Tips and tricks to Save Money in New York
New York City, once the symbol of a new opportunity and a new life, is now one of the most popular cities in the world. Millions of tourists flock to New York every year, spending much of their hard-earned money on hotels and expensive dining. After all, they are in the Big Apple, right? They have earned the right to splurge.
Budget-conscious travelers, however, need not shun New York. Despite its glitz and glamour, the city that never sleeps is also welcoming to those with a limited budget. Here are some tips to save money in New York.
1. How to Find Cheap & Accommodation
According to a recent CNN news report, New York tops the list for the most expensive hotels worldwide. If you want to save your money, avoid them at all costs.
There are actually lots of places to stay in New York that won’t cost you a fortune. The first place to look at is the various motels that are scattered around the city and the outskirts. Those cost a fraction of the four- and five-star hotels in Manhattan.
Check out the hostels in the city as well that offer cheap accommodation, as well as the YMCA that budget travelers have found so helpful.
The best advice here is to do a lot of research prior to your trip. Going to New York out of season would be best as hotel prices drop dramatically. It would also help to draft your itinerary beforehand. Look at which places you want to visit and find accommodation closer to those places. You don’t want to spend cheaply on a room but spend a lot on transportation!
2. How to Save Money at New York Restaurants
When you are in New York, the best way to eat is as the locals do. They know all the tricks of the trade when it comes to eating out on a budget. The first thing to consider is street food. All New Yorkers use street traders when buying their food. You can choose from hot dogs, pretzels, burritos, roasted chestnuts, burgers, and so much more.
Another option is to explore ethnic restaurants such as Jewish, Italian, or Asian eateries. These places are a lot cheaper than European eating options. Deli counters are another great idea; they’re not only filling, they can be pretty cheap too. They are the old New York institutions for lunchtimes and they serve huge gourmet sandwiches and blue-plate meals at a really reasonable price.
3. Use Public Transport in New York
NYC offers a 24-hour public transport system and it’s the cheapest way of traveling around the city. There are options to purchase travel cards and the best saver you can get is the metro card which you can buy based on duration or usage.
Avoid taxicabs as much as you can, otherwise, you’d run out of money too soon!
4. Get Discounts to Entertainment Or Enjoy Free Attractions!
There are an abundance of things to do for free in New York. An absolute favorite among travelers is the most famous park in the world—Central Park. It’s huge, and there are a lot of things you can do there. There are even free walking tours that you can join. Just bring your lunch, your Kindle, and you’re all set for an afternoon in the park.
Take a ride as well on the Staten Ferry that will take you to Staten Island for free. Absorb the atmosphere; what did the immigrants feel a hundred years ago when they first set their sights on the Statue of Liberty? Did they feel that their new life has already started?
Visit New York’s public library, as it’s one of the oldest buildings in the city, and definitely see the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building! If you want to go inside and explore it more, there’s an admission fee, but if you just want to look at it from a distance, you won’t have to pay a cent.
Finally, go to Times Square and bask in the ambience. It would be so much nicer to be there with someone special on New Year’s Eve. The countdown is an unparalleled experience.
Despite being on a budget, if you can afford one indulgence, go catch a show on Broadway, it will be totally worth it!
There are so many things you can do in New York, from sightseeing and shopping, to looking for all the famous buildings seen in the movies and strolling through Central Park. Make sure to visit there, even when you’re on a budget, and you’ll see what the fuss is about in the city that never sleeps.
