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!