Air ticket – The three closest airports are JFK, LGA and EWR. When looking for an airfare online, you can type “NYC” into almost any online search box and it will check the three major airports and return you the lowest fare. The advantage for New York City travelers is that you can arrive and depart from two different airports if there is a financial benefit. No need to worry about car rental! Be sure to check the additional cost to travel from Manhattan to Newark, NJ (EWR). It may not be a saving to fly or stay there.
Hotels in New York from $25 – To be in Manhattan, use a ZIP code like 10019 and search no more than 2 miles, or you’ll be outside of Manhattan. The BEST hotel deals are for military personnel and their eligible spouses and dependents. If you fall into one of these categories: United States military personnel and their allies (Active Duty, Reserve, Guard, Veterans and cadets, and members of the Police Department, Fire Department, and Emergency Medical Services), you may stay in a Charming hotel, in a GREAT location for rates ranging from $25 (per person per night) to $125 for a VIP room.
Statue of Liberty – There is only one way to enter the Museum of the Statue of Liberty. Don’t confuse booking Statue of Liberty tickets with taking a Ferry to Liberty Island to walk around the Liberty Grounds. You must book your ticket directly with the Statue of Liberty and it is FREE. No tour, attraction pass or discount pass includes admission to the Museum (the base or to go up to Lady Liberty’s Crown). Reservations are generally made 3 or more months in advance and accepted up to a year in advance.
Tickets – It pays to buy some tickets in advance, especially if you want tickets to the kinds of things New Yorkers go to every day, like Broadway shows, TV shows, Yankee baseball, or Giants football. Except for some very exclusive tickets, almost everything can be purchased at a discount or coupon. Make sure you know how to get half price Broadway tickets every day.
New York City Bus Tour – These are very popular with New York tourists. There are pros and cons, but overall most New York tourists really like them. Many bus tour prices also include admission to attractions and sightseeing. If you plan to visit a lot of attractions with admission prices, then a bus tour might be a great option for you. Possibly even more cost effective than taking the metro.
attraction passes – As a lifelong New Yorker, I was skeptical when looking at New York City tourist passes. The short answer is that in MOST cases they can offer savings. You need to make sure you evaluate the passes correctly and read the hidden costs. Check out “New York City Discount and Attraction Passes: Are They Really a Savings?” For consideration.
More things to do in New York – Consult tourist visits, museums, attractions and/or additional events while you are in the city. Empire State Building or Top of the Rock? Is it a Restaurant, Spa or Fashion Week? Are the television programs being punctured? What’s happening at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden and Lincoln Center? Can you see any of the Museums during their free days and hours?
New York Subway – Navigating and using the subway is easy once you get the hang of it, but it’s not done in typical Internet mapping programs. We use sites like HopStop and the MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority) website to get from point A to point B in New York City. Mapping out part of your itinerary in advance will save you a lot of time and money and enhance your New York vacation. You don’t want to go from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to Wall Street to the Guggenheim to the Statue of Liberty. Make the most of your time and buy the right Metrocard (the necessary pass for the metro) for your trip.
Arriving in New York City – Upon arrival in New York, you can use public transportation, taxi, shuttle or NYC Limos to get to Manhattan. A limousine (car service) can be reserved just before your arrival, however, it is not always advantageous to reserve a car. Shuttle buses charge per person and taxis have a rate for up to 4 people. If you really want to sound like a New Yorker and not a tourist, get to know your cross streets. When you get in the car, be sure to say “Park Central Hotel. 56th and 7th, please” and not “Park Central Hotel, 870 Seventh Avenue.”
New York City Coupons – Stop at both of New York’s Official Visitor Centers with hundreds of coupons. New York City coupons are good for discount Broadway tickets, discount tours, discount attraction prices, bus tour coupons, private tours, bike tours, museums, admission prices and hundreds of other things to do in New York. The two centers are about a five-minute walk away.
