NYC on a Shoestring

My burning desire to see the place intensified with every magazine picture, movie and TV show. Is it just me, or are they all set there? It feels very strange to constantly see a place you've never actually been. Going would be easy with time and money, but we're students with small children. We don't get out a lot, and when we do, it's with gift cards.

But when Andrew had a conference scheduled in NYC last week, with a company covering all major expenses, I was thrilled to come along. Springtime in New York? It sounded so....You've Got Mail. Thanks to my sweet in-laws, the boys were in good hands. With 48 hours and a shoestring budget, we saw and did everything on our long list. More on that later. 

We found that with the right plan, seeing the iconic city can be done well, even for those light on time and money. Here are our tips for maximizing both while still thoroughly enjoying the Big Apple.

Buy your flight at the right time. A recent study reports that the optimal time to buy your ticket is usually 54 days before departure ("When's the best," 2014).

Choose accommodations wisely. It is important to consider all the costs when looking at New York City hotels. Do they offer free wi-fi? A continental breakfast? Is the location so far from what you want to see it will require paying for additional transportation? You’ll need all the facts to make a true “apples to apples” cost comparison.

Arrange for transportation in advance. A cab from La Guardia to Upper Manhattan can cost around $60 one way. JFK and Newark are even more. By booking a shuttle service online before departure, we each secured a round trip for $23. Not too shabby, and totally hassle free.    

Pound the pavement. Walking is great exercise, the cheapest way to get from point A to point B, and helps you get up close and personal with the sights of this larger than life city. So chart a course. Know the things you want to see ahead of time and take along a map. A smart phone is a great tool, but using the GPS function drains battery life quickly - battery life you’ll need for snapping photos and keeping in contact during your long days out. I often opted to take screenshots of the map to our next destination. Also, grab some gel insoles and your favorite pain reliever...sometimes great exercise hurts.

Choose your splurges. Know ahead of time what means the most to you then find the most economical way to experience it. For example, if you want to see a Broadway show, consider using the TKTS discount booth in Times Square - it offers 40-50% off box office prices. If there’s a restaurant you’re dying to try, perhaps go during the lunch hour where many of the same entrees are less expensive. Save your budget in other ways - drinks add up fast and taste the same in New York as they do back home. Take a water bottle with you to refill - you’ll need to stay hydrated with all the walking you’ll be doing.

Seeing New York is a singular experience, and can be done even with tight schedules and a bank accounts that have yet to blossom. Most of the city's sights, sounds, and smells are completely free (granted, you may wish for a return policy on some of the latter). So take it all in and embrace even the small details of your journey. If you're like us, you'll find yourself enjoying the trip well after it is over.

When's the best time to book a ticket? here's what our data has to say. (2014, January 24). Retrieved from http://www.cheapair.com/blog/travel-tips/when-should-you-buy-your-airline-ticket-heres-what-our-data-has-to-say/