1 day Ago By Alice Penwill
NEW York, New York...
it's the city so good they named it twice. But with prices higher than its towering skyscrapers , you'll need to have your wits about you if you want to visit the Big Apple and come away with your wallet intact. Advertisement 13 Travel expert Nicole Lawson reveals her brilliant tips on how to save money in NYC Credit: Nicole Lawson 13 Thrifty places to grab a slice of pizza will save you a fortune on lunch Credit: Alamy 13 Nicole also reveals how to catch unmissable Broadway shows on the cheap Credit: Alamy Fortunately, we have a travel expert on hand with some brilliant tips on how to save the pennies on your next break, from where to get $1 pizza slices to the best spot to catch the famous skyline for free and how to bag cheaper theatre tickets.
Travel expert Nicole Lawson, now a New York Destination Manager for BA Holidays , visits at least six times a year and knows every avenue inside out. Advertisement Here are the essential budget-friendly tips she's found along the way. Ditch the subway for cheaper rides New York is easy to get around, especially if you hop in a cab, but this can quickly get pricey with a half an hour journey costing $30 on average depending on time of day and traffic - a trip from JFK to Manhattan starts at $70 plus tolls and tip.
But Nicole has some savvy suggestions on how to get around the city to save cash, and the best times. She told Sun Travel: "Use the subway and get a Metrocard. It's a far cheaper and quicker way to get around the city.
"As you can imagine the city traffic can be crazy. However, I would try to avoid commuter rush hour." Advertisement In New York City, the rush is between 7.
30am to 9.30am and 5pm to 7pm in the evening on weekdays, with Midtown Manhattan being the most congested. Nicole's other suggestion is to hop on two wheels.
She says: "In the summer, it's nice to rent a Citi Bike, and you can get a day pass for around $25." New York Budget A Day Pass means you can have unlimited 30-minute rides for 24 hours, all for $25. Or if you just plan on doing one short trip, $4.
99 for one 30-minute journey. There are over 2,000 Citi Bike stations and more than 30,000 bikes across the city so it will be very easy to find them in each location you visit. Advertisement Happy hours, $1 pizza & unmissable grub New York has thousands of restaurants, bars, street stalls and markets, so finding somewhere to eat is easy, but overwhelming.
And quite often restaurants are pretty expensive, especially if you've gone on a family holiday. 13 Nicole suggests visiting Chelsea Market for snacks over a formal restaurant Credit: Alamy 13 Chelsea Market offer everything from baked goods to sandwiches, and desserts Credit: Alamy Nicole says: "I'd suggest eating in Chelsea Market..
. it's free to enter, although you'll probably spend money on food and snacks, it'll be cheaper than having lunch in a restaurant." Advertisement Chelsea Market sells pretty much everything from food, baked goods, gelato and other desserts, to wine.
Some of the most popular stalls include Los Tacos No. 1, and Dickson's Farmstand Meats for high-quality butcher cuts and sandwiches. There's also The Lobster Place for anyone who's a fan of fresh seafood, and Joey Bats Café for Portuguese custard tarts.
Nicole also suggests finding a happy hour. She adds: "They are all over the city in New York and offer great deals on drinks and small plates before 7pm. "On a budget, you can't beat the $1 pizza slices and you can find them anywhere, they're dotted all around the city.
" Advertisement One that Nicole recommends for a stop shop slice is 2 Bros Pizza, you can find them in the Bronx, East Village, Times Square and Midtown. Discount tickets & the best city views..
. for free Who can go to New York without getting a seat to a Broadway show? Well here's how you can plonk yourself in front of the stage without breaking the bank. Nicole says: "With theatre shows, you can download the TodayTix app, or visit the TKTS booth in Times Square - and you can get up to 50 per cent off the same day Broadway tickets.
" Currently showing in Broadway are hits including Chicago, Aladdin, Cabaret, Moulin Rouge and Death Becomes Her. Advertisement Nicole also reveals how to see some culture on the cheap. "Some museums have free entry on specific days, so it's always worth checking this out," she explains.
There are also some museums that are always free which include the American Folk Art Museum, Bronx Museum of the Arts, and Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology. 13 Grand Central Station has been in many memorable films and you can visit for free Credit: Alamy 13 Nicole knows where to get the best view of the New York skyline, including spots like The Edge Credit: Nicole Lawson Advertisement For a view you won't ever forget, but is certainly not for the faint-hearted, head to The Edge. Found at Hudson Yard, this platform has a glass floor and is 100 floors up, it also costs $40 (£31.
59), but is an enviable photo opportunity. Of course, something everyone wants to see in New York is the fantastic skyline and Nicole has a place where you don't need to pay to see it. "For an unbeatable view that doesn't require an entrance fee head to Gantry Plaza State Park, which is under the famous Pepsi Cola sign in Long Island," she says.
"From there you can walk down to Hunter's Point Park. So basically you can see the Manhattan skyline from afar for an incredible view and especially at sunset. Advertisement "I'd recommend heading over there just before your flight home because you're closer to JFK - it's a really nice way to see the sunset over Manhattan and then head home for your evening flight.
" 13 Hunter's Point Park has incredible views of the skyline from across the river Credit: Alamy Other freebies including exploring Grand Central Station , which Nicole says has beautiful architecture and is free to go in. She also suggests exploring the parks in New York. There are hundreds, the biggest being Central Park, which is set in the heart of Manhattan and is 840 acres of greenery, flower gardens, lakes and sculptures.
Advertisement Some lesser known parks that are a great place to relax are Bryant Park in Manhattan, Riverside Park on the Upper West Side and The Battery which faces New York Harbor. "The city's public parks are perfect for rest and relaxation; you can take in your surroundings and take a break from all the walking without spending any money." Another iconic site that Nicole recommends is the 9-11 Memorial where the Twin Towers once stood , which she adds is "such a moving tribute to those lost in 2001".
13 Central Park is the biggest green space in New York and again, is completely free Credit: Alamy 13 Nicole says you should see the Manhatten skyline at sunset for a spectacular photo Credit: Alamy Advertisement When people think of New York, they often picture the Statue of Liberty, so it's an essential for any first-timer to see it. "To see the Statue of Liberty, take the Staten Island Ferry," says Nicole. "It will be less crowded, and you can experience the view for free - you just don't get off.
"You just stay on the ferry, but it goes right up to the Statue of Liberty so you can take a picture of it." 13 The Staten Island ferry loops around the Statue of Liberty Credit: Getty Here are five more money-saving hacks for NYC Our very own Sophie Swietochowski has some tips from her recent trip to The Big Apple..
. When you land, get the train into the city . It’s an easy journey and will cost less than $20, as opposed to a $100-or-so cab ride.
Christmas and summer tend to be the most expensive periods to visit, so avoid those months and you’ve saved yourself at least a few hundred quid. Take advantage of Hotel Week, you’ll save a around 25 per cent on certain hotels. For anyone staying at the Freehand Hotel, it's a great hotel, very affordable, but ask for a room on floor five or above if you're keen to avoid the late-night weekend noise from the bar.
Head to Apollo Bagels where you can get a proper sourdough New York bagel absolutely loaded with cream cheese that packs a garlicky punch for just $5 — mine was so big I couldn’t finish it. To find the best deals use the British Airways Holidays Holiday Finder where you can check availability of breaks and compare prices . Advertisement And here are some other budget tips for New York.
13 Nicole Lawson is a Destination Manager with BA Holidays Credit: Nicole Lawson 13 Visit BA Holidays for more suggestions on what to see and the best holiday deals Credit: Alamy.
