NY- Times Square

[rramsr]

Hi, we are going to Times Square on a Saturday morning and returning on Sunday.

Anyone have any tips on how to do this on a budget?

Thanks

 

[wilkeliza]

Where are you staying and what is your goal by going to Times Square?

 

[rramsr]

Right now I have the Lexington Hotel booked. I know we want to see the 9/11 memorial and museum and Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island. I am planning on getting tickets to the museum ahead of time

 

[wilkeliza]

Right now I have the Lexington Hotel booked. I know we want to see the 9/11 memorial and museum and Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island. I am planning on getting tickets to the museum ahead of time

That is not Times Square at all. So you are doing a NYC trip.

I will say the hotel you picked is not the most convenient. It is all the way on the east side and what you want to do is downtown and on the west side. For those 2 things you definitely have to book ahead of time. It may be a time crunch to do both in 1 day but doable since the dock for Statue of Liberty/ Ellis Island boats is near the 9/11 memorial and museum. I would look into city pass and see if that ends up making them cheaper as a pair.

Only buy from authorized dealers. Those locations have a ton of scam ticket sellers and stuff so anything that seems too good of a price (or too crazy of a price) probably is.

 

[DisneyMandC]

If you're doing enough "tourist" attractions, check out the Explorer City Pass. I purchased mine for a discount through Costco. It gives you admission to four attractions, and I'm pretty sure it includes at least the 9/11 memorial and perhaps Statue of Liberty too. It also includes the Empire State Building, the Guggenheim, and the Met.

 

[MissMet]

Don't eat anywhere near Times Square and don't eat at chains. Use yelp to go to local places instead. NYC has incredible food options & you can find great deals on food too. Don't travel & invest that time & money to eat a place you have at home.

 

[rramsr]

Thank you, when I am away on vacation I like to eat at places I can't get at home

 

[mjkacmom]

I don't know where you are coming from, but if that's all you want to do (and it sounds like a full day) how about staying at a waterfront Jersey City hotel like the Westin (gorgeous views) for under $200 a night, ubering 5 miles to liberty state park, taking the SOL ferry from there, ending up at battery park, head on over to the 9-11 museum, and then taking a 10 minute PATH train back to the hotel.

 

[Eureka]

If you're doing enough "tourist" attractions, check out the Explorer City Pass. I purchased mine for a discount through Costco. It gives you admission to four attractions, and I'm pretty sure it includes at least the 9/11 memorial and perhaps Statue of Liberty too. It also includes the Empire State Building, the Guggenheim, and the Met.

Yes, we did the City Pass with six attractions and both of those were on it. They also had a New York pass with three attractions. Saved a ton.

 

[mhf]

Times Square is a zoo of people...think Disney on Christmas Day! Frankly, not a lot to see there. Are you doing One World Observatory next to the 9/11 museum? If so, book online too. There are separate lines for people with already booked tickets. (Think FastPass!)

Also check the subway schedules as there is some construction/repair work going on and some lines are closed on weekends.

 

[valee]

Be sure to check the admission policies for NYC museums before you go(And try https://www.nycgo.com/articles/free-nyc-museums)
In addition to free admission at certain times, note which museums have "suggested donations" prices. For example, the Museum of Natural History shows $22 for a ticket, but you can go to the ticket booth and pay what you'd like, such as $5 apiece.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Hi, we are going to Times Square on a Saturday morning and returning on Sunday.

Anyone have any tips on how to do this on a budget?

Thanks

DS works in Times Square (bartender at one of the restaurants there), so let me ask him. However, I have a feeling from what he's said in the past, that when I say "Budget" in relation to Times Square, he might laugh. However, if you're interested in museums, Broadway Shows, the Hi-line, etc. he may have some ideas.

 

[hsmamato2]

I personally like the staten island ferry r/t to see the statue of liberty for free.... it's a fun ride! But it doesn't touch the island,just goes right by it....the price is right!

 

[MissMet]

I personally like the staten island ferry r/t to see the statue of liberty for free.... it's a fun ride! But it doesn't touch the island,just goes right by it....the price is right!

That's how we've always taken friends who are visiting to see it as well. So much better, especially if you're short on time & don't want to commit a lot of time to one thing.

