What budget to travel New York (Manhattan)? Money and currency

What budget for activities and outings New York (Manhattan)?

Let's face it: in New York, sightseeing is expensive, very expensive. The city's must-see museums, including MoMA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim, charge US$25 for admission, while climbing to the skyscraper observatories costs a minimum of US$35. That's a lot of money, which is why it's a good idea to buy a pass to visit New York's must-sees at unbeatable rates.

In our opinion, the best deal is the CityPass(www.citypass.com/new-york). It gives access to 5 attractions for US$138, a discount of around US$90. There are many other passes, including the New York Explorer Pass, the Sightseeing Pass and the New York Pass. Do the math and see which one works best for you!

The other way to save money while taking advantage of New York's immense cultural offering is to visit museums when they're free: check the website of the museum you're interested in, which is indicated in the rates section. Some museums have a " pay what you wish" policy, meaning that visitors can pay as much or as little as they like - no questions asked! Examples include the Museum of Natural History and the Brooklyn Museum.

Wherever you are in the world, the cheapest sporting activity is still running, and when you do it in Central Park, it takes on a very special dimension! You should also know that on sunny days, all the city's parks offer free outdoor sports sessions: dance, yoga, Pilates, bootcamp, CrossFit.... In season, sporting events are listed on the New York Parks website (www.nycgovparks.org), simply register online to reserve your spot. Bryant Park, in particular, becomes every summer an incredible hub of free activities, with its ping pong tables, board games, readings, yoga classes, fencing and painting classes&hellip

This is an aspect of New York that we tend to forget, but the city, bordered by the Atlantic year, has pretty sandy beaches! To dip, simply take the subway to Coney Island, Brooklyn, or the ferry to Rockaway Beach, Queens. A little swimming, "a you said"?

Finally, if your dream is to go to a basketball, baseball, hockey or American football game during your stay in New York and you have not purchased your tickets in advance, a tip: download the GameTime application (www.gametime.co) and look at the ticket prices on the same day. The tickets still available are often sold at unbeatable prices!

America's favorite bargain stores are TJ Maxx and Marshalls, which sell new, often brand-name products at discounted prices. You'll find some great deals there! A shopping session in New York will cost you more or less the same as in France, even if the strength of the euro softens the final amount. Don't forget that in the United States, the local tax is not included in the price. In New York, it is 8.875% on clothing

New Yorkers go out several times a week, and no matter what your budget, you'll be able to emulate them! Certainly, tickets to the most famous shows and concerts, those held on Broadway or in famous venues, easily sell for more than US$100 per person, and the experience is often grandiose. But there is no shortage of intimate, off-the-beaten-path venues, and the performances are almost always top-notch. Drop into a small jazz club on a stroll through the West Village, and you might see some virtuosos for the price of a drink... The same goes for off-Broadway theatres, which can hold some great surprises. In comedy clubs and some jazz clubs, you often have to add two obligatory drinks to the price of the ticket (which is usually around 10-15 US$).

For those who are broke and want to see The Lion King on Broadway, there are solutions. The first is to line up at one of the three TKTS kiosks (in Times Square, South Street Seaport and Lincoln Center) which offer discounts of 25% to 75% on all Broadway and off-Broadway shows, depending on availability. It's a good plan known to all, so plan to arrive before the kiosks open, and expect to wait in line for at least an hour!

The second option, unknown to tourists, is to queue in front of the theatre where the play of your choice is being performed to get rush tickets, often sold for as little as US$30. These are unsold tickets for the shows that are playing that day. In some cases, a handful of even cheaper tickets (starting at US$25) allow you to see the show standing behind the last row of spectators! How to obtain these tickets varies according to the show, and information can be found on the Playbill website(www.playbill.com). In any case, first come, first served!

The other way to get discounted tickets for Broadway shows is to visit New York during Broadway Week! Thanks to this festival which takes place twice a year, it is possible to buy two tickets for the price of one on a large selection of shows. Broadway Week lasts for two weeks in mid-January and early September. The tickets, which go very quickly, are put on sale about two weeks in advance. It's best to be reactive!

Finally, the less courageous can buy tickets at a reduced price without moving a finger thanks to the websites dedicated to the resale of tickets: www.schooltix.com - www.bestofbroadway.com - www.stubhub.com.

What budget to eat New York (Manhattan)?

Food is not cheap in New York. Restaurants are quite expensive, especially since the prices do not take into account the tip or the local tax. If you are in an AirBnB or your hotel room is equipped with a kitchenette, you will make serious savings!

