

• If you are travelling in the summer then expect some really warm days and pack accordingly. However, be aware that the weather can be a fair bit cooler on the East Coast, especially in Boston.

On how to travel sustainably:

• Packing as light as possible keeps your carbon footprint low. We recommend 10-15kg especially as you are expected to carry your own luggage. If you are on The Full Coyote Trip or the Coast to Coast trip, then be aware that your flight from Boston to Las Vegas is included and you can take the following baggage free of charge: a checked bag up to 20kg as well as a small rucksack as hand luggage.
• Use local laundry services. This money goes straight into the local community and is available in most of our hostels..
• Pack a reusable water bottle. You can use tap water which reduces your need for single use plastics on tour.

Stay Connected:

• Your Adventure Leader will invite you to a WhatsApp group chat to keep in touch with you and the rest of your group.
• Maps.me: This is a great app to stop yourself from getting lost! You can download it to your phone for free. We recommend downloading many maps from different cities in America before your trip and using these maps later when you don’t have Wi-Fi.
• Bring electronic products at your own risk. Some customers choose to travel with iphones, tablets and laptops, but although theft is rare on The Coyote Trip there is petty crime in some areas we visit.
• Downloading either LYFT or UBER means you’ll be able to book online and pay in the app. They’re useful and safe and can be used across America.

Food & Drink:

• There will be lots of great nights out on The Coyote Trip, but please remember to always drink within your limits. Never journey home by yourself at night and never leave another person in the group alone. Always follow the legal drinking age limit which is 21 in America.
• Drugs are illegal in America. If our guides see you committing any crime while traveling with us, they are obliged to report to head office and to the police, so please don’t put them in that position!
• The food is delicious throughout America, and the cultural diversity across the country means there’s plenty to try. Your Adventure Leader will be ready to give you recommendations!
• If you’re vegan or vegetarian, the Happy Cow app will show you local recommendations for your dietary needs.
• Please inform your Adventure Leader if you have any allergies, so they can assist where needed.

Pack respect for others:

• You may meet many people from lots of different backgrounds and cultures on this trip. You may have different opinions or ways of doing things. Treat everyone how you wish to be treated and remember to work together as a group.
• Always try to arrive a couple of minutes early to check outs or departure times. Being late may mean missing transport connections, and you don’t want to delay the whole group.

Navigating a new culture:

• Be respectful of local culture and avoid talking politics, with strangers, as this can be a divisive issue with polarised opinions on both sides.

America tipping policy:

• Tipping in bars and restaurants is certainly expected and not tipping when you eat will be seen as rude. 15%-20% for food and a dollar a drink is a decent rule of thumb but feel free to be more generous if you receive very good service!
• Tipping in America is common-place, so feel free to tip your guides if you feel that their service was good. You are not obligated to do so, but if you would like to then go ahead!

Contact Us

Any questions or feedback? Contact our London Team: info@thecoyotetrip.com

(Please note that this email is only monitored from Monday to Friday, between 9:00 and 17:30 UK time)

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