There's so much to see and so much to do in the world it's really hard to figure out where to travel first. Many people dream of the city and expect to see attractions and an interesting way of life. Whether you live close to the United States or in the United States, there are a few places that stick out in everyone's mind. One of them is definitely New York. This city is filled with activities, life, and attractions. Here's my take on the concrete jungle.
New York is definitely not a cheap place to travel, let alone live in. I felt completely overwhelmed by the amount of money I had to hack up for a slice of pizza or a pint of beer. In Wisconsin (where I'm from), it's fairly cheap, so traveling to New York City was definitely a whirlwind. I would say a good roundtrip ticket to JFK or LGA would be around $125-175, anything more is kind of a waste. Now I do realize that not everyone is as frugal as I am, but I'm just trying to give you a fair price range so you get the most bang for your buck.
This is literally the city that NEVER sleeps. If you love night life, unique entertainment, and unbelievable food, then I promise you, New York is the place for you. I've been to New York a couple of times and every visit feels like a new experience; since there is so much to do. There is, of course the infamous Times Square, which I find to be overrated and ass packed with people. This is 100% known as a tourist trap area in NYC. If you want to overpay for anything and everything then the Manhattan area is the place to check out. But for me as a tourist, it's almost like Hollywood Blvd, you just have to do it at least once in your lifetime. Close to Times Square is the Central Park. I find the park fascinating and full of excitement. It's cute, quaint, and cheap. You can rent a horse and carriage ride but I never have because I feel too bad for the horses.
There's also the Empire State building which unluckily for all of you traveling to New York anytime soon, they just raised their entrance fee prices. It's about $54 to go all the way to the top, which I believe is 102 stories high. It's a cool view, but I think skyline views of the city are 10x better. That's why on my most recent trip back to The Big Apple, I decided to go to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island instead. A $25 ferry takes you to the statue and the island. You are allowed to get off the ferry at each stop and stay for as long as you'd like. The boat's go from stop to stop in a rotational cycle through out the whole day, so you can get picked up from each stop about every 25 minutes. To me, this was more interesting then when I went to the Empire State Building because there was more history. The statue was cool, but I skipped getting off the ferry since it was an extra fee to climb up inside the Statue of Liberty. Not to mention, the view of the statue was better while on the ferry than off.
Ellis Island was absolutely beautiful. The ceilings, rooms, and history was so interesting. There was actually a worker on the island pretending to check us in to see if we would have been accepted into the country or not. For the longest time the island was abandoned, but was later re-found and refurbished. More than 12 Million immigrants came through Ellis Island, and was at one point the biggest immigration facility in America. Almost everyone got entry in, but if you didn't, then in my eyes you were a terrible liar. There were a series of questions the immigration officer would ask. It consisted of: Where are you from? How old are you? What part of the States are you traveling to? Do you have family, a job, or schooling in the U.S.? If you answered truthfully to these questions, then you were let in. The way the officers regulated if you were being truthful or not was by looking at a piece of paper that an immigrant wrote on months previously which asked the same questions the officer asks the immigrant in person. People would wait in line at Ellis Island for weeks or months before getting a 2 minute questionnaire screening by the officer.
There is also the 9/11 memorial and museum. This was a really emotional experience. People come to these inverted waterfalls (aka pools) to pay respect to those who lost their lives on the most unforgettable day in American history. The pools were interactive, emotional, and unforgettable. I went on the 9/11 memorial tour, which was about $60 with included entry into the museum as well. Otherwise, you can purchase museum tickets for around $26 (and the pools are free without a guided tour). I walked around the pools with a tour guide who explained the meaning of the waterfall designs and listened to stories of those who risked their lives to save thousands of other citizens. This memorial also had a museum. The atmosphere in the museum was quite, respectful, and touching. There are videos, artifacts, and memories that helped American citizens remember the tragedy of September 11th. The museum was huge and there was a lot to see. I highly recommend going to the 9/11 memorial to stay connected and educated with our past struggles. Even though the surroundings seemed oppressive at times, the amount of comfort I felt from other individuals was upholding and inspirational.
The Rockefeller Center is another big tourist attraction. For me, this area was more enjoyable during the winter months. This attraction is known for it's ice staking rink, impeccable city views (check out the observation deck), and shops. The Rockefeller center is close to Central Park. The park is fun if you're looking for an easy stroll, hilarious people watching, or even a carriage ride. This park is conjointly filled with food trucks and good eats. I would be careful though, it's expensive in the heart of the city, where both of these major NYC attractions are located.
