New York City can often be an overwhelming place. There is so much to do, and not always enough time to do it all. If it’s your first time to The Big Apple you're going to want to hit the highlights (basically what everyone wants to see): Times Square, Central Park, the 9/11 Museum and Memorial, go shopping and perhaps visit the Empire State Building. Lots to do, but the pace of this city will keep you energized, and if it doesn't -- the plethora of coffee shops and delis will. Lots to do and see, and that comes with a price tag of a world class city...or, more like THE city.
New York is an expensive place. Hotels (ones worth laying your head down on the pillow at) START at $300/night. You can also always consider air bnb but I <3 hotels in this city. Or, well, anywhere. (Disclaimer: I do use air bnb for my personal travel on occasion, but being in the industry, my first love is luxury hotels #iamexpensivetokeep). So once I have used up most of my budget on comfortable, le swank accommodations, I try and limit the cost of transportation, food and activities, and surprisingly, it is easy enough to do.
When arriving into the city, you have a few different airport options. La Guardia is my personal favourite, although the terminals leave very little to be desired...but Newark is too far, and JFK is way too hectic. Either way, the crazy amounts of traffic that fly in and out of these airports mean you will inevitably be delayed (so like a boy scout, be prepared). Once at the airport you can take public transit, shuttles, or taxis to the city. Obviously, I love when a limo picks you up (yeah, that happened to me once, complete with champagne in the cooler - gotta love Kensington Tours), but any of these options will require a lot of patience. I had a terrible time once with Super Shuttle, but then just had a great time in July when I booked a Newark-Midtown shuttle for $20 USD. A taxi would have cost me $100 USD, and would have saved me about 20-30 minutes, but I didn't mind. Consider your travel experience, and patience levels when planning your way into the city. If you can muster it, public transit or shuttles help save you oodles of cash!
Like any major city, New York is extremely walkable. In fact, you might find that you walk way longer than you normally would at home (hmmm 70+ blocks is my average before I consider taking a break...). Most of the attractions are visible when you walk, which is great because they are...FREE. Think Times Square, Rockefeller Plaza, Radio City Music Hall, Central Park, Financial District, The West Village, Highline, 9/11 Memorial, China Town...you name it, you can do it for free (or maybe for a little haggling in China Town). If you want to go more in-depth into something, you can pick and choose which are your must-sees (some museums like the MoMA or the 9/11 Museum are $25 per person for entry fees, which adds up - especially as a Canadian traveller).
It's also surprisingly easy to eat on the cheap in New York (granted, you might not be eating the absolute BEST food). One weekend after university, I went to meet up with a bunch of my friends from my exchange in France, and I ate for the entire weekend for only $35 USD. My taxi to LGA was more than that. I think I ate a lot of bagels, pizza and wraps but $35 is $35. I definitely drank for a lot more than that. Or you can follow my simple travel meal plan: breakfast at the hotel (see if you can get it included), lunch at a deli or grocery store, and a nicer dinner. I try and pack snacks or buy them at a grocery store to keep with me for sustenance while I'm walking. I know a lot of people who prefer to sit at coffee shops along the way to rest and recharge, but I've never been one of them. I like to walk until I am tired and then will take a break (not always the best option for my travel companions, might I add...).
For the **important** things, like checking out the latest and greatest Broadway shows, there some options. I tried TKTS once, waited in the freezing cold for what seemed like hours (oh wait, it was hours), to save less than $10 and to be seated in the last row of an off-broadway show (Avenue Q, which was great, but that's besides the point) on FOLDING CHAIRS. Not impressed. I believe in the value of a Broadway experience, so I will try to buy at the box office day of, or buy whatever I really want to see ahead of time. Note - do not try and do this on a Friday or a Saturday, you will lose. Lots of people have had success with TKTS, but I am not one of them.
So, when you plan a trip to NYC (or anywhere for that matter) you need to consider the following things:
Transportation (Flights, Airport Transfers, in-city transport)
Accommodations (Hotels, Hostels, Vacation Home Renting/Air B n B)
Meals
Activities (Tours, Entrance Fees, etc.)
Entertainment (Tickets, Shows, Games, etc.)
To figure out where to save (and where to splurge), find out what matters most to you - food & wine or first class tickets? Once you figure out where you want to splurge, you can determine where you can save a few bucks!
How do you like to save money when you are travelling? Comment below.
**New York is constantly changing and evolving, so let me know if any of this information is out of date.