Even so, there are options for smaller budgets. The first one is to eat a slice of pizza for 1 or 2 US$ in one of the countless pizza joints in the city, a typical New York experience! Asian restaurants that don't pay a fortune often offer dishes at unbeatable prices, as do salad bars. Finally, food carts usually offer hearty dishes for less than $10. They are everywhere, even in the very chic Upper East Side, where you will find one of the most famous food carts in the city, Tony's Dragon Grill. Finally, the fast food chains, and God knows there are many in the United States, offer good prices, even if, from a dietary point of view, you can hardly do worse.

The best way to indulge in one of the city's fine restaurants without blowing your budget is to participate in Restaurant Week. This foodie-friendly event is held twice a year, in June/July and January/February. About a hundred restaurants offer a very attractive formula, with very attractive fixed-price menus. More information on participating restaurants can be found at www.nycgo.com/restaurant-week.

To find the city's must-try restaurants, the Zagat guide has long been the bible for New Yorkers. For the past few years, The Infatuation (www.infatuation.com) and Eater (www.ny.eater.com) have been the main reference sites. They provide good addresses for all wallets and offer interactive maps by neighborhood.

The vast majority of restaurants accept credit cards, with the exception of some that opened ages ago. This is the case of Lombardi's, the oldest pizzeria in New York, located in NoLIta

If you're going to take full advantage of New York's nightlife by hitting the city's bars (and you'd be wrong not to!), it's best to go out with a fat wallet. The prices listed do not include the local tax, which is 8.875%, or the tip. It is customary to leave a US$1 or US$2 tip per drink or, if you have had many drinks and pay by credit card, about 18% of the bill.

The highest prices are probably found in rooftops and speakeasies, where cocktails can cost up to US$20. No matter where you go out, beer is still the most affordable alcoholic drink, and there are local and artisanal brands that are really worth it! On the other hand, wine is atrociously expensive, especially for those coming from France... In bars and restaurants, the price of a glass of wine varies between 12 and 18 US$. Finally, in cafés and tea rooms, a hot drink usually costs between 3 and 4 US$

Fortunately, New York has a lot of broke people and they have found a way to go out without breaking the bank! Ask them what their secret is, and they'll whisper these two magic words: Happy Hour. This usually takes place on weekdays, between 5pm and 7pm, sometimes earlier. Alcoholic beverages are half price or a few dollars cheaper than usual. In some bars, the reduced prices also apply to food, usually appetizers or plates to share.

What is the budget for accommodation New York (Manhattan)?

For a basic double room (i.e. a bed between four walls and a tiny bathroom), it is necessary to count at least 100 US$ per night. Rates can double in high season, but also from one day to the next depending on the occupancy rate. To find the best prices, don't hesitate to do more research on the Internet, on the hotel's website and then with the help of comparators like Booking.com

Budget travellers will be happy with hostels, which offer rates of US$25 to US$100 per person in dormitories. A continental breakfast is often included in the price. In the United States, hostels are very common, the most famous chain, HI Hostel(www.hiusa.org), is present in New York, in the Upper West Side. To find independent hostels, visit www.hostels.com and www.hostelworld.com.

Another option, and not the least expensive: bed and breakfasts, often charming and romantic addresses nestled in beautiful restored houses. Rates range from US$150 to US$300 per night, and a minimum stay of two nights is sometimes required. A hot breakfast is usually included in the price. Some sites to check are www.bedandbreakfast.com, www.bnbfinder.com and www.selectregistry.com. In all establishments, cash and credit cards are accepted as payment.

Finally, you should know that wifi is free in most hotels, with the exception of a few luxury establishments that charge a daily supplement. Parking, when offered, is not free. Expect to pay between US$60 and US$80 per night.

Travel budget New York (Manhattan) and cost of living

Money has a way of slipping through your fingers in New York! The cost of living has risen dramatically in recent years. While real estate prices have always been higher than those in Paris (already insane), other expenses have traditionally been cheaper in New York than in France. Bad news: this is no longer the case. For European tourists, the United States is an increasingly expensive destination. A stay in New York generally leaves you with lasting memories and a bank account that looks rather grim... It's hard to eat in a decent restaurant for less than US$10, it's hard to stay in a barely salubrious hotel for less than US$100, public transport is prohibitively expensive (US$2.75 for a subway ride, US$33 for a week's pass ), it's hard to eat without leaving a 15-20% tip, it's hard to stay in New York without doing some shopping, and so on.

One thing to bear in mind when drawing up a budget for a stay in New York: you're about to plunge into the world's temple of consumerism andentertainment . The extremely enterprising spirit of New Yorkers means that, wherever you are in the city, you'll be asked to spend money. A little snack at 4pm in front of a cosy bakery , a pair of jeans, I Love NY souvenirs, a concert by an artist you've been dreaming of for years but will never get to see in France, and so on. The list of temptations is as long as your arm!