How much spending money for 8 days in NYC

pookiesboo

If flights and accommodation are paid for already how much ideally would the two of us need. We don't plan on shopping just sight seeing and eating out each night. I know it's probably the same as asking how long is a piece of string but roughly what would people suggest?

finbarrk

About $1k each I would say. Suppose it depends on how much socialising you are going to do, more than that amount if you are going out a good bit. Liqour is expensive there.

Celly Smunt

Really depends on yourself. I usually get away with 500-600 a week comfortably.

Alcohol will kill your budget if you're drinking out, eating out can be done really cheaply or really expensively. Usually I eat in Brooklyn because the food is nicer and cheaper. Stay away from midtown etc for food, nobody eats there and you'll pay for tourist prices for crap.

Site seeing always has a cheap alternative, for example you could pay $20 or so to go to the statue of liberty or you could take the Staten island ferry for free, there are millions of little loopholes.

If you're not worried about spending $2000 for the week, grand, you'll have a great time and your don't have to worry. If you would prefer to half that it can be easily done without sacrificing much at all.

Get a metrocard.
Get a city pass thingy for site seeing.
Eat and drink authentically in the boroughs.
Stay away from cabs.
Dont buy anything around times square, ground zero etc

pookiesboo

finbarrk wrote: »

About $1k each I would say. Suppose it depends on how much socialising you are going to do, more than that amount if you are going out a good bit. Liqour is expensive there.

Thanks, I was thinking about 1,000-1,500 alright
each.

pookiesboo

Celly Smunt wrote: »

Really depends on yourself. I usually get away with 500-600 a week comfortably.

Alcohol will kill your budget if you're drinking out, eating out can be done really cheaply or really expensively. Usually I eat in Brooklyn because the food is nicer and cheaper. Stay away from midtown etc for food, nobody eats there and you'll pay for tourist prices for crap.

Site seeing always has a cheap alternative, for example you could pay $20 or so to go to the statue of liberty or you could take the Staten island ferry for free, there are millions of little loopholes.

If you're not worried about spending $2000 for the week, grand, you'll have a great time and your don't have to worry. If you would prefer to half that it can be easily done without sacrificing much at all.

Get a metrocard.
Get a city pass thingy for site seeing.
Eat and drink authentically in the boroughs.
Stay away from cabs.
Dont buy anything around times square, ground zero etc

Thank you. It takes a bit of pressure of us to read that! Where would I buy the metrocard and city pass, do I buy them over or can I get them online before I go?

athtrasna

Factor in tips. They are a major part of eating and drinking out in the US. In restaurants 15% is the least that will be expected. Add in tips in bars, taxis, hotel staff...I've found that this can add up to a couple of hundred dollars a week

pookiesboo

athtrasna wrote: »

Factor in tips. They are a major part of eating and drinking out in the US. In restaurants 15% is the least that will be expected. Add in tips in bars, taxis, hotel staff...I've found that this can add up to a couple of hundred dollars a week

Wowsers. Good to know,thank you

fits

Our tactic is to skimp on or skip some meals and splash out on others. On a recent holiday we just had a big breakfast, fruit in afternoin and an earlyish dinner.

Havent been in nyc since i was a student but then i ate in mcdonalds a few days so i could afford the attractions. Its such a great city.

Celly Smunt

pookiesboo wrote: »

Thank you. It takes a bit of pressure of us to read that! Where would I buy the metrocard and city pass, do I buy them over or can I get them online before I go?

You can get a metrocard in pretty much any subway station from the ticket machines or from staff at the information desk at manned stations. I haven't got a city pass in a while but I think that you get a better deal online, its something like three attractions for $100 or something like that but it works out cheaper than paying at the gates.

Where are you staying by the way?

Don't feel overly pressured about tipping. Obviously tip, but usually a receipt will show you a recommended amount to tip. Don't be afraid to tip badly if service is crap either!, New yorkers don't tip liberally for crap service so there's no reason you should either. 10-15% for good/OK service, 5% if its crap.

Celly Smunt

fits wrote: »

Havent been in nyc since i was a student but then i ate in mcdonalds a few days so i could afford the attractions. Its such a great city.

That's the way to do NYC imo, there are such good places for food that are no frills but amazing that a sit down meal wouldn't cross my mind

athtrasna

Celly Smunt wrote: »

Don't feel overly pressured about tipping. Obviously tip, but usually a receipt will show you a recommended amount to tip. Don't be afraid to tip badly if service is crap either!, New yorkers don't tip liberally for crap service so there's no reason you should either. 10-15% for good/OK service, 5% if its crap.

When was the last time you were in NY? 10% tip will have them chasing you down the street to see what they did wrong. At the very least you double the sales tax.

Crap service is rare because they work for their tips but 5% is not on imo.

pookiesboo

Celly Smunt wrote: »

You can get a metrocard in pretty much any subway station from the ticket machines or from staff at the information desk at manned stations. I haven't got a city pass in a while but I think that you get a better deal online, its something like three attractions for $100 or something like that but it works out cheaper than paying at the gates.

Where are you staying by the way?

