first solo trip to new york: how do you get around?

I’ve always traveled with family, so planning a trip on my own feels like jumping into the deep end. I’m finally ready to face my fear of flying and go somewhere by myself—New York City, of all places! I’m only staying for about 24 hours, flying out of Minnesota on a Friday night and coming back Saturday night. It sounds simple, but the details are already stressing me out. Packing is the easy part (just a change of clothes and my phone charger), but figuring out how to get around in NYC is another story. I keep hearing horror stories about New York traffic—makes me wonder if renting a car is just asking for trouble. But then again, Uber isn’t exactly cheap, especially if I want to check out a few different spots. The subway seems like an adventure in itself, but is it safe and easy to use if you’ve never been before? I’d love to stay somewhere close to good food and shopping—grabbing a great burger is high on my list. But with so many neighborhoods, how do you even pick a hotel that’s not a total rip-off but still close to the action? I feel like every movie makes Manhattan look magical, but I’m guessing it’s not all glitz and glamour in real life. Anyone else ever felt totally lost planning their first solo trip? #solotravel #newyorkcity #firstflight #Travel