Budget for New York?
 

I'm planning a 10 day or so trip to New York with my brother but not sure if it's possible on my budget. I am 20 and a college student, therefore don't have too much money to spend. I was wondering if anyone had an estimate of the total cost of the trip as my parents seem to think I'm not being realistic. I will be travelling from Ireland and have found flights for 450 euros (568 dollars) return, which seems reasonable (not to mention convenient, last time with my parents we went via Belgium). We would spend around 4 nights in NYC, and then stay with family in upstate NY for another week, returning to JFK to fly home.

I was thinking 50 dollars (40 euro) a night max for a cheap hotel or decent hostal, for 4 nights in NYC. Is this possible, and does anyone know of such a place to stay in a safe area? We are planning to eat cheaply, buying things from supermarkets and eating fast food. I thought maybe 60-70 dollars max for a food budget over 4 days, assuming we eat a decent breakfast every day. We would then allow 100 euro each for sightseeing, transport and shopping, considering we have already been to NYC twice and don't need to revisit the Empire State building and such. We would be more interested in museums this time around. A return ticket to our cousin's in upstate NY is around 80 dollars, and we would have free accommodation there, but paying our own food, which we would buy at a supermarket and prepare at home, so we think 60 dollars for food.

The entire cost of the trip is therefore 1078 dollars, or 853 euros. I could not go over this, therefore I would appreciate your advice on whether or not this is a realistic budget. I think I have been overcautious and overestimated how much I will need, but maybe I'm wrong?

Well, I am sure you will get much more acurate advice from some of the NY contingent. But, the hotel budget is way too low. I can't imagine any hotel that is not rat infested and in the slums for 50 bucks a night. So, you will have to budget more for the hotel.
I guess you can eat Mc Donalds for a week for cheap.
NY is expensive. I would budget more for hotel and less for activities.
I wish you the best of luck and hope you can work it out.
Did you check Priceline.com where you bid on hotels? Maybe you can get a discount there?

No, I don't think your budget is reasonable at all. I don't know of ANY hotel or hostel for $50 a night, including all taxes. If I understand your message, you want to spend $60 for food over the 4 full days? That's $15 a day for food and beverage. That isn't reasonable, either. Even a sandwich at a NYC deli will cost you in the $5 range. Fast food is even more expensive in NY. A slice is $2, but add in that water or soda and you'll be over budget.

I agree that $100 seems more than adequate for sightseeing. Remember that some museums (like the Metropolitan Museum) are "pay what you wish." While they encourage you to pay the full suggested amount because it helps support the museum and its programs, students and others on a limited budget should feel free to pay less.

I don't know what you plan to do in the evenings, but you have no real $$ budgeted for drinks, movies or any other entertainment.

Bottom line: NYC is expensive. There are lots of free and inexpensive things to do and see in the city, but I don't think you can adequately stay, eat and walk around at the budget you've listed.

Transportation will be a budget buster.

I don't think your budget is realistic.

Not sure about the price of hostels but mclaurie has excellent hotel information (btw, no way will you be able to afford a hotel).

You could do the food for $15 but I would not want to. Assuming you eat bagels and coffee for breakfast and a slice of pizza for lunch and one for dinner, I'd starve to death.

A more reasonable budget would be $100 per night each for accommodations and $30 per person per day for food.

Plenty of free sightseeing in NYC. Go to:

www.DowntownNY.com

Thanks for the advice. I suspected the hotel budget was too low. What would be a reasonable price per night? I have stayed at a hostel on Amsterdam Ave before which I'm sure was less than 50 bucks a night, and it was fine, but it's booked solid and so are the other hostels I've found searching with Google. I do not want a dorm, but sharing a room with 2 or so other people might be OK. Somewhere to lock away our luggage is essential.

