How to save in New York on transport and entertainment

New York City has a reputation for being an expensive vacation spot - and rightly so. The average price per night in New York hotels is $ 254 - no more expensive in America. If your budget is tight, visiting this city may seem like a pipe dream. In fact, with the right trip planning, you can see New York City in all its glory without spending all your savings on it.

Apart from the high cost of hotels, New York is a surprisingly attractive destination for the budget traveler, notes USA Today. We'll tell you how to save money on a trip: where to dine cheaply, how to get discounts on Broadway shows, save extra dollars on public transport and find the best free attractions and activities of the city. Many of these tips will be useful not only for tourists, but also for residents of the city.

Getting to plan a trip

1. Take a card. Group points of interest that are close to each other. This will allow you to visit one area of ​​the city every day (for example, the Statue of Liberty and Wall Street on the first day, Central Park and Times Square on the second). This will make the most of your time and save money on metro and taxi rides.

2. Expand the route. Spend at least part of your trip exploring residential areas such as Noho, Tribeca, Greenwich Village. Avoid the traditional tourist traps: You can see the real New York and pay less for anything that usually costs exorbitant prices in popular locations.

How to save on sightseeing

3. Buy a tourist pass. If you plan to visit many popular attractions, a pass will help save money. The New York Pass gives access to dozens of attractions for a certain number of days at a fixed price. Is there some more Citypasswhich includes visits to three or six museums and attractions, including the Museum of Art and the Empire State Building - all with nine days. These passes not only save you money, but also allow you to skip the lines.

4. Look for preferential entry. Check the sites of the museums you plan to visit and see if they offer free or reduced admission on certain days. For example, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) admits free every Friday from 16:00 to 20:00. Some museums offer coupons or discounts on their websites - don't be too lazy to pop in before heading there.

5. Visit free places. Some attractions are always free - for example, Central Park, where street performers and musicians almost always perform, and the High Line, a public park recently created from the old railway line. The nonprofit The Downtown Boathouse offers free kayaking.

6. Stock up on coupons. To find out about food discounts, shopping, spas and attractions, use discount sites such as Groupon and LivingSocial. Anyone who is going to New York, can buy a lot of great deals in advance.

7. Take the ferry. Skip the tourist (and expensive) harbor cruises and hop on the Staten Island ferry for fantastic views of New York Harbor - it's free!

How inexpensive to watch the show and have fun

8. Find low-cost events. Take the opportunity to attend the many free or low-cost concerts, readings, art exhibitions and other events taking place throughout the city on any given day. The only problem is finding them. To get started, go to the page "Free in nyc»Official tourist forum of New York.

9. Save on Broadway tickets. The popular TKTS kiosks are great places to look for discounted Broadway tickets, but they're not the only option. On discount sites such as BroadwayBox.com, often even more attractive offers appear.

10. Refer to the source. Theaters often sell the remaining tickets (for just 25 dollars!) A couple of hours before the show. Search costs directly at the box office. However, sometimes it is only standing places, or places can be scattered around the hall, which is not always good if you come in a group. Some theaters offer discounts for seniors or students with an ID card.

11. Subscribe to the newsletter. Theatergoers who regularly visit New York or are planning a long trip should consider membership Audience Extras... For an annual fee, you get access to tickets for local shows and concerts, which have free seats - at the last minute you get the best ticket. These tickets are free except for a small service charge. The membership pays off after a few shows.

How to pay less for travel

12. Buy a travel card in the subway. If you are planning a long trip to New York, it is often cheaper to buy unlimited travel passes for a week or longer (depending on how long you will be in the city). This is an especially good option if you do not know exactly where to go - if you missed and had to return, additional funds may be deducted from a regular card.

13. Get behind the wheel. If you are traveling to the city with a group of people, it may be cheaper to take a car. Let's say you pay $ 40 for parking, $ 15 for travel, and $ 10 for gas - this could be less than $ 30 for train tickets to the city. But be sure to compare this option to the convenience of a train ride.

14. Plan your parking. If you decide to drive into the city, print out coupons or a parking ticket ahead of time that will allow you to park all day at a flat rate, rather than paying huge hourly fees. Not a bad option - Icon parkingknown throughout the city. On its website you can enter dates and times of arrival and departure. Keep a buffer for a couple of hours in each direction (in case you arrive early or leave late) and select a place in the garage using the map. The service will provide you with a printed confirmation, which guarantees a fixed rate for this period of time. You can pay in advance online or get a coupon on the site.

15. Walk on foot. There are many walking trails in Manhattan. There is much more to see on foot than using public transport or taxis. Plus it's free.

16. Get on the bike. Cycling is a fun and inexpensive way to get around town: just wear a helmet and stick to the bike paths for safety. There are some great bike trails around Manhattan, especially along the Hudson and East Rivers. New York has a program Citi bike: for a small fee you can rent a bike for a period from 30 minutes to three days.

Where is the most advantageous to eat

17. Follow the youth. If upscale lounges and trendy restaurants are not to your liking, go beyond the tourist area of ​​Times Square and have dinner where students eat. Neighborhood with colleges and universities (such as the East Village near New York University) often means unique local dishes at fantastic prices.

18. Come out to the streets. In a city known for its street food, you can skip it all while eating in restaurants. From the familiar hot dog carts to trucks with every kind of ethnic food you can imagine, the unique opportunity to travel the world without leaving New York City. And you are unlikely to pay more than a few dollars at a time. A site called New York Street Food offers some better options for such nutrition.

19. Explore ethnic neighborhoods. Areas such as Chinatown, Little Italy and Little India offer an excellent selection of authentic dishes at affordable prices. In the local restaurants there are a lot more locals than tourists, which allows you to really touch a particular cuisine or culture, paying very modest money.

20. Don't worry, be happy. To save money at the bar, come back early and enjoy bargain prices and fewer people.

Where to stay if your budget is limited

21. Stay outside of Manhattan. Thanks to the integrated public transport system, there is no need to pay huge money for a hotel in Midtown if you can stay in a different area or in New Jersey and get anywhere by train. Even after taking into account the cost of additional transportation, the savings can be significant.

22. Consider alternatives. There are many other options besides hotels: rental apartments, house swapping, couchsurfing, hostels, many of which offer private rooms in addition to shared ones. (Please note that rentals through Airbnb and similar sites are not always legal in New York)

23. Share the bathroom. If you want to sacrifice a little comfort for a better location, consider a hotel or hostel with a shared bathroom - often one of the best ways to find a truly budget option in Manhattan's most popular neighborhoods.

Limited budget shopping

24. Go to flea markets. Head to the city's flea markets on Saturday or Sunday - and haggle! You can always find something unique here. pay attention to Greenflea in Manhattan or Brooklyn flea.

25. Shopping in the right place. If you are looking for great deals on handbags or jewelry, go to Canal Street and look for basement stores with the best prices.