Episode 37 – New York City
Colleen & Catie’s Picks for New York City
Colleen
Best/worst times to travel to NYC?
Best: The winter months (Jan – March) and late summer (July – August) are the least busy times and cheaper times to visit.
Worst: The time between Thanksgiving and New Years Eve
What airport does Colleen recommend?
LaGuardia – To get from LaGuardia to your hotel, for $2.75 you can take Bus Q70 Limited to Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Ave Subway Station, then another $2.75 to take the subway from there (about 2 hours). There’s also shuttle services offered starting at $19.
Accommodations:
The Moxy NYC Times Square – Prime location to plenty of shopping, food, attractions. It’s also a decent price, starting around $130 per room.
Restaurant: The Moxy – Great breakfast and free coupons!
Tips for Getting Around:
Take the subway or local bus for $2.75. For traveling to NYC, we recommend: 7-Day Unlimited Pass for $32.00. Good for unlimited subway and local bus rides until midnight, 7 days from day of first use. It can also be refilled if you want to extend your stay.
Money saving tip:
Take in the view with a drink rather than paying for a pricey ticket up to the viewing platforms. Since a lot of famous buildings also have bars, it’ll be cheaper to buy a drink at one than pay for a ticket.
Catie
Best time to book flights for a trip to NYC?
Flights booked in January and February are estimated to be the cheapest in 2019 (14% off the average ticket price for the year). Avoid booking in June, where prices seem to be the highest compared to the other months. It’s also best to book your flight one month in advance.
Accommodations:
The Lotte New York Palace – Located in Midtown Manhattan, also features suites, a spa and a beautiful location, complete with a courtyard.
Restaurant: Old Tbilisi – Georgian Restaurant in Greenwich Village
Tips for Getting to and from the Airports:
The AirTrain – Only $8 for JFK to Manhattan, or $13 for Newark into Penn station. Remember that taking cabs from the airports into New York do involve pricey tolls!
Tips for Traveling to NYC?
Don’t stay in Times Square or Rockefeller Center if you can help it. Go see them and take photos, but don’t stay there.
Explore other parts of New York City – Check out Lower Manhattan and take a stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge or head to the Bronx or Queens to see a baseball game. Shop and do lunch in Soho!
“What’s” with the “Trip Sisters”
What’s in Your Suitcase?
AirPods – Apple Wireless Headphones
$159 – www.Apple.com
AirPods simply connect with your iPhone and Apple Watch, offer up to 5 hours of listening time with one charge, and even detect when AirPods are in your ear, so they only play when you are ready to listen. Great for traveling or on long plane rides!
What’s on your phone?
NYC Ferry Service App by Hornblower
Free on Android and iPhone – Allows you to buy tickets, view ticketing information, ferry schedules, and explore route options in NYC.
Time Out – New York
Free on Android or iPhone – Trip planner app that you can use for any major city you’re visiting to help you find places to visit in customised locations, and plan your trip around the best events and activities.
What’s the tip?
Saving money in NYC
• Check the NYC attractions to see if it is required to print tickets if you pre-book online.
• Check the websites of museums you plan to visit and see whether they offer any free or reduced-price admission days.
• Join free walking tours of New York led by locals. The two most well known are Big Apple Greeters and Free Tours by Foot. Be sure to book your spot in advance.
• Skip the touristy (and pricey) harbor cruises and take the Staten Island Ferry instead for fantastic views of New York Harbor. The free ferry runs between Whitehall and Staten Island.
• The Downtown Boathouse offers free 20-minute kayaking tours on the Hudson on the weekends (May – Oct)
