New York City is one of the most influential and historic cities in the world, and is a place everyone should visit at least once. It is easy to get the impression that a vacation in NYC would inherently be very expensive, but that is actually a misconception. Sure, you could splurge on a fancy hotel, Broadway tickets, and eat out for every meal to rack up one hell of a price tag. But the true magic of the city permeates from every street corner, and you don’t need to shell out the big bucks in order to experience it. If the prospect of taking a cheap vacation to New York City interests you, then read on as we break down how to take a bite out of the Big Apple while staying under budget.
Finding Cheap Flights to New York City
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If you want to try and find cheap, last-minute flights to New York City, you will be at the mercy of the market with no way to predict when prices may drop. For this tactic, you will want to sign up for fare alerts when you complete a GoLastMinute flight search so that you can keep an eye on prices and strike while the iron is hot. Conversely, buying flight tickets as far in advance as possible is the best way to ensure you are not overpaying. You may miss out on a good deal if prices do end up dropping, but prices usually go up as the date of a flight approaches, so it is unlikely.
Best Places to Stay in NYC
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When looking for cheap accommodations, you’ll want to keep your options open to places outside of Manhattan. While it is possible to find a hotel or Airbnb under US$100 per night in Manhattan, there are even more options elsewhere, and the subway system can get you onto the island in suitable time. When you find a hotel that you like, consider what attractions you are most likely to visit, then check how long public transit will take to get you there. That should help you determine whether or not the deal will be worth it. For a good place to start, Queens, Harlem, Bushwick, and Greenpoint are a few of the neighborhoods that offer budget friendly accommodations.
Buses and Trains Over Cars and Cabs
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New York’s streets are notoriously congested, and cab rides are not particularly cheap. Fortunately, NYC has a pretty good public transit system made up of subway lines and buses that should be more than sufficient to get you where you need to go. These include subways that will take you on and off the island, sometimes in as little as 10 minutes. Currently, the subway costs US$2.90 per ride, which can add up over the course of your trip. But it is negligible when compared to what it would cost to hire cabs or rent a car. It also operates 24 hours a day, meaning you won’t be limited on how late you can stay out.
Street Food and Groceries
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Eating out in New York is another way to inflate your vacation’s price tag, so avoid full service restaurants as much as possible. All over the city you will find street food stalls and small bodegas offering much more affordable options. This kind of food is arguably more true to the New York experience anyway, so you shouldn’t feel like you are missing out. Beyond that, groceries in NYC are not that much more expensive than anywhere else, so you can supplement your diet with fresh produce and packaged goods for basically the same price that you would spend at home.
Parks, Museums, and Historic Sites
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Now that you have your budget figured out, you can focus on what you are going to be doing during your visit. Ironically, this is the easiest part as there is no shortage of free and cheap things to do in New York City. There are nearly 2,000 parks in the city, more than a hundred museums, and nearly as many national historic sites. Beyond that, simply walking around places like Times Square, the High Line, or Rockefeller Center is a worthy activity itself. See street performers at Central Park, ride the free Staten Island Ferry around the Statue of Liberty, or hang out at one of the free public beaches. With so much history, character, and culture, it is impossible to run out of things to do in New York City.