Don't feel overly pressured about tipping. Obviously tip, but usually a receipt will show you a recommended amount to tip. Don't be afraid to tip badly if service is crap either!, New yorkers don't tip liberally for crap service so there's no reason you should either. 10-15% for good/OK service, 5% if its crap.

We have booked the flights but not the accommodation yet. Was looking on TripAdvisor last night and a bit inundated with where to stay. Initially we wanted somewhere in times square because we will be there on new years eve but because of public transport practically everywhere we don't mind at this stage. We will be out everyday so just need a place to crash every night. Could you suggest a good area or hotel? The max we'd be be willing to pay for 8 days would be about 1,700 to 1,800 euros.

mfceiling

Airbnb?

Celly Smunt

athtrasna wrote: »

When was the last time you were in NY? 10% tip will have them chasing you down the street to see what they did wrong. At the very least you double the sales tax.

Crap service is rare because they work for their tips but 5% is not on imo.

I'm in NYC three or four times a year. Granted I've only done it once and if they do chase your down the street tell them exactly why. No way in hell am I tipping 10-15% to someone who doesn't deserve that tip when there are thousands of others breaking their backbone for it. It's not being stingy, its the best form of feedback if anything. 5% is most definitely on if the service is substandard to what I'd even get in Dublin with the competition so high in NYC.

Celly Smunt

pookiesboo wrote: »

We have booked the flights but not the accommodation yet. Was looking on TripAdvisor last night and a bit inundated with where to stay. Initially we wanted somewhere in times square because we will be there on new years eve but because of public transport practically everywhere we don't mind at this stage. We will be out everyday so just need a place to crash every night. Could you suggest a good area or hotel? The max we'd be be willing to pay for 8 days would be about 1,700 to 1,800 euros.

If I were you i'd get an Airbnb in Williamsburg or something rather than staying in times square. The nightlife is good, its safe, the food is good and it has a nice feel to it. Only 10 minutes to Manhattan too. Work out a hell of a lot cheaper than 1800 too.

Staying in times square would be a little bit too hectic for me to be honest, its nice to visit but I couldn't imagine being stuck staying there to be honest.

grimm2005

I was there in June for a week, not much shopping but loads of sightseeing, eating out and nights out. I think I spent somewhere in the region of $800 - 900 which I thought was pretty good going. As others have said there are a few things that can make the trip cheaper, for example, a lot of the big museums are "pay what you want" for admission as long as it's over 1c but they don't advertise this very well and with a quick glance it seems like it's going to cost $22 - 25 per person for an adult ticket but they are just a "suggested donation". I went to both the MET and the natural history museum for about $5 each.

Del2005

pookiesboo wrote: »

We have booked the flights but not the accommodation yet. Was looking on TripAdvisor last night and a bit inundated with where to stay. Initially we wanted somewhere in times square because we will be there on new years eve but because of public transport practically everywhere we don't mind at this stage. We will be out everyday so just need a place to crash every night. Could you suggest a good area or hotel? The max we'd be be willing to pay for 8 days would be about 1,700 to 1,800 euros.

What airport are you flying into? We flew into JFK and had booked close to Time Square. Journey across town was a nightmare, driver said we'd of been better off flying into Newark for that part of town. Getting back to JFK took a good while also.

Celly Smunt

Del2005 wrote: »

What airport are you flying into? We flew into JFK and had booked close to Time Square. Journey across town was a nightmare, driver said we'd of been better off flying into Newark for that part of town. Getting back to JFK took a good while also.

If you're coming by cab then yeah Newark to times square is probably best. But you can't really beat the airtrain to Jamaica and then straight to Penn.

Actually if anybody can correct me, doesn't the E or D train go from Jamaica into times square?

toadfly

The E goes along 49th, not 42nd.

pookiesboo

Del2005 wrote: »

What airport are you flying into? We flew into JFK and had booked close to Time Square. Journey across town was a nightmare, driver said we'd of been better off flying into Newark for that part of town. Getting back to JFK took a good while also.

Flying from shannon to jfk, worked out cheaper. Am I right in guessing there's public transport in Jfk that will take us to wherever we end up staying.

rushfan

Definitely get yourselves Metrocards. You can purchase a 7 day card, but as it's a few years since we needed them, I'm not sure what the cost for same is . Put it like this : You can use them on buses and the subway. A single journey on either is approx $2.50 or so, irrespective of whether you're travelling 2 stops or from one end of Manhattan to the other. Last time we stayed for 5 nights with the kids, I purchased 4 x 7 day Metrocards. Paid about $120 at the time, which seemed alot, but they proved invaluable .

toadfly

A 7 day metro card is $31+$1for the card itself which is reusable. You can get the subway on a few lines which then meet up with the airtrrain which costs an extra $5 which you can have on your metro card before you get there so no queuing to pay when you get off the subway. We were in Williamsburg so got the L train to Broadway Junction, changed to the A train as far as Howard's Beach and then onto airtrain.

Edit, it's $2.75 each way otherwise no matter how many stops.

athtrasna

mfceiling wrote: »

Airbnb?

Illegal on Manhattan?

schemingbohemia

athtrasna wrote: »

Illegal on Manhattan?

