Travel guide
New York travel guide
Planning a trip to New York
New York is expensive, and the gap between a careful and a careless day is large. Hotels are the dominant cost, followed by restaurants, and the displayed prices for food and shows exclude tax and tip. Many of the best experiences, such as walking bridges and parks, are free.
Best time to go
April to June and September to October have the best weather. Summer is hot and humid. December is festive but the most expensive for hotels. January and February are cold, with the lowest hotel rates.
Where to stay
Manhattan hotels are the priciest per night. Staying in Brooklyn, Queens or Jersey City, with a subway or train ride into Midtown, is a common way to save. Check mandatory hotel fees, which can add noticeably to the nightly rate.
Getting around
Tap a contactless card or phone at subway and bus readers. Fare capping means that after a set number of rides in a week, further rides are free. Walking covers a lot of ground, and the subway runs all night. Avoid taxis in rush hour.
How to spend less
- Walk the Brooklyn Bridge, ride the Staten Island Ferry for skyline views and spend time in Central Park and the High Line, all free.
- Eat slices, street food, bagels and lunch specials instead of sit-down dinners.
- Pick one observation deck rather than several.
- Look for discounted same-day theater seats and cheaper off-Broadway shows.
Common mistakes
Forgetting tax and tip. Sales tax is added at the register and tipping at restaurants is customary, commonly 18 to 20 percent, so a menu price is noticeably lower than the final bill.