How to save in New York
Although New York has a reputation as one of the most expensive cities in the world, it also offers a wide range of restaurants and accommodation where you can compare prices and choose whatever option fits your budget.
If you want to save as much as possible in the Big Apple, we recommend that you reserve your flight and hotel ahead of time and make the most of the various tourist cards available. Below you'll find some tricks and advice on how to save money in New York.
Hotels and Flights
The best way to save in New York is by reserving your flight and hotel ahead of time. Although prices change depending on the time of year, it's always possible to find great offers or more accessible flights if you're looking five or more months ahead.
With our hotel search engine, you can book with significant discounts. And in many cases, you can cancel up to the day before, and pay directly at the hotel.
Another way to find cheap accommodation in New York is to look in areas further out, such as Brooklyn, where you can find plenty of hotels and apartments.
Save on museums and monuments
Every day of the week and at specific times, many New York museums offer pay-what-you-wish admission, so it's a great way to get into some of the city's most important galleries for free or for less. Look closely at which museums include ‘pay what you wish’ or ‘suggested admission’, but don't forget to check with the museum's official website. Some of the museums that only ask for ‘pay what you wish’ are the MoMA (Fridays from 4 pm - 8 pm) and the Guggenheim (Mondays and Saturdays from 4 pm - 5:30 pm).
If you are a student, remember to bring a valid international ID card, as it will be cheaper to get in at many places.
Transport
Public transport in New York is expensive, meaning the best option to save is to by getting the unlimited MetroCard. In the following link, you can compare the various different options the card offers, depending on if you're going to use the subway or the bus.
Advice
- For those of you who are wondering how to save money in New York, here are a few useful tips that you can use during your holiday:
- Tap water is drinkable - and restaurants will give it to you for free if you ask for it.
- A good way to see the Statue of Liberty is to take the free ferry to Staten Island. It offers some incredible views of Ellis Island, the New York port and the Statue of Liberty.
- If your intention is to go to New York to buy clothes and come back with a suitcase full of gifts, travel during sale season. Almost all year round, there are times of the year when the big shops offer great sales.
- If you're planning to see a Broadway musical, one of the best ways to save money in New York is to try to buy tickets on the day of the show at reduced prices. However, don't expect to get the best seats.
- The best tip we can give you to save money is to plan your visit in advance, so you know what you want to see or do. This will also help you organise your time in New York.