New York City on a Budget

When many people think about taking a trip to New York City, they think about how expensive everything is. From food to transportation, visiting New York can be costly. That is, it can be costly if you don't know about all of the free and low-cost deals in New York. You can easily spend less than $25 per day on activities if you know how to get the deals that will keep your costs low. Find a great hotel deal and some delicious, low-cost food and your trip to New York will be easy on your wallet and enjoyable for the entire family.

New York Hotel Deals

New York is known for its luxurious hotels that can top $1,000 per night if you reserve a suite. If you're on a budget, $1,000 is way out of your price range, but there is a solution. Hostelling International has a hostel at 103rd Street and Amsterdam Avenue that offers clean, simple rooms and shower facilities for a mere $32 per night. The rooms are dormitory-style, but it is well worth giving up a lavish room to get to stay in NYC for less than $40 per night. The hostel also has a coffee shop, lounge area, and Internet access.

Low-Cost Transportation

Taking cabs can become costly very quickly. The solution for budget travelers is taking the NYC subway system. You can purchase a one-week unlimited ride fare card for just $24. Whether you take 10 rides or 50 rides on the subway, you'll pay the same low price and be able to travel everywhere from Herald Square to Coney Island. You won't have to worry about parking, having cash for cab fare, or dealing with bad cab drivers. Simply catch a train at the nearest subway station and go wherever you like.

Cheap New York City Activities

Many of New York's activities are really very inexpensive. If you know where to go, you can save money and have a great time. Have kids? Head to Toys ‘R Us in Times Square, where you can all ride a giant indoor Ferris wheel for just $2.50 per person. Love Chinese food and culture? Try going to Chinatown for some delicious Chinese food. You could also try picking up a deli lunch and heading to Central Park to enjoy the view for free.

New York City for FREE

Believe it or not, New York City has a number of free activities that you can take advantage of if you know where they are and when they take place. Several museums have special times of the week when admission is free. The Guggenheim is free on Fridays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Museum of Modern Art is free on Fridays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Whitney Museum is free on Friday nights. Central Park offers many free concerts and theatrical performances during the summer. Tickets to some of the most popular live TV shows are also free. You can get tickets for tapings of Live with Regis & Kelly, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, the Late Show with David Letterman, and the View.

Traveling to New York City is an exciting journey and now, you can even save some money along the way.