Visiting New York is on a lot of peoples travel bucket list but it can be very expensive trip to visit which can make it seem like it’s not possible to visit on a budget, but it definitely can be done. During my trips to New York my goal was to have a great time but also do it in an affordable way. Here are some tips on travelling to New York on a budget especially when solo!
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1.Travel off Season
Travelling off season may be your best bet to find cheap flights to New York as well as staying in nicer hotels for less. January and February are considered the coldest time to visit but also the cheapest! In January and February NYC has something called Hotel Week where hotels are discounted during certain dates. During this period there is also Restaurant Week, Broadway Week and Must See Week where discounts are available. If you can handle the winter weather and don’t hate the snow now then these months could help you travel affordably without having to stay in a hostel etc.
2. Budget Airlines
If you must travel during peak season consider a budget airline or look out for sales to New York which happen often. I have travelled to New York via Norse Atlantic Airways in June which is a budget airline and British Airways during September. The weather was great during these periods and both tickets were less than £500. I have seen flights as low as £300 with flights with Norse Airlines and if you are going for a shorter trip and are happy with just a hand luggage you can consider using them. If you are wondering what its like to fly Norse Atlantic Airlines you can check out my review HERE
3. Where To Stay & Hotels
Staying in Manhattan can make a trip more expensive to stay since Manhattan is closer to the tourist areas. Some people prefer staying further out to save costs such as staying in New Jersey and travelling into the city or staying outside of Manhattan and staying in areas like Astoria, Long Island or Brookyln.
Hotels can be a difficult one because NYC hotels are not cheap at all! I have noticed that hotels from Sunday to Monday tend have a slight discount but Thursday to Saturday are premium rates.
If you are solo and don’t mind staying in a hostel, a premium hostel may work for you such as NapYork, Now Now Noho or City Nest Hotel. There are also lower end hostels such as Hi NYC or The Local NYC. You can also check out hotels that have private rooms but the bathrooms are shared like The Pod 51 and The Pod Times Square.
If a hotel is what you need then some affordable ones I have stayed at at are Ameritania by Times Square and Hilton Fashion District. Other hotels you can check out are Voco -Astoria and Riverside Tower Hotel in Upper West Side. You can also check out the Arlo Hotels located in Midtown, Soho and Williamsburg and get up to 40% off if you use the code SARAHTOYIN! Book directly via arlohotels.com or hellobennie.com. Don’t miss out on these savings!
The earlier you book the better and if you can travel with someone then the prices are much better split than solo. In my opinion NYC is not a solo travel friendly city in terms of hotel prices but it can be done!
4. Food
You can definitely find good prices for food if you look for it – China town is one of those places as well as food trucks! I recommend following some food bloggers in NYC such as Jon Barr and find the best places to eat on a budget. Some places I liked were Los Tacos No 1 and Digg In.
5. Transport
Getting uber/taxi from the airport to your hotel is a lot more expensive than taking train but only take train if you can handle your luggage. The Air Train is straight forward to use but the metro can get quite stressful if lifts are not working. Another option is to use Uber shuttle to a major station like Penn Station and find your way from there via Uber which will make it much cheaper!
To get around the metro in New York is easy to use and much cheaper than taking an Uber everywhere, people also use the bus. Just be careful and mindful when you ride it. You can also walk around to certain places if you are staying in more central locations.
If you plan on visiting other cities etc you can take Amtrak or the bus just keep in mind that Amtrak is more expensive but it is quicker. I have used both and honestly Flixbus was cheaper and was a lot more convenient with luggage. Amtrak is faster and is more convenient without luggage but can still be done with luggage.
6. Activities & Things To Do
There are a range of activities that can be do for free in New York such as visiting Central Park, New York Public Library, The Met, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Bridge, Little Island, riding the NYC Ferry and more. I would recommend having a budget and doing the things that you really want to do inside of that. Some people prefer purchasing the a city pass such as Go City or City Pass as it can work out cheaper but that is up to you if you think it’s worth it. You can also check out Groupon for discounted activities and TodayTix for discounted theatre tickets.
You can also check out Get Your Guide below for low cost activities!
Overall
There are things you can do to cut costs and save money on a trip like visiting off season, staying in more affordable accommodation, eating at cheaper places or doing lower costs activities. Hope this helps you to think about travelling to New York on a budget.
Other Info
If you are thinking of flying with Norse Atlantic Airways to New York or elsewhere – check out the review HERE!
Thinking of travelling to South Korea? – Check out my posts HERE
