As I myself recently visited NYC for a weekend getaway, I thought it was timely to share this guest post submission about how to experience the city on a budget, some of the tips which I used myself! Enjoy!
New York City is one of the world’s greatest destinations. It can also be one of the most expensive. But the best thing about the Big Apple is that it encompasses a vast variety of activities to suit every style and budget. If you’re travelling on a shoestring, steer clear of the upper east side and head downtown, get discounts wherever you can and embrace the culture of the free…
Grabbing the discounts
If you’re interested in seeing popular NYC attractions like the Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum, The Empire State Building, The Statue of Liberty or MoMA, you can source cheaper tickets for these by searching online and booking in advance.
Discount attraction sites even offer free admission to some sights, when you purchase tickets for others around the city. The passes themselves are ‘smart cards’, much like a credit card with a computer chip inside. Buying tickets ahead of time also mean visitors get to skip the long lines at various stops, allowing you to relish the VIP lifestyle that budget travellers seldom get to experience.
Fun times for free
There are a number of places it’s advisable to head if you want a cheap or even free day out. Central Park is massive, beautiful and comes at no cost. Wander through the park stopping at all the best spots that have been immortalized in your favourite films and TV shows. If you have dollars to spare, take a boat out on the lake or visit the Central Park Zoo.
Open spaces are more abundant than you might imagine in such an urban location. For a more unusual city walk, the ‘Highline’ is an elevated park on an old railway line that runs right through the city, connecting the Meat Packing District, Chelsea and continues all the way up to Hell’s Kitchen.
A slice of culture
Heading downtown, Chelsea is a great neighbourhood for a wander. With tons of beautiful and interesting art galleries offering free entry (and sometimes even free wine and cheese) visitors can behold some world-class art and some very stylish people.
For a further taste of New York’s hipster culture, head to Brooklyn to explore the wonders of this bustling borough. Brooklyn Brewery in Williamsburg offers free tours almost every day of the week and the local food truck scene is delicious and inexpensive.
While many think a New York vacation means dropping tons of cash, this is simply not the case. Savvy travellers can source discounts on world-class attractions, take advantage of abundant free activities and sample some of the most delicious and inexpensive cuisine prepared street side in roving food trucks. It’s never been easier to take a bite of the Big Apple without breaking the bank.
Image by Doug Kerr, used under Creative Comms license
