You know it. You just do. Going to NYC will cost ya! (Well, to tell the truth, traveling anywhere has its unavoidable expenses and serendipitous must-have purchases.) But there are things you can do to ease the financial pain.
Enjoying the sights of Chinatown costs little — unless you’re shopping for folks back home!
When we decided (on a lark, I might add) to trip off to the Big Apple in December to get into the Christmas spirit, we knew we had to be budget travelers. Oh, sure, you say. Stay on a budget during one of the busiest seasons in one of the most traveled places in the U. S.? But cut corners we did. And here are some tips that worked for us.
1. Do your homework on transportation.
First, take a look at airline flights if that’s how you’ll get to NYC. Once you click onto an airline, enter the Flexible Days arena. There you’ll find flights that can be half the cost of flying on a busy weekend in and out of the city. If you have the luxury of flexible flying, you can save a bundle, and that’s good news for retirees, casual travelers, and last-minute tourists like us. (Our weekday Delta departure and return from Knoxville to New York’s LaGuardia was $173.00 compared to the over $300 and $400 flights on the weekends.)
And do a bit of research, too, on ground transportation from the airport to your destination. We were directed to Carmel Limousine Service by the owners of the apartment we rented, and, despite some not-so-favorable reviews on the web, the limo and driver couldn’t have been more accommodating or affordable. Other sites to check are Uber, Lyft, and the Super Shuttle (which could add numerous stops depending on who’s in the van at the time). Just enter your destination, time of day, etc., and do a bit of comparing.
2. Think about lodging and location.
Of course, if you’re only visiting NYC for New Year’s Eve, you may want to stay near Times Square. But if you want to blend in with the locals, experience some of the neighborhoods, and stay in quieter locales, look for alternative lodging. We found an apartment on the Upper West Side near Central Park with positive ratings on TripAdvisor, but other sites may also have just what you’re looking for: AirBnB, HomeAway, or any of the B&B sites like bnbfinder.com, bedandbreakfast.com or bbonline.com.
The advantage? You can save money and see another side of the city by staying in the ‘burbs, so to speak, where you can avail yourself of what the area affords permanent residents. Our apartment with one bedroom with queen bed, kitchen and newly remodeled bath cost $170.00 per night, a far cry from what we’ve paid before to be near the theater district and Times Square. Plus, our owner/manager knew the city well and shared invaluable tips on transportation, eating, sightseeing, etc.
3. Get a MetroCard.
Because we needed transportation to all the museums, parks, and department stores (We wanted to see the windows, after all!), our apartment owner gave us the best piece of advice for saving money: Buy a one-week MetroCard for $31.00. With the price of one subway or local bus ride costing $2.75, we knew we had a bargain with unlimited rides for seven days for only $31.00. (Be sure to check the MTA site for more info on how and where to buy, use, and reload.) The side benefits can’t be stressed enough: on-time subways offer expediency, and buses let you see the city from the comfort of your seat — without the hassle of driving yourself!!!
Subways were our friend! Punctual, safe, nearby. (Image credit: Wikimedia Commons)
4. Watch what you eat!
Now if you’re a foodie hoping to traipse through the city in search of highest rated restaurants and chefs, skip this section. You’ll have to map out your locales, hire drivers or use your MetroCard, and pony up for foie gras! But if you’re more interested in sightseeing than eating, pace yourself. First, eat only two meals a day. If you’re staying where breakfast is free (like the national chain hotels usually), then dig in and enjoy the savings. Eat a big dinner in early evening. But even if breakfast isn’t free, consider cooking if you have a kitchen or eating a continental breakfast in your room.
A meal at Jason’s Pickles on the Upper West Side will fill you up for the day!
Second, head to the local convenient store/neighborhood market for fresh produce, baked goods, quick snacks, or precooked items. It’s fun to see what’s served locally (and how much food costs in a different part of the country), and you’ll save money over those restaurant prices, too. If you’re lucky, you may stumble onto a sidewalk market — usually on the weekends — where you can do the farm-to-table thing right in the big city!
5. Strike a bargain at the museums.
Our apartment manager gave us another tip that even some of our friends who live in NYC didn’t know: you don’t have to pay the recommended prices for tickets at museums subsidized by the city of New York. If you see Recommended Price at the admission booth, you can offer less to tour the museum. Museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History, The Cloisters and many others will take what you feel you can afford to pay. Other museums (like Guggenheim Museum Soho, Museum of American Folk Art, and Snug Harbor Cultural Center) are free every day. (Click here for the complete list.) You can also weigh the option of passes such as CityPass, the New York Pass, or New York City Explorer Pass that bundle multiple sites for one lower price.
