Budget for New York

[Artemis6]

A bit of a tricky question but I'll give it a go.
In 5 years time, I will turn 60 and DD will turn 21.
Our birthdays are 1 day apart.

To celebrate, we'd like to go to NY for a few days and I'd like to start saving now.

The last time I was in NY was 2004 so I've no idea if cost now.

I realise prices will probably go up in 5 years but can anyone give me a ball park figure for flights, hotel, eats and entertainment?

Sorry, I can't give u a figure, but you could go online or to travel agents and cost it now, then adjust accordingly. There obviously is a variation on locality and the star rating you're prepared to go to and only you know how much you're prepared to spend for that .

We went in October 22. Pound had tanked against dollar. It was incredibly expensive. I had last been 15 years ago, but the change from then when I remember buying lots of clothes and cosmetics (because they were so cheap) had gone.

Flights weren’t too bad (2.5K for 5 of us).

Hotel was £400 per night (including breakfast). Great location but tiny rooms (like a Travelodge). Breakfast included.

Eating out very expensive. Average restaurant was easily £50 per person (no alcohol).

A lot of museums you have to pay for entry (again think £20 per person).

I’ve seen on other posts people recommending getting an apartment so you can make your own breakfast and packed lunch.

More than you think!

Hotels vary obviously but are running at around £250 a night for decent, fairly central but not posh. Food equally variable, we spent around $40 for breakfast (for 2) including tips, around $30 on drinks and snacks during the day and $120 for evening meals and drink for 2, very ish pricing obviously it varied day to day. Entertainment- did a concert at $20 a ticket and the opera was $35 a ticket for the cheap seats. Museum about $20 a head, similar for Statue of Liberty/ellis island, used subway and buses, no cabs

We went 2 years ago. Booked with BA holidays during their sale. Travelled in Feb (cheap time to go). Paid £1500 for flights and 4 nights accommodation for 2 people. Had breakfast included so ate masses then had one meal out later in the day. Bought sightseeing passes which were amazing value and covered almost all the things we did. Took the subway or walked rather than used taxis. Spent about a grand whilst there.

We aren't price sensitive particularly but it was still ouch!

One tip is you need to check for "resort charges" which hotels add at check in, can make that good deal not so sweet

Ps we travelled one way with Cunard on the qm2 - I highly recommend, you also have had your fill of fancy meals etc before arriving so you are more comfortable with cheaper food options, I recommend Hell's Kitchen area, found a bar with $5 margaritas

We went for 3 nights 4 days in December, BA Holidays.

With spending money it cost us about £4,500.

I'm just planning this trip now! Cant wait just looking for ideas where to stay after our cruise

We had a week in NYC last August for DDs 21st. Hotel - we had 2 rooms for 4 of us which cost £ 4300 for the week. Food was really expensive - we wanted a nice meal for dd's 21st and I think that worked out at around £ 500. Usually you could work on £ 40 - £ 50 per head for a reasonable meal including drinks. Alcohol was very expensive. We had been previously in 2011 and found it much more expensive this time. But we still had a great week and dd really enjoyed her birthday.

We normally end up spending 4-5k for flights and hotel for two people (5 nights) and roughly 3-5k for spending depending how much shopping / eating fancy food / visiting every attraction known to man that we want to do! It's very expensive, especially with tips.

Not cheap. Look out for offers on flights or package. Food not too bad but restaurants expensive. Exchange rates govern costs.

It really makes such a diff what time of year you are going. Last went in jan 2023 stayed 16 nights in nyc and with flights it came to under 3k for 2 people. But thats in jan when its colder and quieter. Also depends what area you stay in etc. Downtown for us as its less chaotic very chilled vibe. What i will say it that food is crazy prices. Previous went in jan 2020 and the diff in 3 years for food OMG. Im not a restuarant kind of person so just ate fast food etc like shake shack chick fil a and then had a lovely breakie brunch but even off the beaten track say 2 x pancakes french toast etc and a drink each and with a tip it like 50 $ . Coffee and a cupcake etc can easily set up back 25/30 $ for 2. Even gettin a bottle of water from the local shop etc can be over 4$ ago. I understand its expensive its the city that never sleep but even so i really noticed the price diff but then i guess its just like the uk now. My best suggestion would be to price it for the time of year you want to go now and then add at least a 3rd extra maybe even 50%. Then hopefully you will have enough!!

We just came back a week ago, went for Feb half term and budgeted £200 a person a day for food and it was about right. We live in London and found everything much more expensive in comparison, we were really shocked. The last time we went was just before Covid and it was about comparable then.

Museum entry is around $35 a person, one of the observation towers would be $50+. Even cheap meals didn't feel very cheap - a salmon cream cheese bagel is $15, 3 tacos and a couple soft drinks over $30. A sit down breakfast - pancakes, eggs, etc cost us $150 with tip for 4 people. Tips are 20% as standard for restaurants. Our Placemakr hotel was great, on Wall Street and was like a little studio with 2 double beds and a kitchenette - around £200 a night. Yellow cab to and from airport was around $85-87 flat fee inc tax and tolls, with tip is $105 each way. Subway card is $33 for a week, unlimited trips or you can tap in and out with a debit card.