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) was probably my favorite thing that I've ever done in New York since I'm a huge history and art fanatic. There is some art that was questionable on whether it's art or not, but it's still fascinating and a really good time. They have many different exhibits within MoMA, so you get a variety of old and new art. It's open until 9pm and costs about $25. If you bring your student ID, you will save $11 upon entry.
Price Expectations:
Air BnB- range from $60-100/night
Hotel- range from 120-200/night
Food- meals range from $15-40
Pizza, food trucks, desserts- range from $6-10/serving
Alcohol- range from $8-20/drink
Broadway shows- range from $60-100/show
Plane tickets-range from $125-300/roundtrip
Metro Card- single ride is $2.50 and a 7 day card is $29. You can load money on the card as well.
Uber- varies, but cheaper than a taxi. Don't take a taxi, they will take the long way to your destination and make you pay more.
New York is definitely not a cheap place to travel, let alone live in. I felt completely overwhelmed by the amount of money I had to hack up for a slice of pizza or a pint of beer. In Wisconsin (where I'm from), it's fairly cheap, so traveling to New York City was definitely a whirlwind. I would say a good roundtrip ticket to JFK or LGA would be around $125-175, anything more is kind of a waste. Now I do realize that not everyone is as frugal as I am, but I'm just trying to give you a fair price range so you get the most bang for your buck.
This is literally the city that NEVER sleeps. If you love night life, unique entertainment, and unbelievable food, then I promise you, New York is the place for you. I've been to New York a couple of times and every visit feels like a new experience; since there is so much to do. There is, of course the infamous Times Square, which I find to be overrated and ass packed with people. This is 100% known as a tourist trap area in NYC. If you want to overpay for anything and everything then the Manhattan area is the place to check out. But for me as a tourist, it's almost like Hollywood Blvd, you just have to do it at least once in your lifetime. Close to Times Square is the Central Park. I find the park fascinating and full of excitement. It's cute, quaint, and cheap. You can rent a horse and carriage ride but I never have because I feel too bad for the horses.
There's also the Empire State building which unluckily for all of you traveling to New York anytime soon, they just raised their entrance fee prices. It's about $54 to go all the way to the top, which I believe is 102 stories high. It's a cool view, but I think skyline views of the city are 10x better. That's why on my most recent trip back to The Big Apple, I decided to go to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island instead. A $25 ferry takes you to the statue and the island. You are allowed to get off the ferry at each stop and stay for as long as you'd like. The boat's go from stop to stop in a rotational cycle through out the whole day, so you can get picked up from each stop about every 25 minutes. To me, this was more interesting then when I went to the Empire State Building because there was more history. The statue was cool, but I skipped getting off the ferry since it was an extra fee to climb up inside the Statue of Liberty. Not to mention, the view of the statue was better while on the ferry than off.
There is also the 9/11 memorial and museum. This was a really emotional experience. People come to these inverted waterfalls (aka pools) to pay respect to those who lost their lives on the most unforgettable day in American history. The pools were interactive, emotional, and unforgettable. I went on the 9/11 memorial tour, which was about $60 with included entry into the museum as well. Otherwise, you can purchase museum tickets for around $26 (and the pools are free without a guided tour). I walked around the pools with a tour guide who explained the meaning of the waterfall designs and listened to stories of those who risked their lives to save thousands of other citizens. This memorial also had a museum. The atmosphere in the museum was quite, respectful, and touching. There are videos, artifacts, and memories that helped American citizens remember the tragedy of September 11th. The museum was huge and there was a lot to see. I highly recommend going to the 9/11 memorial to stay connected and educated with our past struggles. Even though the surroundings seemed oppressive at times, the amount of comfort I felt from other individuals was upholding and inspirational.
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) was probably my favorite thing that I've ever done in New York since I'm a huge history and art fanatic. There is some art that was questionable on whether it's art or not, but it's still fascinating and a really good time. They have many different exhibits within MoMA, so you get a variety of old and new art. It's open until 9pm and costs about $25. If you bring your student ID, you will save $11 upon entry.
Price Expectations:
Air BnB- range from $60-100/night
Hotel- range from 120-200/night
Food- meals range from $15-40
Pizza, food trucks, desserts- range from $6-10/serving
Alcohol- range from $8-20/drink
Broadway shows- range from $60-100/show
Plane tickets-range from $125-300/roundtrip
Metro Card- single ride is $2.50 and a 7 day card is $29. You can load money on the card as well.
Uber- varies, but cheaper than a taxi. Don't take a taxi, they will take the long way to your destination and make you pay more.
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