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NEW YORK CITY — New York City is expensive to visit; however, it is possible to have a great city experience on a budget. By taking advantage of these insider options, visiting the Big Apple can be enjoyable and affordable.
Tourist Attractions
Ride the free Staten Island Ferry instead of paying nearly $20 per person for the official ferry or taking an expensive night cruise. It leaves Lower Manhattan and you can see the the Freedom Tower, the Brooklyn Bridge, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. It runs 24/7 and the schedule is available here.
The American Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art cost more than $20 per person. However, these are suggested prices. If you wait in line to buy your ticket from the admissions desk, you can often pay whatever price you choose. Special exhibits cost extra, but there is much to see in the permanent collection.
Avoid paying tens of dollars in fees for tickets to Broadway shows by purchasing them in person once you get in town. An even cheaper option is to use the RUSH system to save 50 to 90 percent. It is a gamble, but your odds are better on weekdays.
Food
New York City has a huge range of food options. Getting food at stands, shacks, and to-go places can be just as delicious and is often cheaper. Yelp can help identify some good eateries to try in New York City.
During the summer, stop by the little fruit stands that roll onto the sidewalks. Try to eat just two meals a day with a snack to tide you over. Look for hole in the wall places like the Burger Joint (hidden behind a curtain in a hotel lobby), Dough Loco (a tiny donut shop on Park Ave), Wafels & Dingles (a cart in a park) or Levain Bakery (a small basement on a residential street).
Instead of buying food to sit in a cafe, sit in one of these free outdoor areas. Enjoy a quiet bench around the fountain on the south side of the American Museum of Natural History on 77th Street. Sit amidst the hustle and bustle of Columbus and Broadway in Lincoln Square across the street from the Manhattan New York Temple. You can also lay back on the lounge chairs of the High Line Park in the Meatpacking District.
Transportation
Weekly MTA passes cost $30 and can be used on buses and the subway. Since each ride is a flat fee — if you are going to ride the subway more than 12 times — it's worth it.
Instead of a taxi, use CitiBike. A 24-hour pass costs $10. As long as each ride is less than 30 minutes, you pay no additional fees. You can even quickly check in and check out the same bike to continue on a longer journey.
Many interstate highways in the Northeast have tolls. The airports are crowded and not always convenient. Riding the bus or train is great because you arrive and depart from the city center. New bus companies like Megabus and Bolt Bus focus on cheap, comfortable travel. If you buy your ticket early enough tickets are $1. Amtrak service in the Acela Corridor is reliable, comfortable and reasonably priced if booked early enough.
Lodging
Instead of staying in an expensive hotel in Midtown Manhattan, check out Airbnb listings in nearby and subway-accessible places like Queens, South Harlem and Brooklyn.
By using some of these tips, you can save money on your next trip to New York City.
Brigham Wilson works for the government in Washington DC. Email him at brighamtree@gmail.com.
