10 Tips to Make Your NYC Holiday Vacation Affordable

Dreaming about spending the holidays in New York City? Hesitating because of the exuberant cost that such a trip can cost you? You can make this trip a reality by just following a couple of tips to make your trip affordable and unbelievingly enjoyable.

1. Because the holidays are just around the corner, the first thing you will want to take care of is your travel arrangements. The closer you are to the date of travel the more expensive the flights will be. Shop around online for flight specials. You can save money by booking your ticket at a more inconvenient hour. For instance a really late night flight will be considerable less than a flight mid morning flight. Although it may not be your choice time you will find the rates are so much better making it worth your while as you don't have so much time to play with.

2. Also, you should see which local airport to fly into. There are a couple of airports that are very close by to New York City. John F. Kennedy International airport (JFK), La Guardia International Airport (LGA) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) are major airports that are really close by. You will be surprised at how the costs will vary from airport to airport.

3. When booking a hotel, a great way to save money is by choosing to book a hotel in a city just outside of Manhattan. For instance a great place to stay is at a Secaucus hotel. There are many hotels there that are elegant and offer great amenities at a fraction of the cost. Secaucus is less than ten miles from New York City and getting there and back is simple and easy.

4. If you are opting to stay at a hotel outside the city that you will want to make use of the many options of public transportation. Even while you are in the city, you will want to make use of the subway and buses. Although, the NYC subways have somewhat of an infamous reputation, you may be pleasantly surprised by your experience. The subways are cheap, quick and convenient. Try it for yourself. For a true New York experience, riding the subways is a must.

5. Take some time to plan your itinerary in advance. Plan out what sights you would like to see in order to make the most of your trip. There is a city pass that you can purchase at many travel information kiosk around the city and I believe they are available online as well. The City Pass groups many popular attractions together in order to give you a more discounted price.

6. You may be surprised to learn that there are a whole bunch of attractions that are free. Yes, free. For instant the Bronx Zoo is open to the public free of charge on Tuesday. If you enjoy visiting zoos, you will definitely want to add the Bronx Zoo to your schedule.

7. No visit to NYC would be complete without seeing at least one Broadway show. To save lots of money on tickets, why not go to a midweek matinee instead of a weekend night show. You will be able to get purchase tickets that are much more reasonable and get a far better seat as well.

8. Shop around for dining coupons. There are many upscale restaurants that offer dining coupons that can save you a bundle. So do a little bit of advance planning

9. Another great way of saving money on dining would be to opt for a fixed price dinner. There are also all you can eat buffets that you can really get the most for your money. The hotel concierge can probably steer you in the right direction.

10. Lastly, don't advertise that you are a tourist. Act like you are a New Yorker to avoid being taken for a ride. Don't buy souvenirs from the street vendor at the first price that they give you. Bargain with them and you will be able to get terrific gift for everyone at low-low prices.

Visiting New York City for the holidays is one of the best places you can visit. You can really make the trip affordable by doing some advance planning and adhering to these tips listed. You will probably be able to find many other ways to save some money without sacrificing a great NYC experience.

Keith Brown is a travel advisor for Meadowlands hotels. He has been in the travel industry for many years and has assisted many individuals in planning many trips to New York City and many other cities across the country.