It’s no secret that New York City is one of the most expensive cities in the world. Therefore traveling on a budget can be quite a challenge. But the good news is – it can be done! Especially when you plan accordingly.
So here are a few useful tips on how to make your NYC trip as budget-friendly as possible including the best times to visit, what to do in the city, and places to stay, such as the Condor Boutique Hotel.
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Visit New York at the right time
New York is busy all year round. However, accommodation prices usually are the highest during summer (May-August) which is the peak season in the city as well as public holidays. Even though seeing NYC during Christmas and New Years’ might seem like a dream, it will be very costly to travel the city at that time.
So the best times to visit New York when the prices are better are January to April and September to November.
Choose iconic places to visit that are free
New York City is packed with awesome things to do and places to see. Fill up your days in the city by exploring your favorite places that don’t have an entrance fee. And there are plenty of them. Here are a few ideas:
Times Square
It’s a must-visit for every first-time visitor in NYC. So busy, vibrant, and the one place where you’ll always find something going on. If you get a chance, make sure to visit it during the day and again at night. You’ll see that it’s just as bright and busy at nighttime as it is during the day with all the shiny billboards, neon signs, and traffic. It’s a surreal feeling. And it’s totally free to walk around and explore it.
Central Park
Another iconic place not to be missed when in New York. Take a walk in Central Park while reminiscing about all the movies and series you’ve seen on TV that took place right here in this park. And now you’re here yourself! If you happen to be there in the summer, you might get a chance to experience a free New York Philharmonic concert. Or bring a blanket and a basket of delicious snacks, to have a nice picnic along with New Yorkers.
Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge was built in 1883 and is one of the main attractions in New York. It takes about an hour to cross the bridge on foot while enjoying the Instagrammable views of the Manhattan skyline.
High Line
The High Line is a park built on the old freight railway line. Experience art, nature, and design on the streets of the West End. It has views of the Hudson River and has a unique outdoor food court.
The Statue of Liberty
This one is not actually free to visit. But here’s an awesome hack on how to experience it almost for free. Taking a tour boat to Ellis Island where the Statue of Liberty is located and getting out to walk around the island normally costs around 20 USD when using a tour boat. But what you should do instead is to take the public ferry to Staten Island for 2.75 USD and get the same views of the Statue for so much cheaper.
Save on Hotels
Your accommodation in New York City will most probably be the biggest expense of your trip. Therefore it’s important to find accommodation that’s checking all the boxes – clean, comfortable, well located, and budget-friendly.
One of such examples is the Condor Boutique Hotel – offering a great mix of comfort and low price in comparison to other similar hotels around NYC. This hotel is located in Brooklyn which typically is a neighborhood with more locals than tourists, therefore the hotel prices are lower.
You should be aware that Brooklyn is further away from most tourist attractions in the city, but since you’re saving a ton of money on accommodation, it’s usually worth it.
Save on Food
New York City offers a lot of great food and you should definitely experience it. If you’re on a budget, make sure to skip the restaurants in touristy areas and go where the locals go. And the best kind of locals to follow in this situation are students. Try to find restaurants and markets around university districts to find affordable restaurants.
Stay in one area
The final tip is about planning your activities for the day. Organize your days in the city so that you’re visiting places and experiencing things that are close to each other so you don’t have to travel long distances often. That’s a great way to save up. Especially when you can walk from one sightseeing spot to the other.
