Child free trip to new York. Any tips?

[mycatoscar]

Dh and I are going to NYC this July on our own to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. We'll have 3 full days plus an evening on arrival and morning on departure day.

We don't have a massive budget but this is probably the only time we will do this do does anyone have any tips about things to do?

Is there a half price ticket place like in Leicester square? Is it worth paying what seems a lot for all the traditional touristy bits?

We've booked a hotel between theatre district and central park and were hoping to walk most Places, although happy to use public transport.

We also fly in and out of JFK if anyone has any tips about airport.

TIA x

Yay, well thats a start on the cheap and cheerful options. Completely free?

Thanks Mutt

The TKTS ticket booth in Times Square is somewhere you may want to check out for cheaper theatre tickets.

NYC subway system is quick and cheap to use.

Use a taxi to get yourselves to the hotel from JFK.

DH and I go at the beginning of June for our 25th anniversary.

thanks ladies, great tips so far.

The other thing I am wondering is the cost of food and tips for eating out. The travel agent offered to add breakfast at our hotel, but at a charge of £25 per person per day , surely breakfast doesnt need to cost that?

Hi mycatoscar,

Again research the local area where you are staying. Google maps will show restaurants in the local area to you. The Tripadvisor website could also help you here.

Eat out instead nearby and it will be far cheaper (and doubtless more tasty) than £25 a head. Hotel breakfasts, minibars, phone charges and room service are all a complete rip off.

As for tipping, leaving 15 to 20% of the overall cost of the check (bill) is fine. There's no set amount you must leave however.

BTW you will not see any signs saying toilets; Americans use the word "Restrooms".

BTW have you sorted out the ESTA for both of you as yet?. This is your responsibility to complete. You should only pay $14 (US) per person, no more than that amount. Only use the official US Government website which is esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

Go to the top of the rock instead of the empire state building, you'll be jet lagged probably so you'll be up super early on your first day so go there first to beat the queues. You'll get the ESB in your photos from there.

Second the staten island ferry, it's a quick turn around so when you get to the other side do a quick run around and get on the one going back to manhattan. Totally free.

A walk across the brooklyn bridge is great, I hear it's good at night for views of downtown manhattan, we had kids with us so did it during the day.

Don't buy anything in Times Square if you're on a budget! All the tourist stuff can be bought cheaper elsewhere.

Drugstores don't just sell drugs, they sell loads of useful things and loads of desirable things at v good prices.

And they're everywhere.

I LOVE drugstore shopping in the US. It's a tourist attraction of its own :)

Oh and don't even consider the hotel brekky. There are cafes, delis, diners and coffee shops all over ny which will fill you a up at a fraction of the cost.

In fact we rarely eat lunch on hols. Massive brekky, the odd snack, then evening meal.

eat here!

It's excellent! You can also get fab and cheap meals by taking the subway to Chinatown and seeing what takes your fancy.

We did boat trip, helicopter trip, top of the rock, empire state, central park, grand central station, walked for miles and miles.
Loved all of it, and worth every penny.

I would save money on food and drink rather than scrimp on things to do. The best food I had was my waffle, strawberry, banana and syrup brekkie at a coffee shop each morning.

Don't eat here lol It's a brilliant place but the food is expensive and crap

Ditto on the no hotel breakfast. Find a local cafe and eat pancakes and bacon with blueberries and maple syrpup unlimited coffee (or whatever takes your fancy).

I think a trip on the ferries is great and a trip to Ellis Island is a must. It is a fascinating museum charting the history of immigration into the US. Check out the big interactive map which shows you were the immigrants settled. I love it.

Try and catch a baseball game when you're there. The season is just starting so you may be lucky and one of the New York teams may be at home when you are there. The game can be dul in parts but it's more about the whole experience and atmosphere.

Shopping and walking are what it is really all about.

Lucky you!

Steak, spinach and martinis at the Brooklyn branch of Peter Luger's Steakhouse