We took mostly cash but some things like museums, observation towers are expected that you will book and pay online. Make sure that you take good walking shoes as you will likely walk upwards of 20,000 steps!

Have a look for a hotel with a kitchenette. We like the Hotel Beacon on the UWS, the rooms are big and comfy but not super sleek and modern. The location is perfect for us, right by Central Park and several museums, feels like somewhere 'real' New Yorkers live (of course I know real New Yorkers live everywhere). There is a fairway (big supermarket) directly opposite and Zabar's is close by too (famous deli/supermarket). Both have cafes too and fairway had hot food options. I'm not in any way suggesting skimping on eating out but you may not always want to and a kitchenette gives you an option to have something cheaper and easier if you've already eaten well that day and just want a snack.

Wherever you choose to stay I would personally avoid Times Square.

If you look on the trip advisor forum there are mixed views on the passes, depending on what you want to do it may be better value to pay individually for attractions but in either case you can price up passes/individual attractions now to get an idea.

What time of year are you thinking of? We have been just before Christmas before and if you hit it right with dates it's surprisingly good value at that time of year.

I have just booked flights for under £400 for April.

I’m going in May and I went to the US twice last year so think I know what to expect price wise. I’m budgeting roughly double what things cost here but in dollars. So a £3.50/£4 latte could well be $7/$8.
I have booked four nights for four adults in two rooms in a mid price hotel with premium economy flights and it cost 4.3k.
I am not expecting any change from $200 dollars for a mid price restaurant dinner.
I am looking into it’s worth buying the New York pass for attractions.

We went last month. First day there we popped into the restaurant next to our hotel (near Bryant Park so fairly pricey park of town). We had four bowls of pasta 3 cocktails, a glass of wine and two bowls of ice cream. It came to $250!! For lunch!!! It was a lot pricier than I expected (last went in 2005).

@houserenohelp

I booked independently via booking.com but others on the cruise used the NewYorker. I recommend using the red hook ferry rather than Cunard transport to manhattan, was under $3 then subway to Times Square.

It's an amazing trip, a step back in time.

We did similar for 50ths and 18th & 21st that were in the same year. It’s very expensive to eat and drink. An alcoholic drink seemed to be $10 everywhere plus tax and tip 2 years ago. We did find one bar that sold a pint of Coors for $4 that DH was happy with.
We flew in August so was pricey but reduced cost by £200 each by stopping in Ireland (Aer Lingus) en route. This was actually a good idea as we cleared customs there so just walked through to baggage on arrival in JFK.
We ate breakfast out everyday and prices varied but around €70 for 4 and we were full for the rest of the day(luckily) so then ate dinner later. You can get the famous pizza slice(a big slice) cheaply if you go off the main streets. We did this one evening while in Time Square area .
We didn’t get the pass as it was cheaper to just prebook the things we wanted to do.
Circle line cruise
Rockerfeller
Cycling round Central Park
Brooklyn Bridge(free)
High Line (free)

I do think booking a hotel with breakfast included can be a good shout, or a kitchenette. We did find cheaper food in Hell's Kitchen (shout out to the Peruvian place.) Just book knowing this and perhaps fewer nights than you might to other places. We are opting to go up to Canada next time we take the Queen Mary 2 (I just love the crossing)

We were last there 2019 and stayed at the Library Hotel for a week near Bryant Park. Definitely not cheap.....but they do a wine / cheese reception each evening 5-7. Plenty of decent red/wine/fizz, cheese, crackers, crudités, nibbles. Really useful! We only ate out once after 8pm as we were knackered...up and out by 9am.

ps we walked everywhere (20k steps upwards daily) and it was hot!! The bus was great and air conditioned unlike the subway. We were staying downtown which was fab and quieter after a busy day with the added bonus of being able to walk by the Hudson and through Battery Park for some space.

It’s outrageously expensive! I’m going soon and have had to shell out £250 a night for a hotel. The only options (not much) cheaper than that were beds in shared hostels, I kid you not. I last went in 2015 and am aghast at how expensive it is now.

Has got very expensive. We spent about £2,500 per person for a week at the end of October 2023.

Our first booking was £2100 for 3 which included a teenager, that was cancelled due to Covid. Rebooked and it was £2700. That hotel became homeless hotel and we didn’t like the replacement so third time lucky and flight and hotel was £3000. That was for 6 nights. Original cost of £2100 was for 7. First booked in 2020. Finally made it February 2023.

We also ate at Bryant Park for lunch one day. 2 fish and chips and one BLT, 2 cokes, 4 beers including tip was $200.

It’s really expensive, and I say that as someone who lives outside a major tourist city and grew up just outside London. We went for 4 nights last May, me DH and DD. Our flights and hotel were on the higher side because we were late to book, but DH was there for work and the stars aligned so we went for it. We didn’t hold back and probably spent about £2k in 3.5 days doing all the stuff we wanted to do. No taxis apart from to and from the airport, subway around the city.