by Eric Miller
It's no secret, some of the best places on earth are also the most expensive. New York is no exception to this rule. While hotels in New Jersey can be found easily for under $50 a night, it's hard to find rooms in Manhattan for less than $120 a night--unless you know where to look.
If you want to visit New York and save money, there are two alternatives to a room in a big-name hotel. The first is a hostel, the second a room in a small hotel.
First, a hostel can consist of anything from a bed in a cubicle to a dorm room style space. Make no mistake--at a hostel you sacrifice comfort for price. That doesn't mean you'll have a miserable stay or a bad experience, however. In fact, you may find the public places in hostels--the lounges and cafeterias--allow for more of a social experience and provide an engaging stay that is perfect for those traveling alone.
On my last trip to New York I stayed at The White House in New York's Bowery. The price is an amazing $25.00 per person. Rooms are available with single or double beds. Be forewarned the room is barely bigger than the size of the bed and that the term "room" is a stretch. The walls do not reach to the ceiling, and there are no windows, phones or electrical outlets. The building provided housing accommodations to New York's working class a century ago--and little has changed since then.
Still, the place is clean and comfortable and the building seems secure. Visitors vary greatly in both age and national origin. During my stay I noticed many visitors from both Northern Europe and Japan. The folks who run it seem to be native New Yorkers. There are two sides to the place, one that provides rooms by the night, with the other renting mostly to city residents for longer terms. The situation provides for interesting conversations in the lobby.
A continental breakfast is served each morning between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., but you have to pay. If you are not an early bird, there's a nameless convenience store two buildings away with a variety of prepared foods and drinks.
The WhiteHouse is located just blocks from East Village nightlife and within walking distance of Chinatown.
On the next leg of my trip I moved uptown, both geographically and in terms of my accommodations. The Amsterdam Inn is located on Amsterdam Avenue at W. 76th Street, easily accessible from the red lines and 72nd Street Station.
The Amsterdam is not a hostel, but a hotel. The cost is about $60 a night for two people, making it comparable with the WhiteHouse if you are traveling with someone. The room is a decent size and includes a phone, television, electrical outlets, windows dressers, and even a sink. What's the catch? There are potentially four flights of stairs to climb to get there, and there isn't a private bathroom.
Still, the number of bathrooms is more than adequate for the number of rooms, and the bathrooms are built so they are used privately. These are not YMCA style showers, and the facilities are in excellent condition.
The Amsterdam is located in a lively neighborhood with hundreds of shops, markets, and restaurants. It is also only three blocks from Central Park, the New York Historical Society, and the American Museum of Natural History, and within a short stroll of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Whitney Museum of Art, Hayden Planetarium, Guggenheim Museum, Frick Collection, and the Cooper Hewitt Museum. A few blocks to the West is Riverside Park, which as its name suggests lines the Hudson River from 72nd Street up.
Here are some other ideas to make your stay in the Big Apple as inexpensive as possible:
Museum Discounts
A "CityPass" is a way to see the most popular attractions in New York for half the price and without waiting in line. Starting at $38, CityPass will provide admission to the Empire State Building Observatory, Guggenheim Museum, American Museum of Natural History, The Museum of Modern Art, Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum, Circle Line Harbor Cruise, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. The passes can be purchased at any of the participating attractions. Some museums also offer free or discounted admission at specific times, and many admissions are only suggested donations, so in reality if you can't afford it, you need not pay at all.Free Attractions
Don't forget some of the best places to see in New York are free. Stop in any of the famous cathedrals--(Trinity Church, St. Patrick' s Cathedral, The Cathedral Church of St. John The Divine), and visit Grand Central Terminal, Central Park, and Times Square.Transportation
The taxis are many in New York, and driving is expensive if it is even possible. Subway trains cost $1.50 each way including transfers. You pay to go in and need to pay again only when you enter again. You pay once and ride as long as you like. If you enjoy seeing subway stations, you can probably visit many of them for one price. Also available is a Metrocard which costs between $3 and $80 and provides free transfers between buses and subways. If you fly to New York, the least expensive way to JFK is a shuttle for $1.50. Newark airport is served by train.
