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New York City Travel Tips

Last Updated: September 24, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 37 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

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Hey everyone! I am currently in St. Thomas (WOOHOO!) and have some wonderful posts lined up for while I’m gone. I always love finding new blogs, so I hope you enjoy these great writers who were actually willing to guest post for me 😛 Don’t forget to read Emily’s post yesterday on Why She Loves Her Budget.

You read that right, I’m giving you tips on how to see the Big Apple (and the whole apple, not just a bite-sized portion) on the cheap!

NYC is a city that you can do as much, or as little as you want. We wanted to eat up as much of the Big Apple as our budgets possibly would allow and so we I neurotically started looking for deals and ways to save costs in as many areas as possible. Here are areas I was able to find substantial savings:

Flights

Already being on the east cost (of Canada, mind you) it helped when it came time to fly (crossing many time zones gets more expensive). I scoured flight sales like it was my job and we finally settled on open-jaw return flights.

Flying open-jaw (into one airport but out of another) can save money. We decided to fly into NJ (Newark) and out of NYC (JFK). For our flights, it was $50.00 less/ticket to do it this way rather than in and out of the same port. I understand that this isn’t always an option, but in NYC you have three airports to choose from.

 

Transportation

I think it goes without saying that if you’re going to Manhattan, you can probably do without a car rental, unless you have a death wish or are a thrill seeker. We arranged a pick-up from Newark airport from the place we were staying for $25.00. All I did was simply ask. We also saved money by taking the subway or cabbing it when the distance was too far to walk.

We also managed to score a sweet limo ride for the same rate as a cab. Cab drivers, although they have rates and regulations to abide by, were more than willing to negotiate flat rates with us.

 

Lodging

This is the area we saved the most money. With the power of Google I was able to rent an apartment for a week (6 nights, 7 days) for $900.00 total. That’s $150.00/night divided by two couples. We had a renovated two bedroom apartment on the upper east side with full kitchen/bathroom/living room/TV/Internet.

Given that we had a kitchen we saved a ton on food as well because we bought a few groceries, ate breakfast every morning and had snacks with us when we were touring the city. We also saved because internet/tv was included, something a lot of midtown apartments/hotels will charge a fee for. We were two blocks from the subway or a $10.00 cab ride into Times Square.

It was also really nice because as much as I love the beat of the city, it was nice to get away from the noise at the end of the day and retire to our little home for the week. It was through this apartment rental that the owner arranged for his brother to pick us up from the airport for $25.00. When renting apartments online, make sure they’re a legit organization before sending any deposits and if you get a bad feeling- go with your gut!

 

Sightseeing/Events

The weeks leading up to the trip we got together and made lists of ”must-see places” as well as other ”would be nice to see” lists. Given that we were travelling with like-minded people we agreed on all points for our must-do’s making it much easier. We ended up buying a ”GO NYC city pass” which is basically a card that gains you entrance to many tourist attractions for one low price. I had previously purchased one for a trip to Boston and was happy with it. Check their site out to get a better idea (note: there is no affiliation here, I just think it’s a great product!).

We used stubhub for sporting events (NFL and NHL games) and saved a ton of money vs. using direct ticket sales. If you’ve never been to NYC, you may not know that you can get discounted Broadway tickets in the center of times square at a kiosk, you may have to wait in line for a while but the shows are often 40-60% off! We also got a discount on seeing the Rockettes Christmas Special by signing up for their e-mail newsletter and being one of the first people to buy tickets to their season opener.

 

Food

As previously mentioned we saved a great deal by eating every breakfast in our little apartment. Along with the GoNYC city pass, we were offered discounts to a few restuants which we used any time we could. We also had the famous NYC ”street meat”, a great cheap (not-so-calorie-friendly) lunch. There were a few places we weren’t willing to compromise including a trip to the famous Lombardi’s Pizza in Little Italy, a MUST stop if you go to NYC (America’s first pizzeria). Although we did plan a few nice dinners out, we saved money by going to some of the more expensive places for lunch rather than supper.

It was a great trip and I can’t wait to go back! This time I need to convince my hubby to see the Bodies exhibit with me though….