Yes we were planning on spending 15-20 a day for food, I know it is really nothing. What is the average cost of a coffee and a bagel? We were thinking that for breakfast, slice of pizza for lunch and burger and fries for dinner (I know it's not a good diet but it's 4 days). Could we get that for under $15? We planned to get chips or small snacks (bananas, apples) from a supermarket to keep us going throughout the day. Neither of us are big eaters, I need to eat regularly but not big portions. We normally buy a bottle of water from a supermarket and refill it every day from a faucet, so we don't need to get drinks with our meals. At the very least buying a bottle of water every morning from a deli or something would surely be cheaper than a drink with every meal. We don't drink soda or milkshakes anyway.

I guess we will be spending the sightseeing budget on a hostel, then. It probably is way too high, considering many things are free. I'm pleased to hear some museums are free also. We will be happy just walking around, looking at the buildings and so on once we have visited a museum or two. I remember the Staten Island ferry being free the last time I visited, although I could easily be wrong, is this the case?

We didn't plan anything for the evening yet. We won't be going out to bars or anything considering I'll be with my brother and we're both underage in the US. Is there anything at a reasonable price? Broadway shows and the like are obviously out, as is the movies as we can do that at home (out of interest, how much is a movie there?) Are any monuments worth a visit at night? We heard there is a show at the Rockefeller center worth seeing.

By the way, what would a reasonable budget for transport be? We walk whenever possible, and will be using the subway for large distances. Is there a subway pass worth using for a 4 day visit?
We plan to take a bus from JFK when we arrive and leave, which I think is around 10 dollars each way.

The only hostal I can think of that may work for you is the Banana Bungalow on the upper west side:

http://www.bananabungalow.com/

Don't know anything about this place, but it lists a dorm rate of $35 a night http://www.bigapplehostel.com/rates.phpIf you bring snacks and food with you to supplement, you could probably eat fast food for dinner and lunch for $15 a day.

Try this site for accommodations:

www.PlacesToStay.com

They list hostels and B&Bs.

I don't know of any bus that is $10 but there are bus services and I believe they range from $15-$19.

You can also take the Airtrain for $5 but that trip will take anywhere from 1-2 hours depending upon time of day and day of the week.

An unlimited subway pass is $7 per day or $24 for 7 days.

There will be times when you will want to take a cab. Build this into your budget.

You should contact citylightsnewyork.com and see what they might have in a hosted apartment (you stay with someone). You may find other hostel options looking on hostelz.com

You can eat on as little as you want provided you're prepared to manage on hot dogs (Gray's Papaya has 2 dogs and a drink for $2.75 but how often can you eat that?), pizza etc.

If you weren't coming with your brother, you could have considered one of the women's residences like the Brandon or the Park Evangeline that include meals.

http://www.thebrandon.org/

http://www.websterapartments.org/

http://www.sacredheartresidence.com/

I think you'll need $75/night for room
$35/day/person for food

On a real cheap food budget, yo ucan probably keep breakfast at about $2-3 if you buy from the street carts, or get a bagel and coffee from a deli. Lunch or even dinner you can do papaya king or similar for a hotdog or get a couple of slices of pizza for about $5. For snacks you can stop in any Duane Reade (they are all over) and buy water bottems of soft drinks, and other snack foods. For a cheap dinner, wander around cheapish areas like the E. VIllage. You'll find fast food type places (but not the usual chains although they are there too), where you can probably eat for about $10.

That being said, a cheap food budget for 3 meals and an occasional drink could be < $20/day. Much less than that would be tough.

One thing I used to do on a budget, for dinner, I'd go to these happy hours where free food was served. Some places put out amazing spreads. It's been many years since I've done that, but maybe others here know where you could find similar deals today.

As far as cheap lodging, are you travelling along, or is that $50 per person and you're sharing a room? There aren't too many bargains in NYC but there have been other posts here recently about budget YMCA and Hostel accommodations.

here's a recent post about cehap accommodations for NYC.
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34795295

You sound adventurous. Here's an idea. You might go to www.craigist.org. Go to New York, and click housing wanted. Explain your ages, the fact you are from Ireland, and what and when you are looking for. You may find someone with a spare room to rent who would be delighted to have a couple of Irish lads visit with them for the $200 total for 4 nights. Be sure to explain if you do or do not smoke and do drugs, etc. It could also be a great way to meet someone and get more of an insider's view of the city.

