NYC - 48 hours for $800?
 

My daughter and I will be going to NYC on December 28, staying for two nights. This will be her first trip, and my second (I went there in 1973 on my honeymoon. I suspect things have changed a bit). I have been assisted in my planning of the trip by several Fodorites, and I am very grateful for their help.

We really have no specific plans for once we arrive in the city. We will be staying in Times Square. We are just considering this trip a "fact finding" trip -- daughter hopes to return there frequently with her husband, and also a friend will be visiting this spring and wants to see New York (we live in the Baltimore-Washington area). We just plan to wander and explore and stop and enjoy things at will. My daughter wants to see the NBC studios, and I want to have a foot massage at Sole. Other than that, we have no itinerary.

Now I am beginning to think that maybe we should have some planned activities to really enjoy our two days in New York City. I have a budget of about $800 for the trip, and this must include our meals. Although we love to eat, we do not like to pay extravegant (and I don't think I spelled that correctly...perhaps extravAgant?)prices for a meal. I am afraid that I came from too poor a family (in West Virginia) to not feel horribly guilty once my dinner tab passes $100. So, I guess we do not need restaurant recommendations. We do plan to visit John's Pizza.

Perhaps we really SHOULD try to see a play. Are there any less-known plays that are good and may have easier to obtain tickets? I think I would also like to do a bus tour of Manhattan.

The point of this post is (and yes, I DO have a point) -- is $800 a reasonable figure for a conservative 48 hours in the city? On that budget, what things should I include? Of course, I would be happy to come home with money left in my pocket. Actualy, $800 seems like plenty of money. We will not be driving, so no tolls or parking.

If I wanted to, say, take my daughter to one play, eat dinner at one very moderately priced restaurant, have a foot massage, a bus tour, maybe go to Top of the Rock, explore the city, ride the subway, and buy a few unique things, how much will my 48 hours in NYC cost? Surely $800 is plenty. Maybe I will lower to $600.
Thanks for all your help.
Vicki

Does $800 include accommodation?

Sorry. I forgot to say that our hotel room is already paid for. So, no, the $800 does not include our accomodations. And I believe that we will have access to the concierage floor, so perhaps we can have a light breakfast there each day.
Vicki

I know you don't need specific restaurant recommendations, but might I suggest that you wander 2 or 3 blocks west to 9th and 10th avenues for meals? There are tons of great, less expensive spots there that would be much better options than the vastly overpriced Times Ssquare restaurants. Getting away from Times Square also greatly reduces the chance of eating mediocre (or worse) tourist trap food.

Go to the 1/2 price ticket place at Times Sqaure (or even better, the South Sreet Seaport location for no lines) and see a show. It is an integral part of the NYC experience.

Yur budget sounds fine for what you have planned. Budget $800 and you'll likely bring a few hundred (or more) home with you.

Get your NBC Studio tour tickets as soon as they open - even if you plan to do the actual tour later in the day. The timed tickets go very quickly.

I want to add that I do want to see the tenament museum.

If you've already paid for transport and hotel $800 for 2 days seems excessie- unless you're planning on getting scalped tickets to Spamalot, doing 2 whiz bang restaurants and taking limos everywhere.

I would think $400 would be plenty for pleasant restaurants, a discounted show, some usual attractions, the subway and a little mild shopping.

I guess I will budget $400 and put the rest toward Christmas. Or maybe go to TWO shows! Are there matinees during the week?

Don't know why I thought I'd need that much....I was just reacting to so many acquaintances saying "this is going to cost you way more than you expect."

Thanks for the advice.
Vicki