The Open Road Travel

New York City, the Big Apple, the city so nice they named it twice. NYC is not just the largest and most visited city in the United States, it is also among the most popular cities in the entire world.

With recognisable locations and legendary attractions in every direction, it is the perfect city for that dream vacation you have been planning. However, those dreams can quickly turn into nightmares when you realise just how much everything in New York City actually costs.

That’s why, in today’s article, I want to show you how to enjoy New York on a budget. Our list of 7 budget tips for New York City will show you the best ways to save a little money on various aspects of your visit.

So, while a trip to New York City is never going to be cheap, if you follow our advice, you will be able to make your trip a little more comfortable and avoid breaking the bank when you visit New York.

Manhattan is undoubtedly the most iconic of New York City’s five boroughs and is filled with many of the top attractions in the city. However, that is exactly why those of you travelling on a budget should avoid staying there.

With so many people arriving in the hopes of spending a dream vacation enjoying views of Central Park from their room, prices in this part of the city can skyrocket. Everything from hotels and restaurants to attractions and even parking spaces come at a premium here.

This makes the neighbouring boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens a much more suitable option. Not only will you be able to score some much better deals, but you will also be far enough away from the city centre to enjoy some fabulous views of the city’s iconic skyline.

All of this isn’t by any means to suggest that you shouldn’t explore Manhattan either. Being located so close and with the fabulous public transport network in New York City, you can make the most of the lower prices and then get back into the city in as little as 10 minutes.

Big cities often aren’t the most convenient when it comes to travelling by car. Whether it be gridlocked traffic, limited parking spaces, or simply finding your way around, it can often be more hassle than it’s worth. However, in New York City they have taken this to another level.

For starters, you have the toll bridges.

While tolls are never fun, in New York City they are more abundant than perhaps anywhere else and often unavoidable. A 7 mile (11.3 kilometre), 30 minute drive from New Jersey to Brooklyn can cost as much as $25 before you even set foot out of the car.

Then there is the parking. Whether you hope to snag a spot on the street or opt for a parking garage, prices for parking in NYC are much steeper than the national average and get worse the closer you get to the city centre.

Even the hotels charge their guests a fortune for parking, and, while it isn’t quite as bad as you get further out, you are still going to be spending a huge amount just to park throughout your stay.

This is before we even get to the awful traffic and endless one way streets that can get you lost in a heartbeat.

It isn’t just a tourist problem either. A recent study showed that only 45% of households in New York City owned a car, compared to 93% in the rest of the United States.

With such a great public transport network, bringing a car to New York City is simply more trouble than it is worth and something that should be avoided, if at all possible.

There may not be a city in the world with as many legendary attractions as New York City.

From boat rides to the Statue Of Liberty and Ellis Island to trips up the Empire State Building and horse drawn carriage rides around Central Park, you will never be short of things to do and see in NYC.

However, if you want to try and fit everything in, it is going to cost a sizeable amount to do so.

One way to soften the blow is to book all of your excursions well ahead of time. Many companies will offer you a good discount on early purchases simply to ensure they have a guaranteed sale and your money in their hand.

You then also have tour companies that have access to multiple attractions, which will often be willing to do you a fantastic deal if you plan to visit more than one of the places on their list.

Some will even include unlimited access to tour buses around the city, to get you from one attraction to the next, meaning you won’t have to spend money on the subway or taxis or waste time walking.

Be warned though, many of these deals are available so the company can guarantee a sale. This means most will be non-refundable, so don’t make any bookings until your dates are completely confirmed.

The summer season is always a popular time for vacations and, if you choose to travel during it, you are going to have to expect to pay a little more, no matter where you choose to go. However, in New York City, it isn’t just the summer you need to worry about.

New York City is also one of the most popular destinations in the world from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Eve. From iconic parades to the famed Rockefeller Christmas Tree and legendary Times Square Ball Drop, people arrive in their droves at this time of year.

If you choose to make your trip during this time, you are going to pay a premium, as hotels and other businesses know they are going to be busy, so won’t feel the need to drop prices or put on any sales.

