As is probably pretty apparent in these pages by now, when LeeLee and I have a hankering to get away from town for a long weekend, and to do it fast, we hop a train to New York City. Over the years, it’s become one of our Happy Places – a place where we can get away from it all, take in some culture, eat some great food and immerse ourselves in the pulsing rhythms of a vibrant community.
Now, nobody is here to tell you that New York is the cheapest vacation destination you could choose. But after traveling there for years and years now, I have definitely come up with quite a few hacks to lower your expenses while keeping your fun quotient sky-high. I’d love to share them with you!
So without further ado, here are five hacks to navigate New York City on the cheap.
1. Use hotel points for your lodging (don’t forget cash + points deals!).
This is by far the top money-saving recommendation I can make. LeeLee and I have a history of staying at Marriott properties (with over 30 brands to choose from, this is not a hardship!), both for work and for leisure, and as a result we have built up a tidy points savings. To further boost our account, we also use a Marriott Bonvoy credit card from Chase, which helps us accrue points faster on expenditures we’re making anyway.
Once you have a nice sum of points to use, the key is using them wisely. Pay attention to what rooms are going for, points-wise, per night, and be sure to check a number of brands within the corporate structure. For instance, often, we’d be paying premium prices for the Algonquin (a high-end Marriott property) – but a Courtyard, Residence Inn or Moxy give us the same wonderful location for a much lower price. (Also, pro tip: Try not to book during holidays or special events, as points requirements are always much higher then.)
2. Speaking of hotels: Choose one with a free breakfast.
This is a small but mighty hack, and one LeeLee and I wholeheartedly subscribe to while in New York. When selected properly, a free hotel breakfast can carry you all the way through to lunchtime or beyond for no more cost than what you’re already paying for a room! We like Moxys, Residence Inns and Courtyards for precisely this reason (we’re Marriott people, after all), but really any hotel brand will do as long as you ensure they have a free breakfast. And while you’re there, snag some fruit – a banana, an apple, an orange, whatever – for snacking later. You’ve more than paid for it!
3. Ninety-nine-cent pizza is indeed a Thing, and I encourage you to make use of it.
Who said inflation killed everything? There are still deals to be found in New York’s pizza domain – you just have to do your homework (and not order any toppings). Even the “fancier” cheap pizzas ring in at a couple of bucks per slice – certainly less than you’d be paying at a sit-down restaurant somewhere! Order your slice (or two), fold it up lengthwise, and eat it en route to a Broadway show. LeeLee and I have done this numerous times and it always makes for a fun pre-theater dinner.
4. Prioritize free-entry landmarks!
At first blush, it looks like everything costs money in New York, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. First off: You’ve got your National Park Service-run sites, of where there are nearly a dozen in town. From Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthplace to Hamilton Grange to Grant’s Tomb to everything in between, you can do a LOT of sightseeing without paying a dime. New York City Hall, too, is free (by appointment only, but free!). Or how about touring a world-class library for free? Stately on the doorstep of Bryant Park, the New York Public Library ought to be a wonder of the world and is definitely worth a lengthy visit. And speaking of Bryant Park – get thee to the parks! Bryant is great; Central Park is of course the city’s showpiece. There are so many parks and playgrounds around town, and all of them are 100% free. Win!
5. Get discounted Broadway tickets in Times Square.
I almost hate to tell you about this one because the lines are long enough already, but here goes. For decades now, ever since my first trip to New York in high school, the TKTS discount ticket booth in Times Square has been a must-stop destination when I’m in town. I learned this trick from my beloved journalism adviser, and to this day I get a hearty “Well done!” each time I text her a picture of whatever discount ticket I’ve procured. With deals up to 50% off the face value of a Broadway ticket, it’s well worth the hourlong line (bring a book – you’ll be fine). Sure, you can go up to the counter and place an order for one specific show you’ve had your eye on, but you could also do what LeeLee and I like to do: Play TKTS Booth Roulette! In TKTS Booth Roulette, you go up to the counter and ask the agent, “What’s your favorite right now?” or even “What’s the best seat you can get me in a show?” … and let the muses be your guide.
All right. These are my top five suggestions to get you on your way. This will definitely be a multipart series, but in the meantime, let’s hear it: What are some of your favorite NYC-on-the-cheap recommendations? Sound off in the comments!
:)