Catherine is a wife, momma and dental professional by day. She’s also the voice behind her blog Plunged in Debt where she chronicles her and her husbands journey to debt freedom. You can read her full debt story here or follow her on Twitter.

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37 Comments
Filed Under: Budget, Travel Tagged With: Budget, Travel

About Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Michelle is the founder of Making Sense of Cents, a blog about personal finance and traveling. She discusses how her business has evolved in her side income series. She paid off $40,000 in student loans by the age of 24 mainly due to her freelancing side hustles. Click here to learn more about starting a blog!

Comments

  1. Glen @ MPB says

    December 17, 2012 at 5:24 am

    I've always wanted to visit NY, although i'm glad you said not to hire a car, as we normally do that whenever we go away somewhere. Surely it can't be that bad?
    My recent post Making it through the month – $100 Cash Giveaway

    Reply
    • leslie says

      December 17, 2012 at 7:07 am

      Driving in nyc is fine once you realize that normal laws of the road don't apply. It is organized chaos but everyone knows what they're doing. But you absolutely don't need a car to get around (especially in Manhattan) and often times it will take you longer in a car than by subway or even on foot sometimes. The public transportation really is that good and an experience if you've never taken it before.
      My recent post Let’s Talk About Lease Renewal & Rent Stabilization

      Reply
      • @PlungedinDebt says

        December 17, 2012 at 3:57 pm

        Agreed you do not need a car you can walk everywhere or take the subway/cabs- and yes Glen it really is insane!
        My recent post Weekly Reads 14.12.12

        Reply
  2. sam says

    December 17, 2012 at 6:36 am

    Ohhh I so want to go to NYC!

    Reply
  3. John S @ Frugal Rules says

    December 17, 2012 at 6:57 am

    Good post Catherine! It's been a while since I've been to NYC, but it's a great point not to get a car. My wife says I'd probably get us shot! It's so much easier to get around with cabs/subway. Sounds like you scored a pretty nice deal with the apartment, I bet that saved you a good chunk of money.

    Reply
    • @PlungedinDebt says

      December 18, 2012 at 11:04 am

      Thanks John, we did get a great deal- it helped that we traveled on the 'off season'' too…perfect for us Canadians though we got hockey AND football, perfect season for us 🙂
      My recent post Weekly Reads 14.12.12

      Reply
  4. leslie says

    December 17, 2012 at 7:10 am

    I am curious if the cabs you negotiated with were Yellow cabs or Black car services? I don't know how negotiation with Yellow cabs work since they're owned by the city but I know for the black car services, those are private and you can negotiate with them. Another cab tip, get in the cab first, then tell them where you are going. By law, Yellow cabs have to take you anywhere within the five boroughs. They cannot refuse to take you though a lot will try to.

    If you're in nyc during nice weather, I definitely recommend renting a bicycle. There is Bike & Roll around but most bike shops will let you rent one of their bikes for a few hours. It is a great way to see a lot of the city in quick amount of time. That is the unfortunate thing about the subway (mostly in Manhattan) that you don't get to see what you're traveling through.
    My recent post Let’s Talk About Lease Renewal & Rent Stabilization

    Reply
    • @PlungedinDebt says

      December 17, 2012 at 3:59 pm

      We rode in both yellow and black- and were able to negotiate with both. For instance when we got into a cab by our apt we'd ask how much to times square and he'd say 10 bucks- even if the fare said 12+ he'd only charge us the 10…the black cabs we took were much cheaper- so much competition. This was our experience at least.
      My recent post Weekly Reads 14.12.12

      Reply
  5. [email protected] Adult Money says

    December 17, 2012 at 8:31 am

    $900 seems like a steal! I have not been to NYC, but one day hope to visit there. I am a bit deterred because of all the stories of it being a pretty expensive place to visit, but it looks like you found a way to do it for relatively cheap. Thanks for sharing Catherine!
    My recent post When There Is Not Enough Money – $100 Giveaway

    Reply
    • @PlungedinDebt says

      December 17, 2012 at 4:00 pm

      NYC can be as expensive or inexpensive as you want it to be. You really can have a great time for not a whole lot of money but you can blow a few thousand as well easily.
      My recent post Weekly Reads 14.12.12

      Reply
  6. missamanda101 says

    December 17, 2012 at 9:01 am

    My sister and I went to NYC in early June and did it fairly cheap. Ironically, I followed most of your advice, too.

