New York City is one of the most expensive places in the world. Everything in NYC, from the hotels to restaurants, stores, pharmacies and essential items, are so costly that visitors may find it difficult to enjoy themselves. Luckily, there are inexpensive options for entertainment and essentials. Best of all, these options are usually more authentic New York experiences than the typical tourist destinations.
Instructions
1. Participate in a home exchange program. Several services exist online that will allow travelers to match up with other travelers and exchange homes. In other words: if you live in Los Angeles, and you want to visit New York City, you can search for people in the NYC metropolitan area who have listed their homes or apartments. Contact potential matches and find out if they'd like to take a trip in your area. If you find a match, they'll stay in your home while you stay in theirs.
This is a unique and valuable money-saving technique. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on a "discount" motel by JFK, you could stay in a quirky loft in the Village or a studio in Battery Park. There, you can cook your own meals while you experience life the way a real New Yorker does.
See References below for a home exchange service. However, many such websites exist, each with different fees, rules and databases.
2. Take the subway. Most New Yorkers will complain that subway fares get raised all the time, but the MTA still provides one of the most comprehensive transit systems in the world, and it's dirt cheap. You may purchase metro passes from automated ticket kiosks in all subway stations with debit and credit cards, or cash. Passes will work for subway trains and buses in all five boroughs, and they come in a variety of flavors: day passes, week passes, monthly unlimited cards and pay-per-ride. You can also pay for buses with coins only upon boarding.
If you're a first-time user without much experience on public transportation, it can be intimidating. Maps are available for purchase in most book stores, and for free in many subway stations.
3. Research free--or nearly free--activities and landmarks. Many museums in New York (including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Natural History Museum) have "suggested" admission. To visit these museums inexpensively, pay for your tickets at a booth manned by a real person (not an automated ticket kiosk) and name your price ("I'd like to pay $2 for five tickets"). Other museums--like the Sony Wonder Lab--have automatically free admission. And, many museums--like the MOMA--have free or reduced price days or times.
Central park is a cheap thrill for any tourist. Also, the Staten Island Ferry will swing by the Statue of Liberty for good photo opportunities, and the ferry is 100 percent free.
4. Eat cheaply. Although dining in NYC could break anyone's budget, street vendors that sell pretzels, roasted nuts, ice cream, hot dogs, coffee and donuts are available on nearly every Manhattan street corner. Downtown on weekday mornings, these vendors even provide a nice selection of egg croissants, orange juice and fresh fruit. Diners are present in nearly all neighborhoods, and cheap eateries like Burritoville can be found in most Manhattan neighborhoods. Fruit stands are good for a cheap snack. Especially in areas with high concentrations of office buildings, pay-by-the-pound salad bars can be found in delis and even some convenience stores. Pizza by the slice is a New York tradition--most New Yorkers eat their pizza slices folded in half. And finally, some famous must-visit restaurants--like John's Pizzeria in the Village--are quite inexpensive.
Trader Joe's--located at 14th street near Union Square--is a good grocery store for cheap but good-quality food items.
Finally, bring snacks with you from home. Power bars and dried fruit will help settle your midnight cravings without forcing you to buy something from a store.
5. Buy a budget travel NYC book.
6. Monitor airfare and travel deals on websites like Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity and Priceline.
7. Shop cheaply. The area around 34th street has an abundance of options, including multiple locations of giant discount clothing stores like Conway. Note that Conway has no dressing rooms, so some people take their purchases across the street to the dressing rooms at Macy's and return what doesn't fit. (And speaking of Macy's--there's always a sale there.) For shoes, try DSW. Young adults will enjoy Forever 21, H&M and Century 21 (located in Battery Park, not on 34th street).
8. Try visiting 99 cent stores for emergency items. These stores sell generic and brand-name items for $1 or less. At these stores you can find items like toys, food, bathroom and personal care products, kitchen utensils, towels, baggies and a variety of porcelain Madonna with Child statues. You can find 99 cent stores all over the city.
If you can't find what you're looking for in 99 cent stores, try shopping at K-Mart before you go to a regular pharmacy. There are multiple K-Marts in Manhattan, including one in Penn station and one near Astor place.
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