Spending Monday for NYC

[anotherdisaster]

Just wondering if I'm going to have enough spending money now!! Flights and hotel paid for. I have also purchased our attraction passes which will cover all of the attractions we're going to. 1 adult and 2 kids for 4 nights and I think I'll have about £1100. I still have airport transfers to pay which will be around £130-£150. Kids have their own spending money of around £300 each too.

Extra question..... my bank won't charge me for using my debit card abroad. Is it cheaper for me to withdraw cash at an ATM when I get there rather than change money in the uk?

I would say it should be fine. Just set yourself a budget for each day and stick to it. I assume it’s mostly just food and transport? You can eat as cheaply or as expensively as you like - loads of options at all price points. For travel, you can save loads by using the subway rather than taxis. I would recommend using the air train from the airport - it will save you loads and is super easy.

Also, don’t be afraid to walk if you’re in Manhattan. Quite a few places are accessible and safe on foot. Your cash amount sounds fine

I think it probably is cheaper to use an ATM in NY, rather than getting cash before you go. But saying that, we spent 3 days in NY in November, and used no cash at all. I prefer to have a little with me in case, but we didn't need it.

Your budget sounds fine, as long as you stick to the cheaper restaurants/fast food/delis etc.

If you are flying in and out of JFK at a reasonable time of day, use the airtrain and subway - it's about 10-12 dollars per person (might be cheaper for kids, I'm not sure), and is very easy. If flying to Newark, get a cab or train to Penn Station (Newark) and get the PATH to Manhattan.

Take water bottles and fill in your hotel - bottle water in NY is eye-wateringly expensive.

Your amount of money sounds fine.

Which airport are you flying into?. Given you will have both luggage and children with you the easiest way would be to get into a yellow taxi at the airport. There are official taxi dispatchers who will get you into a taxi and also tell you what the fare is.

Ignore people who may approach you in arrivals re private transfers via the use of a suburban van, they will take you to your destination but are v expensive.

@AttilaTheMeerkat I'm flying into JFK so, as you said, having kids and luggage means I would probably rather spend the extra getting a taxi. I've heard Uber's are cheaper than the yellow cabs - do you know if that sounds right?

Ubers can cost less than a cab but getting a cab is more convenient with the fixed fares. Trying to find your uber driver upon leaving arrivals can be a challenge.

I don't think we used cash at all when we were in NY in Summer. You should have some for leaving in your hotel room when you check out and I think we tipped the cab driver in cash.

Do remember that all prices are excluding tax, I can't remember how much at the moment.

If you eat in, you will have to give tip, expect 20% on average.

I'd get the yellow cab from the registered stands - probably end up at a little over $200 for there and back with tips.

So that's probably $800-$900 for four days food / snacks / shopping. It's doable but tight!

Don't forget as PP have said, tax and 20% tip adds a lot onto meals - we found lunch was $100+ for two adults just because of tax and tip + expensive NYC prices. Stick to quick serve and that should help!

Thank you for all the great advice. I don't intend carrying much cash, that's more for tips for housekeeping, hotel staff, cabs etc.

@anotherdisaster We don’t use cash either. Cards all the way. Add on costs are huge so be prepared. Spending money for dc seems high for a few days. What can they spend this money on?

They probably won't spend it, its just holiday money they have been given by family members (some of it already in $). My teenager is really into clothes though so he's been told he'll have to buy anything like that himself. Although I might need to borrow it myself 😂

DD had spending and birthday money for clothes, clothes aren't cheap anymore in NY.

There are some stores around Time Square and she went to Century21 near the 9/11 memorial but I don't remember how big the men's department was.

She had a list of vintage second hand shops but with just 4 days she didn't want to run around.

I agree. Don’t spend loads of time clothes shopping. The exchange rate isn’t great for lots of things. However if he’s got a favourite brand, just go to them because they might do items not for sale in the UK.