You wouldn’t be completely mistaken if you have the impression that the city that never sleeps is also the city that never stops spending. Plenty of travelers who would love to explore New York City are put off by what can seem like astronomical prices even when compared to other major U.S. cities. The truth is, though, that New York can be surprisingly affordable — you just have to think ahead and travel smart.
Here are some tips for traveling on a budget in the Big Apple:
* Musing at the museum: New York has some of the most respected museums in the world, and you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to see them. The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History are two top choices that you can go to time and time again. Both have suggested donations ($20 and $15, respectively), but to make their treasures even more accessible, the museums ask you to pay what you can afford. If your taste runs toward something a bit more contemporary, take advantage of the free admission to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) on Friday nights from 4 to 8 p.m.
*Where you’ll lay your head: One of your biggest expenditures will be your hotel room. In fact, since New York cheap flights are so readily available, it might just be your No. 1 high-ticket item. However, there are ways to get great hotel reservations at a relatively low price. If you’re looking for character, boutique hotels are your ticket — check out the Ace Hotel for a chic, industrial aesthetic (from $99) or the home-away-from-home vibe at the Chelsea Lodge (from $124). If you want bells and whistles like big, free breakfasts and guaranteed Wi-Fi access, head to the outposts of the major hotel chains. The deals are often quite good, and what they lack in quirks they make up for in sleek efficiency. It’s often possible to bundle cheap flights with hotel rooms on travel websites like Travelocity.com to get even better deals.
* Back to nature: If pounding the concrete has you craving some green space, you definitely have options in New York City. You can stroll the expansive and legendary Central Park for free, or check out the recently opened High Line Park, which was built on a disused elevated freight railroad. If you still can’t get enough, consider that the Brooklyn Botanical Garden is free on Tuesdays, the New York Botanical Garden is free on Wednesdays and both gardens are free from 10 a.m. – noon on Saturdays.
* Take a bite: The food culture of New York ranges from the most stratospheric heights to the most humble basics — and so do the prices for dining out. Luckily, eating on the cheap doesn’t mean you have to compromise on quality or variety. For instance: there’s Veselka, where you can get classic, rib-sticking Ukrainian fare like pirogies and beet-horseradish salad; il Laboratorio del Gelato, which is as renowned for its astoundingly long gelato and sorbet menu as it is for the pure, powerful flavor of its treats; and Katz’s Delicatessen, home to long lines and pastrami so good it justifies the lines. You can check through local magazines and entertainment guides to get extensive reviews and suggestions.
Start with these suggestions and some New York cheap flights and you’ll have the trip of a lifetime, without spending your life’s savings.
