NYC on a budget

The Big Apple, it’s the enchanting location we all know and love. From the sparkling street known as the Diamond District to the statue of liberty, New York is a place full of riches and wealth. Thankfully for us, you don’t need to spend a million dollars there to make memories that are worth just as much. New York might be all glitter and glam, but that doesn’t mean it costs a fortune. In today’s post we’re looking how to craft every aspect of a NYC adventure on a budget, so you too can have a bite of the Big Apple.

Where to stay

Often the biggest expense of a stay in New York is where you’re sleeping, which for the most part seems kind of unreasonable, considering the majority of the time, those places are only for sleeping. There are quite a few alternatives to expensive hotels. Here are 10 of the best priced hotels in the area, all of which have rooms for under $120.

10. The Jane, 113 Jane Street

9. Pod 51, 230 East 51st Street

8. RIFF Chelsea, 300 West 30th Street

7. Hotel 31, 120 East 31 Street

6. West Side YMCA, 5 W. 63rd Street

5. Hampton Inn Brooklyn Downtown, 125 Flatbush Ave Extension

4. Freehand New York, 23 Lexington Ave, New York

3. The Paul Hotel, 32 W 29th Street

2. Nu Hotel, 85 Smith Street, Brooklyn

1. Broadway Hotel and Hostel, 230 W 101st Street

If you want even cheaper options then hotels, Christian centres and deal sites like Roomorama and Living Social.

How to travel

When it comes to getting to New York there are only a few options available to you. If you live in the States it might be worth driving there since gas is relatively cheep here compared to the rest of the world. If you split the gas cost with a group it becomes even cheaper. Just make sure that you have somewhere well priced to leave your car when you arrive, or consider paying a friend to drop you off and return the car.

Alternatively, you can fly or catch a cruise. Depending on where you are starting from, these will vary in terms of expense. However, both have great deals for early bookings and, if you’re happy to live life as it comes, last minute bookings. By waiting at the airport for people to drop out you can often get flights for under half price, but it depends if you’re willing to risk it.

Once you get to New York it might be temping to take one of the classic yellow cans but subways and buses are way cheaper. If you are staying a while, it’s worth investing in an unlimited metrocard. The standard kind works like a top up card so it’s not really any cheaper, it just saves you carrying cash. The unlimited ride MetroCard can save you money though, especially if you plan on making a lot of trip. These unlimited cards give you unlimited swipes for a certain length of time so are perfect for work or a holiday. You only make a one off payment at the start and that’s you set.

What to eat cheaply

Eating out in New York is surprisingly cheap. You can always treat yourself to a Planet Hollywood (we recommend the burger) or a Hard Rock Café (definitely worth getting the nachos and a signature shake, they also do a wicked black velvet which is a non-alcoholic, super sweet cocktail). For the most part though, you’re going to want to eat cheap, without skimping on the quality. In our personal experience Harlem was the best area for this, boasting some amazing family run cafés with good, wholesome food. New York is littered with small businesses that make insanely high quality food at a decent price. Of course, you can always self-cater, but if you’re a foodie you probably want to try something local. That’s easy enough with diners, cafés and shockingly 7/11. In case you want a few recommendations, here are a few ideas for classic NYC eats on the cheap.

• 2 Bros pizza, a cheap but decent MYC pizza chain (Various)

• Joe’s pizza, New York style slices & pies (1435 Broadway)

• $1 Pizza, it really is just $1 per slice (832 6th Avenue)

• 99 cent pizza express, just beating the last place by a cent and it’s reviews are about as high (301 W 43rd Street)

• David’s Bagels, a range of home baked sandwiches and bagels (273 1st Avenue)

• Tompkin’s Square Bagels, another well priced but delicious chain (various)

• Lucky’s famous burgers, a highly recommended burger place (370 W 52nd Street)

And if you really love your food, try looking up some food challenges where you don’t have to pay if you finish – but you better do well!

Sights to see that are totally free

The last thing we’re going to look at is some entertainment, and there’s no shortage of it in New York. There’s also a whole lot that you can do for free. Here are our top 10:

10. Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge, or take a walking tour since a lot of these are free. There are also kayaks that you can take out

9. Visit the Queens County Farm Museum where you can also pet some adorable animals. Another awesome, free, museum is the Ice Cream Museum

8. Get cultured by visiting the Whitney Museum of American Art.

7. Hang out in Central Park. The atmosphere is a buzz and it’s full of nature and birds, making it a breath of fresh air when the city heights are getting a bit overwhelming. While you’re there you could catch some open air Shakespeare performances in the park for free

6. Get some free samples and a tour at the Brooklyn Brewery’s free weekend tours

5. History and book lovers can also visit the New York Public Library, which also runs tours and talks

4. Check out 497,000 gold bars in the basement of the Federal Bank of New York’s Gold Vault on yet another free tour

3. Look up what areas are doing free comedy nights. These are always a great laugh, even with amateur comedians, and sometimes big names pop in too. You never know, you could see the next David Spade

2. Fans of musicals or history can visit Alexander Hamilton’s Harlem Estate

1. You can visit the Brooklyn Botanic Garden which is a beauty in its own right and stretches 52 acres, free on Fridays