You can get beds in decent hostels for about $35 per night per bed - that's $70 per night for both of you in a room shared with other people. You will have lockers in which you can put your belongings.

Finding any decent hotel(I don;t mean pleasant - I mean that doesn;t rent by the hour) in NYC for under $200 per night (except in Jan/Feb) is essentially impossible - no matter what you do.

As far as food is concerned it depends on what you want to eat.

You can get a bagel and coffee to go for 99cents lots of places. If you're talking about a hot breakfast someplace you can sit down it will cost at least $12 per person per day. A McSomething meal is about $7 per person. Getting a sanwich, chips and soda from some deli - again to go - will be at least $10 each. So for 4 days that totals $230 for 4 days.

So - I think you're way underestimating. You haven't even allowed for an extra bottle of water or an ice cream or anything.

Some museums you can conribute what you want - or they offer special student rates - but many charge $10-$12 per person admission.

Transport - you can walk a lot - but getting to/fro from JFK is $30. And you will sometimes want the subway.

There will be no money for shopping.

I very much doubt you can do this trip for much less than $2000.

I just booked a room at the Times Square Bed & Rooms, 356 W. 40th St., for the end of May. BTW, it's a hostel and it's within your budget. $38 + tax, per night, including towels. Free internet, but you have to pay the tax. Front desk people cordial. You would be in a 4 bed dorm, single sex. Excellent location: mid-town Manhattan, walking distance to a lot of attractions, not too far from Times Square. Do a Google search.

FYI, I looked high and low for a decent hostel in NYC. None of them are all that great, rooms are small, limited bathrooms, a lot of places don't have air conditioning and the front desk clerks are less than helpful and a lot of people have complained they're rude.

This hostel has it's flaws too, limited bathroom & small, but it's clean and has a 24 hr. manned desk, plus it's conveniently located and the people are not rude. A plus in NY!

Thanks for the replies. It is a little disheartening to think how little you get for you money in NYC (and I´m used to Dublin prices which are also sky high) but I am still dying to go. I think I´ll go for the dorm option, staying with someone sounds really fun but my mom wouldn´t be thrilled with the idea.

nytraveler - do you know specific places where you can get deals like coffee and a bagel for 99c or happy hour meals? How much is a regular one trip subway ticket? It´s too early to worry but the little things add up.

I was thinking of staying one or two nights less which would free up some money so we could be less frugal during our time there. Maybe it is better to have less time and not have to worry about every penny. Last time we stayed 3 nights and it was fine. Staying 2 nights would mean a lot more money for dinner and so on, but is it too few? We could get a night flight to have a full day the first day but we´ll probably be jetlagged and exhausted. My original plan was to arrive at night and go right to bed. Also, the latest we can leave for upstate is 7-8pm on our last day. Some friends are saying it´s not worth going, but we´re going to see our family anyway and the bulk of the cost is plane tickets. Seems a shame to arrive in NYC and not get to stay there, it´s my favorite city. Am I being stupid? Is it worth it for 2-3 days?

marioposa, I've flown to NYC just to have lunch so yes, I whole heartedly think it is worth going for two or three days.

I say go for two nights, shorten your time, and have more money.

I love Paris, but I wouldn't fly there for 2-3 days with a budget similar to yours. I'd save my money and go at a later time when I could afford to enjoy more things.

Just one opinion ...

I agree with Gekko. I just cannot imagine New York being a fun experience when you literally have to count/watch every penny before you spend it.

Gekko - I think you've missed the main point, though. mariposa85 and her brother are flying into NYC to see family elsewhere in New York state. That's a given, regardless of how much or little time they spend in NYC. The question is, is it worth making a stop in NYC of only 2-3 days, or should they stay longer and have less budget per day, or not go into NYC at all.