    We also used the NY Pass – it was amazing – and signed up for newsletters like crazy when I knew the trip was happening, and scored a few discount/promo codes for theatre and cirque du soleil.

    We didn't look into renting an apartment, though. We stayed at a hostel/hotel, which was affordable, but we probably could have done better.
    My recent post Do I Give It My All Or Do I Give Up?

    Reply
    • @PlungedinDebt says

      December 17, 2012 at 4:01 pm

      Hostels are always a great cheap option too!
      My recent post Weekly Reads 14.12.12

      Reply
  7. Joanna @ OFB says

    December 17, 2012 at 9:22 am

    I'm curious as to what service you used for your apartment rental… was it airbnb? My husband have considered trying that out. Great tips! Aside from spending money on food, you can do most things so cheap in NYC! My husband and I lived in the UES for a while, and this post has me hankering to return!
    My recent post Justifying the Cost of My Smartphone

    Reply
    • @PlungedinDebt says

      December 17, 2012 at 4:02 pm

      Nope it wasn't airbnb…it's totally left my brain right now….I'll message you on twitter when I remember the exact name when I stop thinking about it haha.
      My recent post Weekly Reads 14.12.12

      Reply
  8. @Lbeemoneytree says

    December 17, 2012 at 9:28 am

    Ah! You are making me miss NYC–traveling there can be cheap, but living there surely isn't. 🙂

    Reply
  9. [email protected]&More says

    December 17, 2012 at 9:38 am

    Another tip is getting tickets for broadway shows at TKTS. We got a good deal and if you don't HAVE to go to a certain performance you can save a lot of money.
    My recent post Prepare Your Finances for Next Year – Know Your Net Worth

    Reply
    • @PlungedinDebt says

      December 17, 2012 at 6:30 pm

      yeah I mentioned that I just forgot the name of it and called it a kiosk…I agree, unless you're dead set on a show- i mean they're all good!- it's totally worth it!
      My recent post Weekly Reads 14.12.12

      Reply
  10. Budget & the Beach says

    December 17, 2012 at 9:40 am

    I would also add that you can attempt the lottery system for broadway shows. Yes you may not get in, but fortunately my friend and I did for Newsies and Book of Mormon for 35 and 35 dollars respectively. I would also recommend buying a metro pass instead of individually, and just walking a lot to take in the city. Also check out neighborhood markets. And half the time the street food is just as awesome as restaurants!
    My recent post The Pros and Cons of Working in the Creative Industries

    Reply
  11. CrazyTragicAlmostMagic says

    December 17, 2012 at 10:18 am

    As someone who lives here can actually vouch for all these tips. Renting an apartment for a week is a much cheaper option that staying in one of the hotels. Obviously they're geared towards insane mark-ups for tourits. Food is the one thing that people under-budget for. The prices at the Applebee's or TGI Fridays are amost double what they are in NJ.

    Great tips!

    Reply
    • @PlungedinDebt says

      December 17, 2012 at 4:05 pm

      Other than Olive Garden we stayed away from 'chains' for the most part- although we did have a super cheap lunch at TGIFridays one day (although the service was terrible).
      My recent post Weekly Reads 14.12.12

      Reply
  12. Veronica says

    December 17, 2012 at 12:21 pm

    Wow, $900 seems low for NY. I'm curious which websites you used to find the deal. Was it airbnb?
    My recent post Powerful Lessons Learned in Starting an Online Store (Part 1)

    Reply
    • @PlungedinDebt says

      December 17, 2012 at 4:04 pm

      As per the other comment, I'm having a brainfart right now and I can't remember the name of the agency-I'll look it up in a bit and get back to you and get Michelle to update the post w/ the info.
      My recent post Weekly Reads 14.12.12

      Reply
  13. The Blonde says

    December 17, 2012 at 2:50 pm

    i can`t wait for the day when I can finally afford visiting NYC and the US. though it`s still some far way into the future. crossing the atlantic aint cheap!