But not in Brooklyn afaik

naughtysmurf

Times Sq on new years eve is a complete and utter zoo, the police will have the area locked down, you won't get near unless you have an invite to a new years eve party in an establishment on the other side of their barricade
If you go VERY EARLY, before lock down, once you are in, you're in & won't be getting out, no toilet facilities etc, maybe consider Central park as an alternative, was there last NYE
It's a great city though, I thought the taxi's were reasonably good value, more expensive but I would stay in Manhattan, we stayed at Holiday inn, Manhattan 125 West 26th St, it was grand, walked loads to enjoy the atmosphere

flutered

funny how winter cloths bough in the us are away warmer than the ones bought at home

Uno my Uno.

Celly Smunt wrote: »

I'm in NYC three or four times a year. Granted I've only done it once and if they do chase your down the street tell them exactly why. No way in hell am I tipping 10-15% to someone who doesn't deserve that tip when there are thousands of others breaking their backbone for it. It's not being stingy, its the best form of feedback if anything. 5% is most definitely on if the service is substandard to what I'd even get in Dublin with the competition so high in NYC.

You're joking surely? Standard tip in NYC is 20% now, 15% if service is poor, but that happens rarely. I sometimes feel it's over the top but it's how it is and I'd feel differently if I were the server.

Remember also that you need to tip the Bar tender when out drinking, a dollar a drink on each order is fair.

Be prepared for the cost of eating and drinking out, a simple dinner for two can run to $100 easily and a few drinks can rack up too, a glass of beer is $7-8 dollars pretty much anywhere on Manhattan. The prices in Brooklyn tend to be a little cheaper but they can still be expensive.

Celly Smunt wrote: »

If I were you i'd get an Airbnb in Williamsburg or something rather than staying in times square. The nightlife is good, its safe, the food is good and it has a nice feel to it. Only 10 minutes to Manhattan too. Work out a hell of a lot cheaper than 1800 too.

Staying in times square would be a little bit too hectic for me to be honest, its nice to visit but I couldn't imagine being stuck staying there to be honest.

Unless you're interested in Williamsburg and the like I wouldn't bother staying out there, getting the subway back and forth all the time would be a pain, especially late in the evening. Equally I wouldn't want to stay near Time Wquare either, once you've seen it you've seen it and you won't need to go back, find a hotel downtown or in Chelsea for best location.

Celly Smunt

Uno my Uno. wrote: »

Unless you're interested in Williamsburg and the like I wouldn't bother staying out there, getting the subway back and forth all the time would be a pain, especially late in the evening. Equally I wouldn't want to stay near Time Wquare either, once you've seen it you've seen it and you won't need to go back, find a hotel downtown or in Chelsea for best location.

What?, Williamsburg is closer to anywhere in Manhattan compared to downtown, 5-10 minutes and you're in midtown or east village. Downtown is a ghost town with nothing in it after 7 or so too so its likely that if they're going anywhere they'll be getting the train anyway which will be 20-30 minutes or so compared to the 10 to Morgan Ave.

Uno my Uno.

Celly Smunt wrote: »

What?, Williamsburg is closer to anywhere in Manhattan compared to downtown, 5-10 minutes and you're in midtown or east village. Downtown is a ghost town with nothing in it after 7 or so too so its likely that if they're going anywhere they'll be getting the train anyway which will be 20-30 minutes or so compared to the 10 to Morgan Ave.

Downtown isn't deserted after 7, the financial district is deserted after 7, they aren't the same. It is easy and straightforward to get anywhere from Downtown or even Chelsea, if you'e out in Wiliamsburg you're adding time and hassle to either end of your day, the saving wouldn't be worth it. If you're going to NYC on holiday get the most out of it and stay in NYC.

iusedtoknow

Celly Smunt wrote: »

Don't feel overly pressured about tipping. Obviously tip, but usually a receipt will show you a recommended amount to tip. Don't be afraid to tip badly if service is crap either!, New yorkers don't tip liberally for crap service so there's no reason you should either. 10-15% for good/OK service, 5% if its crap.

Bad advice!

20% is actually the standard now a days in the cities, at least on the west coast. 15% would be considered a "complaint" or making a point.

iusedtoknow

pookiesboo wrote: »

Flying from shannon to jfk, worked out cheaper. Am I right in guessing there's public transport in Jfk that will take us to wherever we end up staying.

yeah - you can take the air train to Jamaica then hop on the LIRR into mid-town and get onto the subway from there.

Personally...I wouldn't recommend it unless you're travelling with just hand luggage. Just hop in a taxi - it's a flat rate from the airport ($52 + tip/tolls so around $70).

Uno my Uno.

iusedtoknow wrote: »

yeah - you can take the air train to Jamaica then hop on the LIRR into mid-town and get onto the subway from there.

Personally...I wouldn't recommend it unless you're travelling with just hand luggage. Just hop in a taxi - it's a flat rate from the airport ($52 + tip/tolls so around $70).

Especially if there is a couple of you its good sense to take a cab from JFK, fixed fare so you don't need to worry about being ripped off.