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Original poster

New York on a shoestring - possible??

49 replies

WelshMoth · 09/12/2023 07:55

DD is 18 in January and I would love to take her to New York for her gift. She works hard and asks for nothing so surprising her with this would be immense. There are 4 of us altogether. Would this be doable on a tight budget?

Does anyone have any hints and tips and any saving advice? I'd be immensely grateful!

OP posts:
Namenumber3 · 09/12/2023 08:10

A family holiday to NewYork us going to be expensive. If it’s for her birthday it should be just her and you ( or a friend) shouldn’t it? That would halve the cost of flights and rooms in a hotel.
Is she not in college? New York is a popular trip that you could pay for if they run one.

If you want to go cheaply then an off season like January is good. However it’s a bit last minute for air fares now, they’ll be on the up. Are there any cruises going to New York? Travel agents like Cruise 1st and Cruise Nation often add on a few nights in a hotel and the return flights are included.

caffelattetogo · 09/12/2023 08:12

There's lots of great stuff to do for free, but I wouldn't go in January. Hold off until spring (any time but winter, really) and enjoy Central Park, the high line, the staton island ferry. Eat bagels, drink coffee and enjoy the buzz of it all.

TopicalNameChange · 09/12/2023 08:15

New York is shockingly expensive, but the subway is cheap and you can eat relatively cheaply if do your research. Touristy things like Broadway shows, trips to empire state building etc are very expensive. Museums aren't all free.

I'm from NYC and go back to visit family most years and still spend a fortune even without accommodation costs or having to eat out. It's a hard city to be a tourist on a shoestring, imo

RepetitiveMotion · 09/12/2023 08:16

caffelattetogo · 09/12/2023 08:12

There's lots of great stuff to do for free, but I wouldn't go in January. Hold off until spring (any time but winter, really) and enjoy Central Park, the high line, the staton island ferry. Eat bagels, drink coffee and enjoy the buzz of it all.

This. All the best stuff we did in NYC that was free relied on being outside in decent weather.

NashvilleQueen · 09/12/2023 08:18

If you do it at the right time you can get flights for £300. You could stay outside of Manhattan and just get the subway or bus in (consider New Jersey). And you could avoid eating in restaurants (which is way more expensive than here and that's before the tip).

It's worth all of these sacrifices because it's amazing. And there's always lots of free/discounted things to do.

xyz111 · 09/12/2023 08:18

I wouldn't say a family trip is a present specifically for her?

NewIdeasToday · 09/12/2023 08:18

The USA is very expensive for British visitors at the moment due to the exchange rate.

klajs · 09/12/2023 08:18

How tight a budget? I've just been and managed to spend really little over there (I reckon about £200 on just me in 5 days), but we only had a couple sit down meals and I shared a few of my meals, I'm just not a big eater on holiday. A big saving was sticking to the metro (air train and metro from airport).

This does not include hotel, flights, or excursions though.

WonderingWanda · 09/12/2023 08:20

Once you are there then there's lots to do for free but the expensive bit will be flights and accommodation. My top tip is to buy the hop on hop off bus tickets so you can get around and see all the sights. Also the staten Island ferry is free for a closer look at the Statue of Liberty. I think you can get cheaper flights if you do one which stops somewhere like Ireland or Iceland on the way.

HappyHedgehog247 · 09/12/2023 08:22

You could look at Skyscanner to see when the cheapest flights are. I wouldn't stay in New Jersey but you could stay in Brooklyn or less popular parts of Manhattan. Use the subway, which is great. There are free walking tours. Central Park is awesome and lots of other free things if you Google. Part of NY is the people watching and the buzz. Your DD may want to shop though! Can any other family contribute spending money?

Primproperpenny · 09/12/2023 08:23

I wouldn’t want to go and then scrimp and save, surely that would ruin it?

RepetitiveMotion · 09/12/2023 08:27

Primproperpenny · 09/12/2023 08:23

I wouldn’t want to go and then scrimp and save, surely that would ruin it?

You have to rein yourself in unless you’re a millionaire as you could spend a fortune there. £10 for a Pret sandwich or bagel!