I would go and enjoy 2 nights in the city and have a little extra spending money. You definitely don't have to have 4 days in a place to enjoy it. And you've been before and will be back again probably, so just enjoy it without trying to feel like it might not be "enough".

Also keep ion mind that there are free things t do in NYC as well. Pick up a NY or a Time OUt when you arrive. It has listing of free events (movies, concerts, etc). Also some sites are free. Galleries are free to wal kin and browse, the main branch of the NYC Public Library which always has some special exhibit, is frse, Forbes Gallery is Free, and of course the parks an dpublic spaces.

As far .99 bagel and coffee, most of those corner street carts charge about that (maybe be slight more). Most small delis (all over) charge < $2.

Yes go for 2 nights....if you can keep open your return date from upstate NY then you might be able to afford an extra night at the end of your trip.

Or head straight to upstate NY and stay in NYC for 2-3 nights on the return .... you will not be jetlagged and will know exactly how much money you have left to spend in the city.

I definitely recommend that you do not skip NYC but I think you'd enjoy it more if you had a shorter stay and could therefore increase your budget.

There are a lot of delis all over the city (not sit down delis - but those take out delis used by local residents) where you can get coffee and roll or coffee and bagel for 99cents to go.

Happy hour - I'm not an expert - but the cost of drinks would make it prohibitive (and don;t forget the tax and tip).

Another thing you need to realize is that in NYC there is sales tax of over 8% added onto the price you see listed. This includes all restaurant meals - even if you take it out - assuming it's ready to eat. (Supemarkets don't charge tax on food you're going to cook - like raw meat or veggies - but anything that's ready for consumption - like sandwich, soda, water etc is taxed.)

Regular subway or bus ride is $2 flat - not by distance. There are also various passes - depending on how long you're staying and how many trips you take.

I don;t know how much time you have left - but if posible I wold try to earn more money before you come.

By the way - the hostel I was talking about is on 103rd and Amsterdam - and have met many european young people from there who seem satisfied (they're always asking directions in the street).

If you can swing the cost for accommodations for an extra night, do it!
The food and attractions budget can really be whittled down to next to nothing--at least for one day!
Breakfast: Buy a couple of bagels and some cream cheese and a grocery store OR find a neighborhood deli that has an egg on a bagel for about $1.50
Lunch. Slice of pizza. $2
Dinner: 2 hot dogs and a drink at one of the hot dog/papaya places $3
Buy any other snacks (granola bars,popcorn) to tide you over in a real grocery store and there are fruit cart vendors all over the city where you can buy a couple of bananas.

Things to do--plenty of free galleries, pay as you wish museums, some guided walking tours, ride on the Staten Island ferry, etc--spread out your "paid" sights over the 3 days, and fill in with just hanging around cool neighborhoods.
Check out this article from New York magazine NY on $10 a day
http://www.newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/...560/index.html

A friend of mine stayed in Bowery's Whitehouse Hotel which is actually a hostel and said it was fine.

http://www.whitehousehotelofny.com/

I don't get the questions and comments about "happy hour" and drinking. The poster is 20 and therefore not able to drink. He doesn't mention how old his brother is.

Thanks for the tips guys. Still debating whether to go for 2 nights or take an extra one and be poor. I like the suggestion of leaving the return ticket open to have a possible extra night on the return, that´s a good idea. It would be nice to be in NYC the day of the return in case there was a problem with the bus and we couldn´t get back from upstate and missed the plane (happened to us last time) The only thing is, would we be able to get accommodation that wasn´t reserved in advance?

If I go in July or August I will have turned 21, but my brother will be 19 so I guess drinking and bars are out.

Check the cancellation policies. You may be able to reserve that last night in advance and cancel at the last minute .... 24hrs notice is common or cancel before 6pm the day before your stay.

Also to save a few dollars and to avoid having to hunt down a cheap grocery store ...take snacks with you!
Pack some cereal bars and pick up a couple of extra bottles of water on the flight over.

Good luck!