New York Spending Money

clones1980

Hi all. I realise my question is similar to how long is a piece of string but if people could give an idea of how much spending money they took when visiting the big apply.

I am travelling with my mother and sisters to New York for a four night break over Easter. Flights and accommodation are already paid.

This break will be a tourist attraction break with little to no shopping.

I went to New York in 2010 but the exchange rates were excellent at the time and so money went much further and we took in a second city that time.

Thanks in advance.

kalych

clonesbabe wrote: »

Hi all. I realise my question is similar to how long is a piece of string but if people could give an idea of how much spending money they took when visiting the big apply...

Thanks in advance.

I was averaging between $150-$180 a day last August, although if travelling with the family I would imagine that could be reduced by about 10%-20%.
This would include doing 2 paid touristy bits a day, like the top of the Rock, etc.

Breakdown:
$15 Breakfast
$20 Lunch
$30 Dinner
$40 sightseeing
$15 transport
$20 bottled water (admitted it was summer)
$20 pints
approx. $5 per day for mobile data
$10 per day on souvenirs

votecounts

Don't forget about resort fees that some hotels charge. A costly thing to forget about.

salmocab

Exchange rate is pretty much at the point where in your head you can think 1:1 unless your buying something expensive. If you had couple of hundred a day you’d be fine but really your depending on the rest of your group to not be looking for fancy dinners and cocktails each night. Tourist attractions can be pricy so maybe check out what your planning on doing beforehand.

AndyBoBandy

$60 taxi from Airport to Manhattan, and teh same returning to airport (presuming it's JFK)

unless you are taking the trains/subway.

If your planning on doing touristy stuff then the new york pass is great value (well it was a few years ago).
We did loads of stuff we probably wouldn't have ,like the top of the rock and the empire state.
They are $40 each per person,river cruise (my favorite! )$50 and 2/3 museums would be another $80.
Atm the 3 day pass is $200 so worth looking into.

https://www.newyorkpass.com/new-york-attractions/

DarraghR

Any ideas for buying clothes and runners? I hear there are 2 different large shopping malls about 1hr from Manhattan. 2 pairs of Adidas runners for $50 apparently.

grimm2005

One big tip is that a lot of the big museums like the Met have big headline prices of around $25 but if you look closely it's actually a suggested donation and if you queue up and pay at the desk you can literally pay what you want, even a dollar. I paid $5 each for a couple of big museums while I was there as I was on a budget. The online tickets will charge you the full whack and same with the automatic ticket machines in the foyer so the only way you can pay what you want is at the ticket desks. It'll look busy with a big queue but it moves fast.

AndyBoBandy

DarraghR wrote: »

Any ideas for buying clothes and runners?

If you want bargains on clothes, TJ Maxx & Marshalls, they're both the same nowadays anyway, so find a decent one and you'll be sorted. Just go to the rails of your size and you should see great random bargains.

For out of town deals on runners and the like, you'd probably be looking for 'The Outlets'. though I'm not familiar with any of the various outlets around NYC (if there are even any within reasonable distance)

shanec1928

DarraghR wrote: »

Any ideas for buying clothes and runners? I hear there are 2 different large shopping malls about 1hr from Manhattan. 2 pairs of Adidas runners for $50 apparently.

Jersey gardens. Take the bus from port authority. Oh and bring your suitcase with you! You won’t be the only one doing it.

Spanish Eyes

If you have to watch the pennies, NY is the last place to go!

But anyway it can be expensive, the tips are mad, the sales taxes are hidden, transport costs are ok on the subway though.

Just budget for what you think you can afford and add the same onto that. For enjoyment purposes.

Hope you have a great time NY is amazing.

AndyBoBandy

It’s definitely worth getting a 7 day subway pass, it’s about 60-70 dollars, but very worth it if you plan on going to see a lot of sights etc...

Yamanoto

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

$60 taxi from Airport to Manhattan, and teh same returning to airport (presuming it's JFK)

unless you are taking the trains/subway.

Uber / Lyft will have you from JFK to Manhattan for under $45, with no tip necessary.

Avoid yellow cabs in NYC altogether.

AndyBoBandy

Yamanoto wrote: »

Uber / Lyft will have you from JFK to Manhattan for under $45, with no tip necessary.

Avoid yellow cabs in NYC altogether.

