Keep it in check: Managing a modest budget in New York City – Part 2

Visiting New York City sure can get expensive, but a few tips will keep you from blowing your budget. One of the most costly parts of any trip, the hotel, certainly doesn’t have to be. Think about it, you’re in New York City, how much time are you going to spend in that hotel room? You don’t need the amenities of a four- or five-star hotel; you just need a place that’s clean and in a safe area.

One splurge that doesn’t have to be so outrageous is tickets to a Broadway show. Face value of a pair of tickets can be upwards of $200, but there are many ways to get discounts. TKTS Discount Booths are located in Times Square and South Street Seaport, if you’re willing to wait until you get to the city to buy tickets. If you want to purchase tickets in advance, look online for discount codes. Chances are, you can find them for any show, especially if you start looking well ahead of your trip. Also, check the web sites for the shows you want to see and find out about their Rush Tickets policy.

Another thing to do in NYC that doesn’t have to be costly is visiting museums. Museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met, for short) and the American Museum of Natural History allow entrance based on a suggested donation, meaning that you only have to pay what you want and what you can afford.

Restaurant Row on 46th between 8th and 9th Avenues in Midtown offers a range of restaurant choices, many not too expensive. Some even have surprisingly cheap lunch specials. The area around the intersection of Bleecker and MacDougal Streets in the Village also has a variety of restaurants and a few with popular sidewalk dining. Chinatown and Little Italy, especially Mullberry Street, are also decent bets for finding places to eat, although Mulberry Street caters more to tourists and is likely to have higher prices. If you’re willing to go a bit off the beaten path, you can head up to the Bronx and check out what locals call “the real Little Italy,” or Arthur Avenue between 188th and 185th Streets. Italian restaurants and bakeries with fair prices abound in this area.

Don’t bother with the unlimited daily metro-card unless you plan on riding the subway or buses four or more times in one day, or you won’t get your money’s worth. If you only plan on a couple of rides in a day throughout your stay, it’s better to buy a regular metro-card-for every $10 you put on it (5 rides), you get a $2 credit (a free ride).

Don’t forget, there are plenty of things to do in New York City that are free. Take a stroll through Central Park, people watch by the fountain at Lincoln Center, browse through some department stores and boutiques (and risk temptation of blowing that budget)!

Visiting New York City on a modest budget – Part 5

Visiting New York can be be expensive. Prices there are high in general, but even by that standard, some items are exceptionally outrageous. This article lists some of those, and gives you tips for how to avoid paying more than you have to:

1. Parking in a Manhattan garage can cost over $20, or sometimes even over $30, per hour! And if you park on the street, you risk running afoul of one of the many arcane parking regulations and getting a ticket. Best bet: Leave your car at home, and get around the city on foot and by subway. You can even take a cab once in a while, and still save more money than if you had tried to park a car.

2. The Museum of Modern Art has a beautiful new building, but it now costs $20 to get in. The American Museum of Natural History is a must-see if you love dinosaurs, but adult admission is $15 if you’re willing to skip the planetarium show and special exhibits, $30 if you’re not. Best Bet: Buy a City Pass for $65.00 for adults, $49.00 for youths aged 12-17, and get free admission to all of these: the Museum of Natural History, Empire State Building, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise, Guggenheim Museum, Museum of Modern Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Alternatively, if you’re just interested in the Museum of Modern Art, you can go on a Friday evening from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m., when admission is free for all, thanks to Target stores.

3. Broadway show tickets can cost hundreds of dollars. Ouch! Best bets: Go to the Tkts booths in Times Square or South Street Seaport and get tickets up to half price off. Also, consider branching out beyond the musicals. Plays are likely to have lower prices – and shorter lines at the Times Square Tkts booth. Be adventurous, and venture Off-Broadway or Off-Off Broadway. And if you’re there in the summer, don’t miss the Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park performances in a beautiful outdoor theater in Central Park for free!

4. Food. You could spend hundreds of dollars per person to eat in one of New York’s priciest restaurants. Or you could have a fantastic meal for a tiny fraction of the cost. Best bets: During “Restaurant Weeks,” in January and July, you can get a 3-course meal at many of New York’s best restaurants for $24 for lunch, and $35 for dinner. Reserve early!. Also, doing a bit of research before you leave can pay off. Google “cheap new york restaurants,” and you’ll find a wealth of information. Neighborhood ethnic restaurants, in particular, are great places to eat interesting food at bargain prices.

Cheap hotel recommendations in New York City – Part 8

I think I have an answer for you. How can you visit New York City without spending so much on lodging that you won’t have an ounce left to even get back to the airport. My recommendation would be the the petite and rather quaint Belnord Hotel located at 209 West 87th Street on New York City’s Upper Westside. Now when I say, budge, I really mean it, not just by NYC standards.

The rooms are small but large enough to fit a queen-sized bed and a television. They are as clean as most NYC hotel rooms I have stayed in and they are well heated and offer very adequate air-conditioning.You can choose a private bathroom for a little more money . I recommend honestly the bathrooms in the hallway, because there are at least three on each floor, so you feel like you have your own bathroom. They are really very nice and not scary. Most of the time they are empty, as people are usually out sight-seeing. I marveled over their cleanliness and almost felt tempted to take a bath, but thought, no, maybe better not…

Anyway, if you are looking for a lovely location with charming old brownstones, a huge selection of restaurants and bakeries, then you will not be disappointed.You are right off of Broadway and the subway is only a block away. You are near one of NYC’s best delis (Artie’s on Broadway) and one block away from a great breakfast place (Popover Cafe on Amsterdam) .