    Reply
    • @PlungedinDebt says

      December 17, 2012 at 4:03 pm

      Fly into Halifax- we'll treat you well 🙂 Then drive/fly from here!
      My recent post Weekly Reads 14.12.12

      Reply
  14. Kyle James says

    December 17, 2012 at 3:13 pm

    Great tips! At first I thought flying open-jaw meant you flew with your head out of the airplane. Ya know, with the wind opening your mouth wide. Terrible joke, sorry.
    My recent post Frugal Hack #2: Christmas Shopping with the Kids

    Reply
    • @PlungedinDebt says

      December 18, 2012 at 10:59 am

      haha I don't think I'd recommend that!

      My recent post Weekly Reads 14.12.12

      Reply
  15. The Baby Is Fine says

    December 17, 2012 at 3:55 pm

    great post, I love NYC! what site did you rent the apartment through? that is a really great idea!
    My recent post The Juggernaut

    Reply
    • @PlungedinDebt says

      December 18, 2012 at 10:59 am

      I rented through sublet4u.com
      My recent post Weekly Reads 14.12.12

      Reply
  16. LivingDFRocks! says

    December 17, 2012 at 8:51 pm

    I now live in NY and would agree with this post especially about not renting a hotel room and trying to eat your breakfast where you're staying and keep snacks handy. I own a car and we do our best not to drive into Manhattan and will take the metro instead. Much cheaper. The last time I drove into Manhattan I paid nearly $24 for one hour of parking…enough said!
    My recent post Sunday High Fives!

    Reply
    • @PlungedinDebt says

      December 18, 2012 at 11:00 am

      HOLY cow. yeah I didn't even think about parking!
      My recent post Weekly Reads 14.12.12

      Reply
  17. Pauline says

    December 17, 2012 at 9:17 pm

    I love NY! You tip about hosting is great, it saves a lot to look for short term rentals. There are also plenty of free things to do, like museums have a free day or afternoon per week (MOMA is about $20 so big savings), or free art shows and exhibitions. We used to go to Julliard for free concerts at lunch time, it was great!

    Reply
  18. fifighterx says

    December 17, 2012 at 11:02 pm

    I haven't been to NY yet, but thanks for the tips. I'll keep this handy since I'm planning on visiting sometime next year!
    My recent post Lifestyle Deflation

    Reply
    • @PlungedinDebt says

      December 18, 2012 at 11:02 am

      glad I could help!
      My recent post Weekly Reads 14.12.12

      Reply
  19. [email protected] says

    December 17, 2012 at 11:35 pm

    That is a great idea to rent an apartment. I've only been to NYC once when I was 18. I would love to experience it as a grown up.
    My recent post Paycheck to Paycheck is No Way to Live/$100 Giveaway

    Reply
    • @PlungedinDebt says

      December 18, 2012 at 11:00 am

      Now that I've experianced it as an adult I can't wait to take my daughter, it'll be so different!
      My recent post Weekly Reads 14.12.12

      Reply
  20. DNN says

    September 3, 2018 at 9:35 pm

    Hey Michelle,

    Feel free to shoutout Drewry News Network next time you’re in New York City. You know I’m Flatbush Brooklyn born and raised. Perhaps when Bloomberg Television on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan comes calling you for an interview, you’ll think of DNN. 🙂

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Money Saving Tips for Your Vacation says:
    October 21, 2014 at 8:37 pm

    […] Hey everyone! I am currently in St. Thomas (WOOHOO!) and have some wonderful posts lined up for while I’m gone. I always love finding new blogs, so I hope you enjoy these great writers who were actually willing to guest post for me Don’t forget to read Sunday’s post on Why She Loves Her Budget and yesterday’s guest post on New York City travel tips. […]

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My name is Michelle and I'm the author/owner of Making Sense of Cents. Learning how to save money and make more money changed my life. It allowed me to pay off $40,000 in student loans, start my own business, and I now travel full-time.
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