Tickledtrout · 09/12/2023 08:31

I know it's a birthday treat but try to be flexible on when you go. Aim for spring or early summer/ early autumn. Look at aer lingus flights (mostly, via Dublin). Check out radio city apartments- clean, central and good value for a family.

MagpiePi · 09/12/2023 08:36

NashvilleQueen · 09/12/2023 08:18

If you do it at the right time you can get flights for £300. You could stay outside of Manhattan and just get the subway or bus in (consider New Jersey). And you could avoid eating in restaurants (which is way more expensive than here and that's before the tip).

It's worth all of these sacrifices because it's amazing. And there's always lots of free/discounted things to do.

I took two teenage boys to NY about 10 years ago and we stayed in an Airbnb in New Jersey.
Tbh, I wish I’d paid a bit extra and stayed on the island somewhere. It was a bit of a pain to get the bus there and back, and the evenings were often very busy with angry commuters. It also meant you had to stay out all day rather than being able to nip back to base for a rest. Plus there was the additional cost of the bus tickets.

SkyFullofStars1975 · 09/12/2023 08:46

We went mid November, just when they were putting the Christmas trees up everywhere. It was cold in the day but jesus, nothing prepares you for the wind when it blows - literally takes your breath away. We had planned all sorts for the evenings but found ourselves unable to face going outside. And because the streets are all on this perfect grid, you can't escape it. I can't explain the cold, I've never honestly experienced anything like it. And in January, it's very likely to have snowed which looks lovely but makes walking even harder.

klajs · 09/12/2023 08:55

@SkyFullofStars1975 we went in December and it was double digits! Didn't even wear a scarf. Fuming with the clothes we packed ha!

RichardMarxisinnocent · 09/12/2023 09:01

Long island city in Queens can be a cheaper place to stay. The subway goes there and it's close to midtown Manhattan.

Changingplace · 09/12/2023 09:02

There’s plenty of free/cheap things to do but as others have said going when the weather is a bit warmer will make that easier.

I enjoyed the Roosevelt tramline that’s a cable car on the subway network, you can eat cheaply with pizza slices & the sandwiches in delis are huge! We hired bikes round Central Park, but you could just walk round for free.

Some of the museums offer entry to another within a time limit with your entry.

idontlikealdi · 09/12/2023 09:06

How shoestring is the budget.

Could you just take her and double the budget? A family holiday isn't really a present for her.

LadyOfTheCanyon · 09/12/2023 09:09

Last time I went was late November and the temperature went from jacket and jeans to biggest coat and all layers I had on in one day. There's no way I'd go in January - New York is a magical city but it's awful when it's cold and if you're looking to do free stuff which is mostly outside ( and in the spring- autumn so I doubt you'll find much anyway), you'll be miserable. April and September are great months to visit.

Look at staying in Williamsburg, Greenpoint or further out in Brooklyn. I believe the US has changed its Air BnB rules as so many people were renting out their apartments to tourists, so I think that avenue has closed considerably ( and pushed up hotel prices).

ThereSnowLimit · 09/12/2023 09:10

It’s icy in January and you won’t get the full benefit of walking and enjoying the cheap / free things to do:-

  • Central Park
  • Staten Island ferry & view of the Statue of Liberty
  • ferry from DUMBO to Manhattan for amazing night view of the Manhattan skyline
  • walking tours
  • the high line
  • Fashion institute of technology (teen daughter loved this!)

All much better when it’s warm.

NashvilleQueen · 09/12/2023 09:14

No I do agree with you about it being a pain to stay further out but it was just to keep the costs down as far as possible. Brooklyn is still fairly expensive because it's pretty trendy now.

SadlyACupOfTeaDoesNotSolveEverything · 09/12/2023 09:14

@WelshMoth what do you consider a shoestring budget?

SquashPenguin · 09/12/2023 09:20

I don’t think NYC is the sort of place you’d want to go on a shoestring budget. Yes there is free stuff to do, but the fun is in staying in Manhattan, not Queens, it’s buying a massive slice of pizza or cheesecake for £10 because you feel like it on holiday, it’s seeing something nice in Macy’s and treating yourself. The exchange rate is eyewateringly expensive right now.

twilightcafe · 09/12/2023 09:20

The exchange rate is shocking. I was in NYC this summer. Everything costs at least double what it did in the UK.