The streets are wide with the many cafes and boutiques so that you almost feel like you are in a neighborhood out of Old Europe. The locals appeared smartly dressed, with their long wool coats and stylish leather boots. At night the hotel was quiet and it made for a good night’s sleep. But the streets were full of life . There was a wonderful ambiance of sophistication, serenity and cosmopolitan vibrancy. I must also mention that the Belnord Hotel is very close to major points of interest. For example:

Central Park – 3 blocks

American Museum of Natural History – 10 blocks

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts – 1 mile

Metropolitan Opera House – 1.5 miles

I went there in March 2007 and I only paid about 95.00 a night plus tax. The hotel lobby had a computer that you could use for a small fee and vending machines as well. The staff at the front desk was also very helpful.

I guess what I am most impressed by for the price is the location. You weren’t lacking for anything and you came away feeling that you had over nighted in indeed a very elegant district of Old New York . And the memory, I carry with me.

Top Three Luxury Hotels in New York City

New York City is home to a multitude of hotels. From budget to extraordinary all the options are there. For those who prefer traveling in style NYC will not disappoint. The following Five Star hotels are three of the finest that New York has to offer.

A Hotel for Every Season
The I.M. Pei-designed Four Seasons Hotel is one of the most acclaimed luxury hotels in New York City and is popular with travelers from across the globe. It is an extremely child-friendly hotel and is therefore specifically popular amongst families traveling to the Big Apple.
Boasting 364 oversized guestrooms including 61 suites the room amenities are guaranteed to blow your mind. Only the best of the best in terms of luxury products, furnishings and fittings adorn these rooms. The spa at this luxurious hotel blends contemporary knowledge with ancient wisdom and will delight your senses while relaxing your body and mind.

As it is located close to some of New York’s greatest attractions, the Four Seasons Hotel is very well-liked amongst travelers interested in doing a bit of sightseeing during their trip. American Museum of Natural History, Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Television and Radio and the Statue of Liberty are all accessible from the NYC hotel.

Dining at the L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, the hotel’s signature restaurant will prove to be one of the most memorable meals you’ll experience in New York City. Offering the perfect blend of Asian and French cuisine legendary chef Joël Robuchon’s meals are not to be missed. If you’re looking for something a bit more casual the Four Seasons 57 hotel restaurant offers up classic American dishes and is open for breakfasts, lunches, dinners and Sunday brunches.

A Taste of Asia
In the heart of Manhattan lies one on New York’s most acclaimed hotels – The Mandarin Oriental recipient of the prestigious Mobil Five-Star award for 2007.
Located on floors 35 to 54 of the Time Warner Center on Columbus Circle this exquisite hotel is home to 248 luxurious rooms and suites which all reflect a melting pot of oriental and Manhattan living.
Every single one of the rooms boasts a spectacular view of central park and the views of the New York City skyline at night are simply breathtaking.

Another feature that attracts many of the hotel’s guests is the luxurious spa which is located on the 35th floor of the Mandarin Oriental. Boasting amethyst crystal steam rooms, vitality pools, six multifunctional treatment rooms and relaxation lounges a day at this spa of “Ultimate Luxury” is a real treat. If you’re lucky enough to be spending some time at the Mandarin Oriental a Thai Yoga Massage is not to be missed.

Due to its prime location the Mandarin Oriental is located near to some of the best attractions New York City, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park and the Rockefeller Center.
After a day of sightseeing there is nothing better than enjoying a sumptuous meal and at the Mandarin Oriental. Dining at this New York City hotel will delight all of your senses – sporting sublime views of Central Park Asiate on the 35th floor is renowned for its French and Japanese offerings, the more casual Lobby Lounge is the perfect spot to enjoy a light meal and MObar is THE location for pre or post dinner drinks. This prestigious hotel is a favorite amongst travelers to NYC looking for a bit of Five Star luxury.

The Ritz
The 33-story Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park is Mobil Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond hotel comprises 260 guestrooms and suites. With captivating views of Central Park and all the trimmings you’d expect from a Five Star hotel it is a popular choice amongst travelers to the Big Apple especially amongst those who like to take their pets along. The Ritz-Carlton, Central Park is actually one of the few completely pet-friendly hotels in New York City.

The La Prairie at The Ritz-Carlton Spa is an absolute treat for guests looking for a bit of pampering. This luxurious spa boasts six treatment rooms, steam rooms, a wet room, and every beauty and relaxation treatment that you can think of. The jetlag therapy is a must for travelers coming in to this hotel after a long international flight.

This is the perfect hotel from which to explore Central Park and its surrounding attractions. Central Park boasts two skating rinks, a pool, zoo and wildlife center and is home to several concerts and art showings through out the year. There is always something going on in Central Park and a stroll through it will never disappoint.

For a delicious afternoon tea, a light meal or a couple of cocktails the Star Lounge is the place you’ll want to go. For something a bit more substantial sampling the menu created by acclaimed Chef Laurent Tourondel at the newly renovated BLT Market is a must.

While I’ve only featured three of New York’s luxurious Five Star hotels there is an endless Array of options when it comes to luxury travel in the Big Apple. Some other notable Five Star hotels include the Four Seasons Hotel, Mercer Hotel, Peninsula Hotel New York, St. Regis Hotel and the Trump International Hotel & Tower.