TRAVEL CHEAP TO NEW YORK: 11 ESSENTIAL TIPS

Do you want to know the Big Apple, but don't have a fortune? Don't despair, in this article we explain how to travel cheaply to New York.

1. Buy a low-cost airline flight

Low Cost companies, such as Norwegian Airlines, offer flights from €200/way, but as you can imagine the seats are not as comfortable as in traditional companies, and they definitely will not give you food or a blanket, but you can travel at a reasonable price. truly exceptional.

2. Date flexibility

It's not easy, we know, but if you have some flexibility, or if you can plan the trip in enough time, you will discover that you may be able to save a few euros. Sometimes, flying the day before, or the next day, can save up to one hundred euros on each ticket.

3. Transportation from the airport

The cheapest option is to travel by Air Train and subway. You have to keep in mind that the Air Train that leaves from JFK airport does not go directly to Manhattan, but it will leave you at a station from which you can take the subway and reach your destination. The Air Train has three lines, so the simplest thing is to check where you want to go to know which line to take. The price of the Air Train plus metro is approximately 8$.

But if this option does not suit you, you can go by bus, the price is 19$; or by Shuttle. These shared vans have a price of 25$ per person, and if there are several of you, you can rent one, for approximately 100$.

4. Accommodation outside of Manhattan

The hotel will be one of the main costs on your trip to New York, and due to the high prices of Manhattan, we recommend that you move to a nearby neighborhood like Brooklyn or Queens.

It is true that you will lose more time in transportation, but the distances in New York are very great, therefore, even if you stay in Times Square, you will have to use public transportation almost every day.

5. Have lunch at a food truck

This point will not only help you save money, but you will also be able to save time at noon. Keep in mind that the closing hours of the main museums do not go beyond 5:30 p.m. most days.

Therefore, in addition to eating very cheaply, for 2$ you can buy a hot dog, you will also be able to visit more places.

6. Buy a card to visit tourist attractions

During our visit to the Big Apple we will need one of these cards, either the NY Pass or the CityPass, with them you will save a significant amount of money on your visits.

Choosing one or the other depends fundamentally on the number of daily activities you do, since the NY Pass is purchased for a specific number of days, and allows access to all the activities listed on its website. On the contrary, the City Pass includes a checkbook with several places that you can visit by handing in the check at the attraction.

7. Take advantage of the “donation” or free visit days

Taking advantage of the free visit days of New York museums is a good practice if we have a tight budget. Some of the most famous spots in the City are always free, like The New York Public Library. In others, like the MOMA, you can enter for free on a specific day of the week, in this case, Fridays from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. And in others there is a visit modality, in which you have to make a “donation” of the amount you want to visit them, as is the case of the American Museum of Natural History.

8. Use a METROCARD

In the article on how to travel cheaply to New York, we could not miss how to travel cheaply in New York. Purchasing a METROCARD should be one of our first activities in the Big Apple. The METROCARD is the card that allows us to travel by subway in New York, and as we mentioned previously, it is most likely that you will use public transport on numerous occasions.

If you are going to spend at least a week, it is very likely that it will be profitable for you to buy one of these cards with unlimited travel. The weekly cost is 32$, and without the card, each trip costs 3$.

9. Some activities will allow you to visit famous attractions

The clearest example is Madison Square Garden. If you plan to see a game or performance during your stay, you will not need to take the stadium tour. You can take the opportunity to delight in this magnificent construction the day you go to the event.

Or for example, the free ferry that goes to Staten Island will allow you to have a perfect view of the Statue of Liberty, without having to pay large amounts.

10. Calculate the space in the suitcase

Another thing to keep in mind when traveling cheaply to New York, especially for those of you who travel with low-cost companies, which do not include checked luggage, it is quite important that you calculate the number of suitcases you are carrying.

You should also think that when you return it is very likely that you will return with quite a few purchases from the famous New York outlets.

11. If the weather is good, take the opportunity to have picnics

This can be a good way to save. A couple of picnics in Central Park, when the weather is nice, are a much cheaper way to eat than sitting in a restaurant.

Keep in mind that you will have to add the “almost obligatory” tip for the waiters' service to the restaurant prices.

We hope that all these ideas have helped you a little to plan your trip.