New York has always been and
always will be one of the most popular tourist locations on the planet. Full of
iconic sights, inhabited by incredibly hospitable and vivid people, and
celebrated in movies and TV, the Big Apple is one of those places you have to
visit at least once in your lifetime.
However, New York is not famous
only for its tourist attractions. Visiting the city without doing some
preparation and research can put a lot of pressure on your budget. Let’s take a
look at some tips that should help you avoid this problem and enjoy all flavors
of the Big Apple without wasting a fortune.
Choose The Right Time of The Year
Although we tend to associate
the seasonal price spikes with holiday resorts, New York also sees its share of
price fluctuations over the course of the year. Most people tend to visit the
city in the summer when they can get vacation days or during the winter months
(winter in New York has its own special magic). These are, at the same time,
periods when the hotel prices go through the roof. If you want to save some
money on accommodation, we say the best months to travel are January and
September.
Take The Train From The Airport
Airports all around the world
are filled with greedy taxi drivers that drastically overcharge their services.
New York, unfortunately, is no exception, and taking one of these cabs to the
hotel can take a substantial bite out of your vacation budget. Fortunately, New
York has a very developed subway infrastructure which means that if you take a
train at the airport, you will be able to navigate your way to the hotel's
vicinity. JFK Air
Train will help you
quickly navigate the airport, and from that point on, you are in the hands of
very affordable and reliable public transport.
Browse The City With A Bike
The busy New York traffic and
the lack of parking space have been so talked about and mocked (in both Friends and HIMYM)
that they have, by now, earned legendary status. Relying on public transport to
do sightseeing will solve this problem, but only to an extent – you will save
money but lose a lot of time jumping from line to line. How to navigate
"the city that never sleeps” then? Well, opting for a bike rental in New York has been on the constant rise for the last
couple of years, and this vehicle does look like the fastest, most affordable,
and most agile way to deal with heavy New York traffic, so there's your remedy.
Spend Time Doing Free Activities
As we already mentioned, the Big
Apple is not quite the cheapest city to spend your time in. But tasting the
slice of that celebrated New York life really doesn't have to cost you a
fortune. For instance, taking a bike tour of famous landmarks is almost free if
you exclude the rental cost. So are picnics at Central Park, casual latte at a
Starbucks, exploration of the Bushwick street art, walking along the High Line, or trying a hotdog on Times Square. New York has something for everyone,
regardless of how much money you have to spend.
Sign Up For An Affordable
Sightseeing Tour
Yeah, these ones have a pretty
bad rep and for a good reason too. There are a lot of guys out there who will
try to rob you of your money and make a cut at some local overpriced
restaurant. But, you can also find a lot of trustworthy tour guides with good
connections that will help you get discounted prices for museums and other
tourist attractions. The bad news is that these discounts usually come on the
account of being in a larger tour group. So, if you are ready to put up with
other people, this is the way to go.
Find Affordable Accommodation
Last but not least, let us
quickly cover the place where you are going to stay, which, traditionally, eats
up the biggest chunk of every traveler’s budget. The good news is that some
alternatives like Broadway Hotel offer an overnight stay for well under $50. If
you are ready to cut out all forms of luxury, basically stay in an oversized
wardrobe and spend most of your time commuting (still a good way to get to know
the city), you can go as low as 10-12 bucks.
We hope these few tips gave you
some idea about the ways you can pay a visit to the Big Apple without
crucifying your personal finances. New York is a city of magic and wonders for
all of you free spirits out there. Be sure to give it a try, even if you don't
have the fortune to spend.
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