Uber cost me $57 back in October

clones1980

Thank you for all the comments and advice. I was planning to take approx. €1500 - €2000 as its all tourist stuff mostly and a show hopefully.

Johnnio13

Budget for about 400-500 bucks a day. Thats if you want to include touristy stuff.
If you go crazy shopping, expect it to be higher

towger

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

It’s definitely worth getting a 7 day subway pass, it’s about 60-70 dollars, but very worth it if you plan on going to see a lot of sights etc...

Correction , 7 day pass for a person is USD33.
But yes, definitely worth it.

finbarrk

Johnnio13 wrote: »

Budget for about 400-500 bucks a day. Thats if you want to include touristy stuff.
If you go crazy shopping, expect it to be higher

That's a bit high johnno.

tayto lover

That’s NY off my bucket list.
Too expensive by far.

clones1980

Mr.S wrote: »

What on earth are you doing for $500 a day?

--

Make sure to get Revolut before you go, you'll save a fortune in fees. Take out some cash for tips and then use card for everything else.

Is there not some controversy today over Revolut cards?

CelticRambler

Johnnio13 wrote: »

Budget for about 400-500 bucks a day. Thats if you want to include touristy stuff.
If you go crazy shopping, expect it to be higher

:eek: Janey Mack! :eek:

Excluding accommodation, but including a night at the opera and a metro pass, I spent $76.25 over three days last October.

fiverfriday

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

It’s definitely worth getting a 7 day subway pass, it’s about 60-70 dollars, but very worth it if you plan on going to see a lot of sights etc...

Fully agree with this. City tour buses and taxis are stuck in traffic and waste a lot of your time. The subway goes nearly everywhere!

Credit Checker Moose

Johnnio13 wrote: »

Budget for about 400-500 bucks a day. Thats if you want to include touristy stuff.
If you go crazy shopping, expect it to be higher

That is rather excessive.

theguzman

You'd need to budget $150 to $200 a day excluding accomodation, depends how much of a foodie you are really. If are happy to slum it for a week with McDonalds and Subway etc then you'll save a lot compared to proper lunches and dinners etc.

Fly to the nearest airport to your accommodation, public transport between the airports and Manhattan is atrocious and the NYC Subway is not suitcase friendly.

One week in New York could give a luxurious month in somewhere like Thailand or the Phillippines. It depends on a persons tastes etc. its worth seeing but places like Dubai, Singapore and Rio de Janeiro are all far superior to NY, don't bother with NY outside of summer as it would freeze the testicles off a brass monkey.

upinsmoke

I was over there and did all the touristy things and spent absolute feck all and did a night in Atlantic city as well which is worth going to in my opinion.

Depends really on the lifestyle you want to live while your there.

DarraghR

Can anyone tell me the best place to exchange currency in Dublin. My bank (Permanment TSB) and the Post Office are pretty much the same rates

Credit Checker Moose

Why exchange in Ireland? Just use your bank cards on arrival.

finbarrk

DarraghR wrote: »

Can anyone tell me the best place to exchange currency in Dublin. My bank (Permanment TSB) and the Post Office are pretty much the same rates

Not much difference between any of those places.

theguzman

A Revolut Card would probably give you the best FX Rate.

revoke12

$ 200 a day is more than enough excluding spending on clothes etc - buy a bus tour that will carry you to all main attractions i done top view it was 50 dollars for 3 days had 3 diffeent tours and took you everywhere also got a free liberity cruise and a 2 hr bike ride. Centry 21 down next to 9-11 memorial is great for shopping its like a tk maxx but with huge brands got tommy hilfiger t shirts for 9 dollars there. Loads of Michael kors calvin klein etc.

binana

Just a tip about seeing something on Broadway -- if you rock up on the night before a show, they'll sell you leftover tickets off cheap. You might not get to sit with your group and some views might be obscured (I was right up the front so had to crane a bit) but it's something to consider if it seems expensive.

kerry4sam

Thread moved to where it would be better suited.

Thanks,
kerry4sam

Fathom

kerry4sam wrote: »

Thread moved to where it would be better suited. Thanks, kerry4sam

Thanks kerry4sam.

dragonfly!

If you want to take in a show but dont mind which one then you can get tickets on the day for a fraction of the price

dragonfly!

