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, meant to tag @48wheaties in prev post :-)

Ooh that's super helpful @usernamealreadytaken 😊

Hi yes mcdonalds/chick fil a etc are expensive for what they are but obv nowhere near sit in brunches type places. What we always do and what i love about america in general etc is they love vouchers etc. So for instance we would go to mcdonalds for like a egg muffin but when you get the receipt theres like a survey you can fill in takes like 20 secs and then you get a code which means u can get another next day for free or like a burger etc. So its brings the cost down. Same as like chick fil a you could get a free burger that sells for like 7/8$. You are only allowed to fill so many in in like 30 days i think but as long as you have a couple of phones etc you can easily get several a week ! Also another thing we do is sign up to the emails for the shops your interested in like sprinkles /dunkin/ krispy kreme and then obv your birthday falls when you are away 🤣 so then u get a free donut or cupcake etc. Also bath and body works(love this shop) give you free stuff when u sign up and also free item on your birthday etc. It all adds up and between 2 of you or more you can easily get 100$ of free stuff
Do it everytime we go !!

I paid $17 for two Starbucks flat whites to take away. They were weak and horrible.

@Bejazzled

From the reserve?! Nooo! You should have said - they'd have remade them!

The question of flat whites in the states always makes me laugh when they ask "what size" though as I'm used to the European single size 😂

We booked through British airways including hotel , it wasn't that expensive to book but when in nyc everything was very expensive . Most of our money went on food but it was for a family of 4 . Go for it though it was fab

After walking across the Brooklyn bridge in August, I got a single lemonade from one of the stands- $5 for about 300ml!

Starbucks is a rip-off and the coffee is terrible.

Blank Street Coffee is great (one recently opened near my office) and a latte in Manhattan branches is under $5.

Give Starbucks a swerve.

Hate Starbucks coffee, not strong enough.

I live in New York. My pro-tip for saving money is STAY AWAY FROM TIMES SQUARE. Everything there has the prices jacked up to high heaven to rip off tourists. Similarly, restaurants in Midtown generally tend to be more expensive as they're catering to the business expense crowd.

Similarly Starbucks reserve is a ripoff. A cappuccino and a piece of cake in a normal starbucks comes to about $11.

We are going in April for 6 night, £3000 for four people flights and accommodation. Have pre booked theatre and baseball tickets and some observation decks probably about £700 in total. Planning on budgeting £500 per day but really hope to not spend as much,dont forsee sit down meals with two kids but there will be lots of snacks and coffees I'm sure!

You’re so lucky! I usually hate big, busy cities (very occasionally went in to London) but I bloody loved NY, and would live there in a heartbeat. Met a lovely lady who took me and my son to a bar and we had a brilliant evening, would have loved to keep in touch, but she’s not on social media :-(

Thank you!

I went in February and it was £1200 so not bad, if I'd booked for May it would have been an extra £400. October onwards probably double that.

Food: if you go to a basic diner for a basic burger and fries you're talking $30 dollars including tips and tax. Food carts more like $15. I deliberately chose a hotel including breakfast, which was super convenient.

The most expensive thing was the Uber to the airport, something like £104 including tip. But it's safer than the subway, which I strongly advise against anywhere outside of Central Manhattan.

I am taking ds in July for a late 18th birthday celebration.
I have paid £1800 for flights and the Hyatt centric Times Square hotel going Wednesday-Sunday (so 4 nights).
Am planning on taking £2000 spending money and a New York City pass plus broadway tickets booked. We aren't really fussed on fancy restaurants but do want to go to Ellen's stardust Diner and Serendipity)

I'm going with dad next week. 5 days including flights, accommodation and passes is costing in the region of £2500 (we are keeping everything simple to keep the budget low!)

I booked though BA in their end of summer sale. 7 nights for me and my 2 children aged 14 and 5. Direct flights from Manchester with Aer Lingus, staying in a hotel in Times Square - premier city view room. Destination fee included in the price which is converted into a $30 per day credit that can be used on food and drinks within the hotel and also 2 free attractions. Total came to £3628. I've put £1200 on a Post Office Travel card for spending money. This comes to just over $1500. Then travel insurance which was £87 with Puffin Travel Insurance, a transfer from Bradford to Manchester Airport (return) for £171 and a private transfer from JFK Airport to Times Square which was £93. If you need any more info please feel free to ask me x

please let us know how you get on. That doesn’t seem like it would be near enough for me, even for food but I hope I am wrong and you have a great time.

The fare in a NYC cab from JFK into Manhattan is fixed at $70 plus a $5 surcharge - so if your £93 transfer cost is return, that is good value. If it isn’t, there is a little saving to be made there.

Don’t forget tipping everywhere is the norm in NY and is an additional 20% on top of the bill. If you don’t mind queuing, Los Taco No.1 is a great takeaway and reasonably priced. Juniors is a great reasonably priced breakfast /brunch spot.

Have fun!

If you’re flying into JFK and need transport in and out of Manhattan do consider the Airtrain and LIRR. I travel to NYC a lot and always use it.

Lower East Side is cheaper for hotels.

We went this year- family of four for four nights- £320 each for flights without cases with Virgin Atlantic, £70 for one suitcase each way, hotel without breakfast in central area £300 per night. Plenty of supermarkets and fast food places which are cheaper. Eating in was expensive. Breakfast for four in a cafe was 80 ish dollars for just three plates, two coffees and two juices. Service charge is 20% in NY. Travel insurance, airport parking on top. Lots of free things to do-Brooklyn Bridge, the high line, Central Park. Baseball can be quite cheap to watch although higher prices tickets give a better experience and are worth it. Basketball at Maddison Square Gdns is over £100 each. Not a cheap holiday but certainly a brilliant one.

Maybe suitcase was £60 each way- can’t remember exactly.

We've booked for this December.
Flights were £600 rtn with virgin atlantic
Accommodation 4* upper west side £600 per night B+B
Plus ESTA's, show bookings, observation deck tickets, about £300 p person.
I'm now saving for food and budgeting £150 p person per day as we'll have breakfast at the hotel.