| 1. Airfare - the three closest airports are JFK, | | | | more cost-effective than taking the subway. |
| LGA and EWR. When searching for airfare online, | | | | 6. Attractions Passes - As a lifelong New Yorker, |
| you can type "NYC" in almost every online search | | | | I was skeptical when analyzing the New York City |
| box and it will check all three major airports and | | | | sightseeing passes. The short answer, is in MOST |
| return the lowest fare. A NYC travelers' | | | | cases, they can offer a savings. You have to |
| advantage is you can arrive and depart from two | | | | make sure you are evaluating the passes |
| different airports if there is a financial benefit. No | | | | correctly and reading into any hidden costs. See " |
| car rental to worry about! Make sure to check | | | | New York City Discount and Attractions Passes - |
| the extra cost of traveling from Manhattan to | | | | Are They Really a Savings?" for considerations. |
| Newark, NJ (EWR). It may not be a savings to fly | | | | 7. More Things to Do in NYC - check into |
| or stay there. | | | | additional sightseeing, museums, attractions and/ |
| 2. NYC Hotels from $25 - To be in Manhattan, use | | | | or events while you are in town. Empire State |
| a zip code such as 10019, and do not search | | | | Building or Top of the Rock? Is it Restaurant, Spa |
| further than 2 miles, or you will be outside | | | | or Fashion Week? Are TV Shows being taped? |
| Manhattan. The BEST hotel deals are for Military | | | | What's going on at Radio City Music Hall, Madison |
| Personnel and their eligible dependents and | | | | Square Garden and Lincoln Center? Can you see |
| spouses. If you fall into one of these categories: | | | | any of the Museums during their free days and |
| Military Personnel of the United States and its | | | | times? |
| Allies (Active Duty, Reserve, Guard, Veterans and | | | | 8. NYC Subway - navigating and using the subway |
| Cadets, and members of the Police Department, | | | | is easy once you get the hang of it, but is not |
| Fire Department, and Emergency Medical | | | | done on typical internet map programs. We use |
| Services), you can stay in a lovely hotel, in a | | | | sites like HopStop and the MTA (Metropolitan |
| GREAT location for rates ranging from $25 (per | | | | Transit Authority) website to get from point A to |
| person per night) to $125 for a VIP Room. | | | | point B in NYC. Mapping out some of your |
| 3. Statue of Liberty - there is only way to enter | | | | itinerary in advance will save you a lot of time |
| the Statue of Liberty Museum. Do not confuse | | | | and money and improve your NYC vacation. You |
| reserving Statue of Liberty tickets with taking a | | | | don't want to go from the Metropolitan Museum |
| Ferry to Liberty Island to walk the Liberty | | | | of Art to Wall Street to the Guggenheim to the |
| Grounds. You must reserve your ticket directly | | | | Statue of Liberty. Make your time efficient and |
| with the Statue of Liberty and it is FREE. No tour, | | | | buy the right Metrocard (the pass needed for the |
| attractions pass or discount pass includes entry | | | | subway) for your trip. |
| into the Museum (the base or to climb Lady | | | | 9. Arriving in New York City - Upon arriving in |
| Liberty's Crown). Reservations are usually booked | | | | New York, you can use public transit, taxi, shuttle |
| 3 or more months in advance and are accepted | | | | or NYC Limos to get to Manhattan. A limo (car |
| up to one year in advance. | | | | service) can be reserved just before you arrive, |
| 4. Tickets - Some tickets are worth getting in | | | | however, it is not always advantageous to |
| advance, especially if you want tickets for the | | | | reserve a car. Shuttle buses charge per person |
| kinds of things to which New Yorkers go every | | | | and taxis are one rate for up to 4 people. If you |
| day, such as Broadway Shows, TV Shows, | | | | really want to sound like a New Yorker and not a |
| Yankees Baseball or Giants Football. Except for | | | | tourist, know your cross streets. When you get in |
| some very exclusive tickets, almost everything | | | | to the car, make sure to say, "Park Central Hotel. |
| can be purchased with a discount or coupon. Make | | | | 56th and 7th, please" and not "Park Central Hotel, |
| sure you know how to get half price Broadway | | | | 870 Seventh Avenue." |
| tickets every day. | | | | 10. New York City Coupons - Stop at the two |
| 5. New York City Bus Tour - these are very | | | | official visitor centers in NYC with hundreds of |
| popular amongst NYC Tourists. There are pros | | | | coupons. The New York City coupons are good |
| and cons, but overall, most NYC tourists really | | | | for discount Broadway tickets, discount tours, |
| seem to like them. Many of the Bus Tours prices | | | | discounts off attraction prices, coupons for bus |
| also include admission to attractions and | | | | tours, private tours, bike tours, museums, |
| sightseeing. If you plan on visiting a lot of | | | | admission prices and hundreds of other things to |
| attractions with admissions prices, then a Bus | | | | do in NYC. The two centers are about a five |
| Tour may be a great deal for you. Possibly even | | | | minute walk apart. |