Hello, I am a college student doing research in central New York this summer. I decided to take a trip to NYC next weekend and I've never been before (never even been to the east coast at all). Since I'm travelling alone, I went ahead and used priceline to get a room at the Millenium Hilton for $115 so the hotel is all set. But, I had some questions about some other things if you dont' mind.

I've never been to a broadway show before. I went to phantom of the opera in san francisco and les miserables in los angeles, but I really want to see a show in New York. Of course, being a college student, money is a pretty big issue, so I was hoping for some advice. The show that interested me the most was Spamalot, and looking at the telecharge site I can get o.k. seats to that for $120 (fifth row on the far left). But, I wasn't sure if it'd be worth the extra money to see Spamalot, when I could probably just get cheaper tickets to another show at the tkts booth. Which would you suggest for a first timer? Are there any particularly good shows that usually come up for tkts sales? I imagine it'd be a pretty busy weekend (7/7-7/9) but I can go to either of the saturday shows or friday night. In all fairness, I could probably go to a friday night and a saturday afternoon show if they were both discounted. What would you suggest?

Also, as I said, I'm on a bit of a budget and travelling alone, so I doubt I'll want to go to any nice sit-down restaurants. However, I LOVE sandwiches, so I'd like to try a couple places over the weekend. Any recommendations?

Good price on the Millenium Hilton.

Use the TKTS booth. Spamalot is good, but not worth double the cost of others. You might also try a student rush discount.

Try Tony Lukes for philly (real) cheese steaks, Katz deli for great pastrami, the Burger Joint in Le Parker Meridien Hotel for burgers, and anyplace in Chinatown for great cheap food.

For transportation, get a one-day funpass ($7) or 7 day unlimited metrocard ($24) and see all that NYC has to offer via subway and buses.

And above, have a ball!

A recent poster said they went to the TKTS booth at the South Street Seaport and the lines were minimal. You could do that and see the Seaport at the same time.

If you search here, you can probably find her post; it mentions the time that the TKTS booth opens.

Are you interested in other food than sandwiches? IMO, the various NY outlet of Spice, a Southeast Asian place, have THE best bargain lunches in New York. You get a meal for very little.

Congratulations on the great score on Priceline. Have a wonderful time.

Look at www.broadwaybox.com. They usually have discount codes for a large number of Broadway shows. You can use those codes to order your tickets now online. That way, you don't have to take your chances on what's available when you get to NYC.

Thanks for the advice! I think I'll go ahead and see one of the discount shows. Any recommendations on which one? I'm not terribly interested in the very fancy musicals with lots of dancing and such, more the mellow ones that have more of a story and drama (like les miserables or phantom, but I'd prefer something else since I've seen those). I saw the movie for the Producers and liked it, do you think that would be a good choice?

Also, with regards to the food recommendations, I think I will go ahead and try the Katz deli, I heard that recommended elsewhere as well so it sounds like a great choice. I'll also keep my eye out for the Spice places and if I pass by one, I'll check it out. Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it.

I hope you realize your hotel is all the way downtown in the financial distrcit (actually next to the former WTC site) while many of the typical tourist venues like theaters/Times Square, Rockefeller Center etc. are midtown. Not a big problem, but you will need to use the subway.

Consider taking the FREE Staten Island ferry roundtrip to get great views of the Statue of Liberty.

Here's a link to other budget info including eating, touring (there are some free walking tours) and shopping
nymetro.com/cheap

On the issue of the show, if you like something lyrical, you might like Light in the Piazza if you're female. Many shows have rush tickets or student rush tickets (same day, sometimes standing room). Here's a page that lists those options including Spamalot
http://www.talkinbroadway.com/boards...sh=show&order=
Those will be cheaper than either the TKTS booth or broadwaybox. Here's a website with info on the TKTS booths that will give you an idea of what's been available recently at the TKTS booths.
tdf.org/tkts
Your hotel is not that far from the downtown booth.

mclaurie's suggestion about the standing room and student tickets is a good one. There is no cheaper way to get tickets.
Forget about A Light in the Piazza. It closes today.

Hello, I understand the hotel is away from the shows and everything, I don't have a problem with taking the subway. Thanks a lot for that link to the standing room only and rush tickets, it clarified a lot of questions I had about the process. Ithink I'll probably give it a try, maybe I'll be lucky.

Hi Archer, if you're in the Times Square area, head west to 9th Ave & W. 51st Street (Hell's Kitchen) to tiny Island Burgers 'n Shakes (IBNS to locals). They have a bazillion burger options - ditto for chicken - and terrific shakes (but no fries!). They have an even smaller sister place called Sandwich Planet closer to the Port Authority bus station on 9th Ave and about 40th Street - you got it, a bazillion sandwich options!

You're going to the natural history museum, right? There's not a whole lot of bargain eats options in the immediate vicinity... The cafeteria there is surprisingly not too bad, though of course a little pricey because it's in the museum. Or be daring and try a street dawg! And there's always pizza or Chinese noodle shop options on Broadway up there... If you want a little splurge on something sweet, try Cafe Lalo (W. 83rd & Amsterdam). Enjoy!

P.S. Reading another post on here reminded me - if you decide to go to Katz Deli and if you're at all interested in NYC immigrant history, the Tenement Museum is really interesting (and near to Katz'). The entire museum is by guided tour (book in advance on the website), and really gives a good idea of what life was like! They also give walking tours of the neighborhood. www.tenement.org

Someone was mentioning the upper west side and the Natural History Museum. We just stayed right across from this museum last weekend, and had an awesome lunch at the Arte Cafe (thanks to mclaurie! thank you!), which is on W 73rd street (between Columbus Ave and Amsterdam Ave, so near to the museum).

artecafenyc.com

It was really nice inside, but we ate outside, which was cute. They have a 9.95 lunch special. We got a choice of a salad (which were huge) and then a first course. I had a chicken panini, which also came with fries (awesome), my husband had a huge pizza, and my in-laws had big bowels of pasta. It was really great, and you can't beat that price.

Have fun!

Thank you ggreen and amelie! I put each of your recommendations on my list! They each sound like good options on a tight budget so I will definitely check them out while I am there. Thank you so much, the advice here is just terrific!

Other suggestions for cheap eats:

Chinese restaurants (esp the lunch special or those that offer free wine or soda with an entree)
9th Ave b/t 45 and 57th -- lots of cheap, ethnic restaurants
6th St b/t 1st and 2nd Aves -- cheap Indian restaurants

If you like sandwiches, Lenny's is one of my favorite delis. They have locations all over the city:

www.lennysnyc.com

Thank you so much! I marked each of your suggestions on my map and will definitely stop by the nearest place whenever I get hungry. I really appreciate the help.

One question regarding the arte cafe, it looks good and I think I'd like to try it. I saw on their menu that the 9.95 special was just on weekdays. On the weekend, would it just be more expensive or do they not offer it at all? I'm only really going to be there on Saturday or Sunday (I arrive Friday evening) so I won't be able to make it on a weekday.

Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't even realize that. We did eat there on a Friday. Wow I never even noticed that on the website, good thing I had planned it for a Friday. Although, when I looked at the website it had listed 8.95 and then we got there and it was $1 more, so they must have changed it.

I would also recommend the Tennement Museum too. It was interesting, although it was SO hot (but it was such a hot and humid weekend).

I'm not sure if they still do this, but "Rent" offered student tickets @$20. I think you have to line up at the box office before the show.