New York City, the Big Apple, is one of the most prominent cities in the world. New York sees travellers from not just all over the country but the globe as well. Fashion, finance, dining, entertainment from the super elite to penny pinchers all can find something in this metropolitan. That means those that people and travellers are a dime a dozen in a city where everyone is trying to make a buck. This can lead to an expensive vacation. These tips can help you cut costs and save allowing you to make the most of this amazing city.
Web Research
Doing a bit of research online can help you save big in the long run and make the best use of your time. You can get great deals on short breaks in New York online (check here) and often get last minute deals for a fraction of the price as they need to fill up the plane. You can find special packages and deals on line not just from travel sites but most attractions and shows will have their own website as well. You can use this to look up times that maybe off peak or special deals on tickets or reduced admissions. Planning your events around these deals can add up to significant savings for just a few moments of your time online. The looking up of times or how long an attraction can take will end up saving time traveling around as well.
Show Times
Broadway is one of the defining features of New York City. You can hardly go to New York and not take in at least one show. Theatre tickets can be expensive but there are ways to cut down the cost. There are the popular TKTS booths in and around Time Square. The previous tip of web research can help here as well with ticket sites and special deals. If you don’t mind seeing older shows, and not original cast, you can get tickets for off-Broadway shows much cheaper. These shows are still high production just smaller theatres and have done the major runs already. Though smaller they tend to have a more relaxed feel to them and more chances to meet the cast.
Take the Ferry
The Staten Island Ferry is free and offers amazing views of the New York Harbor. Pretend you are local, hop the ferry with your camera and skip the pricey harbor cruise. The ferry travels between St. George on Staten Island and Whitehall Street in lower Manhattan and is a non-vehicular ferry that the NYC DOT operates and maintains. The 5 mile, 25 minute ride will offer you breath-taking views of the New York skyline, Ellis Island, and The Statue of Liberty. The ferry does have concessions and beer is sold, so you can even have a small picnic while aboard and Make sure you take your camera.
Bring a Map
New York City is a very big place, even if you don’t count the five boughs and just plan to stay on the island of Manhattan. A good map is a must as you move around the city. Getting lost on the streets or in the subway system is just an added cost if not a major one. Try to divide the city up into areas and plan on doing events close to the same area each day. Minimizing the amount of travel you have to do each day will save your money and time.
Venture off the Beaten Tourist Path
Times Square, Midtown, and the common tourist areas are going to cost more and be crowded, so why not try a somewhere off the normal path. Why not give Harley a try. Harlem is up and coming and expanding its culture and atmosphere. You will find amazing restaurants with an at home feel. While in Harlem stop into World-Famous Ethiopian-born, Swedish-raised Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s restaurant Red Rooster Harlem. This is a culinary experience you will never forget.