So, if you aren’t coming to New York City for a specific event and can visit at any time you want, taking your trip between January and June or September and mid-November is likely to get you the best deals possible and is ideal for those travelling on a budget.

It is very easy when booking a flight to get stuck on the main airport for a city, particularly in a place such as New York City, which has a major international hub airport like John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Logic dictates that, with it having easily the largest number of flights, it will offer the best choice and the greatest deals. However, that isn’t always the case.

Aside from JFK, New York City is served by LaGuardia Airport in Queens, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, and even Long Island MacArthur Airport on Long Island.

This creates plenty of options and a great deal of competition, especially if you are travelling from a domestic location.

Make sure to check all available airports when looking for your flights and you may be able to find a flight desperately trying to fill all the seats and score yourself an incredible deal.

Much like everything else in New York City, eating out is expensive and heading to a restaurant every night is going to burn a hole in your wallet incredibly quickly.

There are, however, a couple of ways you can lessen the cost, so you can still treat yourself to some great food during your stay.

First off, why not consider some traditional New York City style take out? You have 99 cent pizza stores dotted around the city selling a slice for 99 cents or a whole pizza for 8 bucks. There are street food vendors in places like Chinatown selling a great range of ethnic foods.

You could even resort to a brand like 7-Eleven or McDonald’s and grab something you know.

Picking up some food from any of these, or other similar places, will not only save you a bundle, but it will also give you more time to spend exploring the city or enjoying your hotel room while you eat.

If you do want to eat in a restaurant, think about whether or not it needs to be at night. Many restaurants throughout the city will offer great deals, early bird offers, and set menus, to draw in guests during their quieter periods.

If you are happy to swap your main meal of the day from dinner to lunch, you could save yourself a fortune and still get to enjoy a fantastic restaurant experience.

If you have to have your main meal in a restaurant in the evening, for whatever reason, you should at least consider opting for one of the major restaurant chains, such as Olive Garden or TGI Fridays.

Restaurants like these will usually still offer the same or similar deals to those they have in the rest of the country, just with slightly altered rates.

This means that, while they still won’t be cheap, you may be able to find comparatively better value by using one of their offers than you will get from many of the surrounding establishments.

While the city in general is incredibly expensive, there are plenty of memorable things to do and see in New York City that won’t cost you a penny.

You have stunning museums that have no entry fee or free periods, such as The Museum Of Modern Art, Museum Of The Moving Image, National Museum Of The American Indian, and the Whitney Museum Of American Art.

Then there are museums that have a “suggested admission”, like The American Museum Of Natural History.

You also have a number of free walking tours in NYC, both around the city and in specific venues. These include tours of things like the Brooklyn Brewery, Central Park Conservancy, and the Grand Central neighbourhood.

Depending on when you visit, there are also free events held regularly throughout the year in New York City.

Even a stroll around Central Park, a visit to Grand Central Station, or simply exploring the main parts of the city by foot are a great way to have fun and get a true sense of what NYC is all about, without ever having to open your wallet.

The Capital Hotel Long Island City is a wonderful, 4 star hotel in the heart of Queens. An incredible value option, you can enjoy plenty of style and comfort, while being just a 30 minute walk or 10 minute subway ride from Midtown Manhattan.

Each of the spacious rooms is fully air conditioned and has access to Wi-Fi. Meanwhile, facilities including a flat screen TV, desk, and private bathroom complete with linens and towels will ensure maximum comfort and convenience throughout your stay.

A 24 hour front desk is on hand to help with anything you may need during your stay. Meanwhile, LaGuardia Airport is also less than 5 miles away, so you won’t have to waste money on transport at the beginning or end of your trip.

That concludes out list of 7 budget tips for New York City, to help you enjoy New York on a budget. You will hopefully now have a good idea of the best ways to save a little bit of money when you visit The Big Apple, so you don’t have to worry about missing out.

That means all you have left to do is decide where to stay in New York City and what you want to see and do when you get there.

That way, you can fill out your dream travel itinerary, get everything booked, and start looking forward to experiencing it all for yourself, as soon as possible.