I was there last Sept
I had also travelled there in 2011 and the increases in prices were crazy
We spent a fortune on food. We werent going fancy places either. The tax isnt included and you pretty much HAVE to tip like 20% so a cheap meal can get expensive really quickly.
When are you travelling?
I didnt use everything on my Citypass and im fairly certain its still in date. I will check when Im home but if it is you are welcome to it.

Credit Checker Moose

Who says you have to tip? You do know that tipping in the US is a massive scam.

Schindlers Pissed

CelticRambler wrote: »

:eek: Janey Mack! :eek:

Excluding accommodation, but including a night at the opera and a metro pass, I spent $76.25 over three days last October.

What?? Did you bring your own Taytos and hide under the bed??

Credit Checker Moose

There is no need to spend the GDP of a small country if you don't want to.

Schindlers Pissed

Correct. But equally you need to have a holiday. $25 a day does not a holiday make IMO.

Bunny Colvin

CelticRambler wrote: »

:eek: Janey Mack! :eek:

Excluding accommodation, but including a night at the opera and a metro pass, I spent $76.25 over three days last October.

I like how you've included the 25cents! $400-500 a day is excessive but it's still more realistic than $76 over three days. One tour I've booked for a few hours is costing more than that.

DarraghR

Back now about 3 weeks. If your smart it's not as expensive as everyone says. Easily get by on €100 - €150 a day with site seeing.

Clothes in Jersey cost nothing. Picked up nike runners for $25 and the same for Levis jeans.

Watch lots of YouTube videos and use Google Earth to pin point everywhere you want to visit.

harr

I was over last year and we spent about 250-300 a day ( couple) over 4 days that was with no shopping. I really hate having to watch the pennies on holidays and it wouldn’t be my idea of a holiday having to strictly watch what we send.
It has gotten a fair bit more expensive and we found the food expensive.
We used dial 7 for transfers to and from JFK $100 return and we used subway for getting around.
The show we wanted to see was very expensive but worth it the tickets were $170 dollars each .
Absolutely a single person could get by on $100 -$150 dollars a day if you budget for it .

Bunny Colvin

Bunny Colvin wrote: »

I like how you've included the 25cents! $400-500 a day is excessive but it's still more realistic than $76 over three days. One tour I've booked for a few hours is costing more than that.

I think the tips alone in the first NYC pub I was in amounted to $20.

Credit Checker Moose

Tipping is a massive scam and I stand by that.

Waiters must receive the Minimum wage even they may get zero tips. Their wage must be made up to the mandated minimum by their employer if their tips do not bring them to the minimum wage.

The minimum wage in New York is $10.40. Whilst tipped staff may be on less, their wages including any tips must exceed the min or else the employer must make up the difference.

DarraghR

How do people feel about giving the correct minimum tip when every part of the service was terrible that involved the waiter/waitress?

clones1980

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I am thinking I'll put €1500 on my revolut card and then I'll have my bank card for back up. I already bought the city explorer pass for 5 activities so wont have to worry about that.

dee_mc

DarraghR wrote: »

How do people feel about giving the correct minimum tip when every part of the service was terrible that involved the waiter/waitress?

I give 10% for terrible service. It galls me to do it but you have to accept their tipping culture.

castletownman

I am going in May for a week with the GF, and pride myself in my frugality, within reason Don't have to worry about accommodation, as I am staying with my brother whilst over there, so that gives me a bit more leeway, and will have a 3-activities pass already purchased by the time I arrive. Also got tickets to a Broadway show as a birthday present so that's one less cost, and will the subway pass sorted as well.

Probably one day shopping, one day seeing the "free" sights (Central Park, Times Square) on our arrival day, and potentially a Saturday/Sunday started off in a bar watching live sport from back home (depending on the schedule).

I have seen €1500 mentioned as spending money, but I aim to part with half of that

SusieBlue

I blew through just under €3k in five days the last time I went That figure didn't include accommodation, broadway tickets, or NBA tickets which we booked before we arrived.

I did bring an extra spare suitcase, because I knew in advance I'd be buying a lot. Most of that money went on shopping. My ex spend about €1500 iirc but he didn't like shopping as much as I do :pac:

Charles Ingles

500 dollars a day at least

rushfan

towger wrote:

Correction , 7 day pass for a person is USD33. But yes, definitely worth it.

Absolutely agree. Best thing you'll spend money on imo. If you're going to use subways or buses more than 12 times you'll effectively make on it.