Cheap Suggestions For An NYC Weekend
Many of us, especially being in Newhouse, head to New York City a lot but being as we are students we do so on a budget. If you know someone in the city it helps insofar as a place to stay, but if not, it can make the trip more costly… quickly. Below are a few ways to help save on costs and still make your NYC experience pleasant.
Getting there…
I still can’t figure out why it costs over $100 to go to the south side of the state by plane, but thank goodness for the bus. If you have the time, the tickets can save you a lot of money. Most importantly though the buses have Wi-Fi as well so you can get work done on the way. See this link from Wanderu for more information on comparing bus ticket prices to get the best one. Travelling mid-week helps and at off-times too.
Staying there…
We are all aware of hotels and hostels. Hotels though can run upwards of $400 a night, even mid-week. Hostels are good, especially if you’re on your own and want to meet some new people, but some are over sharing bunk beds and have concern about privacy.
The last option that has gained popularity world over is Airbnb offering a great place at a reasonable cost. You just have to do research on the neighborhoods. Cheaper places are located in Brooklyn and New Jersey, so if you’re looking to stay on the Upper West Side, look to pay a lot more but still more reasonable than hotels in the area. Plus you get a personal touch from the residents who know it best. But like with anything, be cautious with whom you stay with. Check reviews and policies prior to booking.
Eating there…
Eater New York did the work for us and found 60, yes sixty cheap places to eat around the city. You can check out their list for whatever your heart – err stomach desires. Pizza is a must in New York City as well. I heard it’s the water that makes the crust appealing and therefore the pizza as a whole. There are many amazing pizzerias in NYC, one to recommend is Joe’s that started in Greenwich Village. They’re cash only because they’re cheap. You can order by the slice or a full pie and they even import Coke and Sprite that has cane sugar rather than corn syrup. There are five locations total in the city to choose from.
Playing there…
Free things! How about a brewery tour? Brooklyn Brewery offers that on weekend from 1:00pm to 5:00pm on Saturdays and to 4:00pm on Sunday’s – drink up!
Chelsea galleries between 10th and 11th Avenues in the 20’s have gallery crawls.
During the day we’re all aware of Central Park, but walking through the High Line is a unique way to observe the city. Finally you can take the Staten Island Ferry for free if not going to the Statue of Liberty (which is still reasonable at $12.00).
There are also a ton of museums and NYC-Arts has provided a list of ones that are always free or by donation. Included are the pricy ones that have free days. See sculpture, gardens and churches and revel in the beauty of the architecture and art that the city provides.
Hopefully we’ll be interning at 30 Rock, so free tour there too! Right?