 

[Arden01]

I'm a New Yorker and work in the Times Square area. If you want to go to Times Square, that's fine. Just be aware that it's crazy busy on the weekends and crowded like Disney on its worst day. I tend to walk around it if I'm there on a weekend for work. Go for the photo op right in the middle of B'way/7th Ave in front of the building where they drop the ball on NYE's eve. It's a great photo keepsake. Also walk through the theatre district/Shubert Alley - the side streets from Broadway to 8th Avenue - to see all the Broadway theatres. At night, it's spectactular and there's nothing like it in the world (except maybe London). Even after living here for over 30 years, it's still gives me a bit of a thrill. Don't eat in Times Square. Instead, head over to 9th or 10th Avenue, where you'll find lots of local restaurants, ethnic food, etc. If you want a true NY experience, eat at the Westway Diner on 9th between 43-44th. I also love Joe Allen's on restaurant row (46th St). It's a Broadway hangout and every poster on the wall of the restaurant is of a Broadway "flop." You might even catch a glimpse of a celeb eating dinner here. I saw NPH and Christine Nielsen leaving as I was entering a couple of summers ago. The advice pp gave you is also good. I don't know much about the passes since I've never used them, but even as a "seasoned" New Yorker I did almost get caught off guard by ticket scammers at the Statue of Liberty last summer with my out of town family. I hadn't gone in years and the scammers are pretty aggressive, even tried to block our way to the official ticket booths. Fortunately, I sniffed it out quickly and walked past them. Good luck and have a great time!

 

[SGMCO]

When we went to NYC (we stayed in Long Island City -hotel cost 1/2 of manhatten, just over Queensborgh bridge Central to Manhatten, great location, could see the whole NYC skyline from top of our hotel). All we paid for was Subway pass (5 mins to Manhatten-2 stops) and checked out all of the Free things to do in Manhattan. Central Park , Time Square(super crazy tourist trap), Highline, NYC Library (beautiful), Grand Central Station (ate at there Food court-lots of choices), Wall Street, walked over the Brooklyn Bridge (could see Statue of Liberty from there). We even took the subway to Queens and checked out the Location of the 1964 World Fair where Walt got "It's a Small world" ride.

 

[stephtron312]

For example, the Museum of Natural History shows $22 for a ticket, but you can go to the ticket booth and pay what you'd like, such as $5 apiece.

Just want to add onto what @valee said-you can pay whatever price you want as long as you have cash. A lot of the museums will only take the suggested price if paying with debit/credit card.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Take a peek at the Times Square alliance website for hotel and attraction discounts. We've paid in the vicinity of $200 a night at both the Crowne Plaza and Hilton Times Square, and one of those occasions was for the Macy's Thanksgiving parade. All packages included breakfast. It's a simple subway ride from there to the WTC and Statue areas.

It is crazy busy on a weekend evening at Times Square. I like heading out in the morning for photos, etc.
Food is about 50% higher in cost than a similar chain in the suburbs. We've tried some local restaurants not directly in Times Square, but found those to be pricey also.

 

[tasha99]

Don't eat anywhere near Times Square and don't eat at chains. Use yelp to go to local places instead. NYC has incredible food options & you can find great deals on food too. Don't travel & invest that time & money to eat a place you have at home.

Yes! My kids came to visit me in NYC, and they went to several restaurants walking in off the street in Times Square--all awful. One exception is Gyu Kaku, which I like, but is a chain. I also like Burger and Lobster, also a chain, in NYC. Not sure I'd go to either as a tourist, though (if I had to pick a New York chain to visit as a tourist, it would be Shake Shack).

I have no Times Square advice, as that's an area we try to avoid, lol.

 

[MissMet]

Yes! My kids came to visit me in NYC, and they went to several restaurants walking in off the street in Times Square--all awful. One exception is Gyu Kaku, which I like, but is a chain. I also like Burger and Lobster, also a chain, in NYC. Not sure I'd go to either as a tourist, though (if I had to pick a New York chain to visit as a tourist, it would be Shake Shack).

I have no Times Square advice, as that's an area we try to avoid, lol.

Totally agree- down to Gyu Kaku (had it in Hawaii before it came to NY) & shake shack. Also, to continue on the burger trend, I love 5 Napkin Burger which is a NY original, but now found in many other cities. My husband & I often call grandma to babysit & we take a staycation in the village & build a food tour that goes through our entire weekend. All we do is eat & go on scavenger hunts using apps like Stray Boots. We've lived here all our life yet we still have so much to see, do, & enjoy. Just not in Times Square.