Inside the stately Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC
Don’t forget: Some of the best things in NYC really are free — visiting St. Patrick’s Cathedral, talking to vendors in Bryant Park, watching food handlers in Chinatown, creating an avatar at Macy’s, and strolling through neighborhoods.
What you spend on a trip to NYC is up to you! Hope you can use one or more of our ideas, but please feel free to add your tips below for how to see NYC on a budget.
And check out other posts in the Christmas Holiday NYC series. Thanks for traveling with us!!!
— Bert and Rusha
Credit: Image of subway from Wikimedia Commons
This post has been linked to Monday Escapes #27. Check out the other great posts on My Travel Monkey and Packing My Suitcase.
Encore Voyage
New York City is on Our List. I’ll remember and use your advice! Thanks for a great post!
Oh, the Places We See
Ya gotta go. So much to do and see. And all the New Yorkers we met were just as friendly as Southerners! It’s a win-win.
mytravelmonkey
Really great advice – I like the idea that you only have to pay what you can afford in the museums. And getting a metrocard! We walked everywhere, too! Thanks for linking up with #MondayEscapes
Oh, the Places We See
Glad you enjoyed our experiences in NYC — would love a return trip! And thanks, too, for encouraging me to link up with #MondayEscapes. What a great idea!
Julie Smith
Good tips – as a former New Yorker, I’m always happily surprised by the deals to be had in NYC. One other tip – there are a few weekly email subscriptions that I used to get that would detail all of the free/cheap things to do in the city all week (I think it’s called The Skint). It was a fantastic resource!
Oh, the Places We See
Julie, thanks for passing along this suggestion. I’ll Google to see what I can find from Skint or something similar. I know that big cities are more expensive. They just are. But we had no problem finding affordable transportation, entry to exhibits, and even food. I’m already calculating on when and how we might get back to NYC. Thanks for commenting!
dawnkinster
This is great! Thank you so much for all the wonderful advice! I am hoping we get to NYC sometime in 2016!!
Oh, the Places We See
I hope you get to NYC in 2016 or any year, for that matter. It’s a great city! Thanks for taking a look at my post. Maybe it will give you some ideas of some places to see.
infodreamall
Thanks for the tips and advice. I love to travel..
Oh, the Places We See
You’re welcome. Thanks for stopping by the blog!
Camp That Site
All great trip especially the free activities. There are so many thing to do that do t cost a dime or at least do t cost many dimes. I love it there and would return in an instant
Oh, the Places We See
I’d return in an instant, too!In fact, I’m thinking of ways to save up for a return trip. So little time, so much to see in NYC!
Amy
Great advice! You can apply these tips to other cities, too.
Oh, the Places We See
You are so right, Amy. I should have mentioned that. And most travelers do the same as we do. I just thought it bears repeating — don’t stay home just because you think it’s not doable. Even NYC is affordable!
tappjeanne
Great tips, Rusha! Always – make like a local!
Oh, the Places We See
We need to do this in more cities — stay where locals do, eat local, etc. May have to try AirBnB someday!
JanetRimmington
Awesome! Thanks for the tour and the tips….
Oh, the Places We See
You are so welcome, Janet. We have never had quite the same experience in NYC, and I think if we get to go back, we’ll either stay in the same apartment or another one. Living local is a lot of fun!
Neil Fischer
great tips….thorough and topical!
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks, Neil. It was a different vacation for us, but one we’d love to repeat. Might be fun to stay in a different neighborhood to get a feel for another part of the city.
Curt Mekemson
Good advice Bert and Rusha, well thought out and presented. –Curt
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks! Are you home from Burning Man?
Curt Mekemson
Burning Man actually takes place around the Labor Day weekend, Rusha. I am writing about it now because this is the time of the year when people get tickets for the coming year. It’s a way of giving newcomers a view of what they are getting into and old times a way to reminisce. –Curt
Oh, the Places We See
I thought it wasn’t happening now, but didn’t get on the Internet to confirm. I’ve enjoyed reading your “round-up” posts that gather like things together. I’m a bit behind, however, but will soon have catch-up day. You’re quite the writer, Curt. And an adventurer, too!
Curt Mekemson
Thanks. I do love adventures. 🙂 –Curt