Watching a visitor enter New York City for the first time has always been the equivalent of watching a deer in the headlights. The fast pace, noise and traffic just seem to startle my friends when we go into the controlled recklessness flowing through the streets of Manhattan. Growing up right near New York it has always been my playground, and perhaps something I took for granted as I was younger. There is no question in my mind New York is the best city and offers the most and best of whatever your desire be. If great food is your forte, well the best chefs thrive in the alleys, nightlife? The city has the best you will find and you will continue to find new hot clubs, concerts? almost every artist considers New York their favorite venue, sports? Come on the Yankee’s and the Mets The Giants and the Jets? Oh, and lets not forget New York Broadway Theater, the best musicals, plays and shows anywhere!
So with so much to do it is no wonder why friends become lost and a bit overwhelmed by New York’s addicted charm, and if I was not there to guide them they would probably just sit in the car wondering where to go. Most people think a trip to New York is going to hit the wallet pretty hard, but believe it or not a great time can be had on a small budget if you are willing to go a bit off the beaten path.
My first recommendation would be a nice, safe and inexpensive place to stay. The going rate for an average hotel room in Manhattan is around 300.00, not chump change, especially when you are use to paying about 80.00 for a decent room. A couple important factors to take into account here, you want to be safe, you want a well lit area and you want to be near transportation. Lets not forget, you are a stranger in the largest city in the world, a dive in a questionable neighborhood is out of the question for a family vacation. So where in the world are we gonna find something which covers such bases? The New Yorker Hotel is my favorite place to stay, built in the 1930s the rooms have a very unique style and cost is in the 100.00 dollar range. Located near the Javis Center and Madison Square Garden you are in the heart of Manhattan entertainment. The location is close to Times Square and on top of everything you have the major connecting trains for cheap transportation to any location. Close to all the popular Theaters makes The New Yorker a great choice for Broadway junkies.
Now that we have cut the cost of your stay more then in half, what about eating? Dinner in New York must cost and arm and a leg. This is very true, if you want some of the finest cuisine from a five star restaurant you can easily head toward Central Park and eat at the touted “Tavern On The Green,” but if you are just looking for some great food at a reasonable price there is always a special to be found. The trick to eating great and keeping within budget is to travel a bit further from all the neon lights and tourist sections of the city. New Yorkers are very friendly and helpful, so asking a few questions of where to find great specials and happy hours can easily have you discovering hot happy hours with delicious half price appetizers and drinks. Barrow Street Ale House located in the West Village offers dollar fifty import drafts and a forty cent wing special, with a fun environment. The ale house may not be five star cuisine, but come on, buck fifty imports and hot wings in New York City? I cannot think of anything better I would rather do.
The perfect room, full stomach and couple drinks for under ten dollars and the night is becoming alive all of the sudden. The club scene maybe something you want to hop into for a while, the New York Deejays are the best in the world and the dancing is nothing short of spectacular. The New York nightlife provides many events as well, such as, hot sporting events like Yankee baseball, Knicks basketball and Rangers Ice Hockey, boxing at the Garden is always a popular venue. If sports are not your ticket, the music scene can host everything from a major band at Madison Square Garden to a hot local jam band at The Wetlands. Broadway Theater is one of the largest attractions for visitors, and for your first time in the city it would almost be a crime not to go and check out at least one show.
New York events can sometimes be difficult to get a ticket for, especially if it is last minute. These tips will help get you a ticket and try to save some money. The best bet is always to purchase direct from the box office, but if you missed the boat find a New York ticket broker, the tickets may cost twenty to thirty percent more, however, you will be able to choose your seat and be safe from scalping or fake tickets. An inexpensive way to get a great seat is to simply go to the will call of the venue and see if anyone has canceled last minute. Many times tickets are held for performers or stage hands and the individuals they invited were unable to attend, making a great seat available at face value last minute. Avoid scalpers in New York, they are to risky and more times then not you will pay a lot of money and never enter to see the show. Try a New York ticket broker before even thinking about buying from the risky streets of the city. The last tip for finding that hard to get ticket, hop online and find a forum dedicated to the show you want to see. For example if you want to go to a Broadway show such as “Phantom Of The Opera” and it is all sold out, post to a group that is dedicates to the show on Broadway and ask if anyone will be going with an extra ticket. Now you have just got a great seat at face value and made a new friend on your New York vacation.