New York on a budget: Methods I used on a $252 2-night journey

We landed in Atlanta on the afternoon of Feb. 1 and have been set to depart New York on the night of Feb. 3. We might have hung out in both metropolis between these journeys, however I made a decision it will be a great time to go to New York.

In September 2022, we booked an $88.98 Southwest flight from Atlanta to New York for the night of Feb. 1. The worth dropped a number of instances, lastly hitting a low of $44.98. Since I earned a promotional Southwest Companion Go final fall after simply two flights, my husband might be a part of me on my flight for simply $5.60 in taxes and charges.

I initially booked a two-night keep for $270.93. However in November 2022, I modified my keep to the Fairfield Inn & Suites New York Manhattan/Instances Sq. after discovering I might e-book it for $252.58 throughout certainly one of my periodic checks for decrease resort costs.

I clicked by means of the AAdvantage purchasing portal earlier than reserving to earn 2 miles per greenback. And I discovered a Chase Supply for 10% again at Marriott inns on my Ink Enterprise Most popular Credit score Card shortly earlier than my keep. This supply let me save $25.26, bringing the price of my two-night keep to $227.32.

As soon as at LaGuardia Airport, we took the free Q70 bus and a $2.75 subway to the resort. Whereas within the metropolis, we bought round by strolling and utilizing the subway (on the similar $2.75 per journey). Then, when it was time to depart, we took the subway and AirTrain to John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport for $10.75 every.

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Here is a abstract of our flight, resort and transit prices and the rewards we earned:

• Two-night resort keep: $227.32 price however we earned 505 Chase Final Rewards factors (utilizing my Chase Sapphire Most popular Card), 4,245 Marriott factors (as a Titanium Elite member) and 428 American Airways miles (from the AAdvantage purchasing portal) for a internet price of $174 primarily based on TPG’s valuations.
• One-way flight for 2 from Atlanta to New York: $50.58 price ($5 on the Ink Enterprise Most popular Credit score Card plus $45.58 of Southwest journey funds) however we earned 15 Final Rewards factors and 168 Southwest factors for a internet price of $48.
• Transit for 2: $32.50 price for every of us to take three journeys and one AirTrain journey, however we earned 97 Final Rewards factors by reloading our MetroCards with the Ink Enterprise Most popular for a internet price of $30.

In complete, we paid $310.40 for our flights, resort and transit. However we earned 4,245 Marriott factors, 617 Final Rewards factors, 428 American Airways miles and 168 Southwest factors on these purchases, lowering our internet price to $252.

In fact, we additionally wanted to pay for meals. However we diminished our meal prices by staying at a resort that gives breakfast for all friends.

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Cash-saving ideas

Within the earlier part, I discussed some money-saving methods I used throughout my latest journey to New York Metropolis. However here is a better take a look at these methods and different ideas you may wish to leverage on an upcoming journey.

Ebook early and verify typically

Top-of-the-line methods to economize on flights and inns is to make totally refundable reservations as quickly as you determine you wish to go on a visit.

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Stack your earnings

If you happen to e-book a paid evening, flight or exercise, you’ll be able to earn rewards in a number of methods. For instance, I earned rewards 3 ways on my Marriott keep:

And if I would wished to e-book actions in New York, I might have booked by means of Viator. In any case, I can stack SimplyMiles, AAdvantage purchasing portal, Citi Service provider Affords and bank card earnings when reserving actions by means of Viator.

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Make the most of loyalty packages with award charts or different perks

When paid resort charges are excessive, you’ll be able to typically come out forward by using packages comparable to World of Hyatt, Wyndham Rewards and Selection Privileges. All three packages have printed award charts or charges, so you will not see the award charges enhance when costs are excessive.

Based mostly on the World of Hyatt award chart, you’ll be able to e-book the Class 4 Hyatt Place Lengthy Island Metropolis / New York Metropolis for between 12,000 and 18,000 factors per evening. Or, for those who do not thoughts taking a New Jersey transit bus into town, the Class 2 Hyatt Place Secaucus/Meadowlands could be price contemplating for six,500 to 9,500 factors per evening. Keep in mind you could switch Chase Final Rewards and Bilt Rewards factors to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio.

Selection Privileges has properties in Manhattan that presently value as little as 16,000 factors per evening. Even if you wish to keep on the Cambria Resort New York – Chelsea, you will redeem not more than 30,000 factors per evening.

Moreover, perks just like the Southwest Companion Go and a fourth or fifth evening free when redeeming factors with Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards or Marriott Bonvoy may help you save factors or cash.

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Stroll or use public transportation

An Uber from New York Metropolis airports to some elements of town can price over $100, particularly throughout peak instances. Though I often verify Uber charges, I typically discover myself taking public transport from the airport.

Not one of the airports are on subway strains, although. So you will have to take care of taking a bus to the subway for those who land at LaGuardia Airport. And you will have to take the AirTrain from John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport and Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport earlier than switching to a prepare or subway. Even so, the price financial savings of public transit could make the inconvenience worthwhile.

I typically forgo the subway and stroll inside Manhattan if my vacation spot is inside a 40-minute stroll or so and the climate is sweet. With the subway costing simply $2.75 per journey, utilizing it is usually a budget-friendly choice.

That stated, you may discover modestly priced taxis and ride-hailing companies — particularly for those who’re touring outdoors the U.S. For instance, my husband and I not too long ago paid about $5 for a number of 30-minute Seize rides in Malaysia. So, do not mechanically assume {that a} taxi or ride-hailing service will exceed your finances.

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Leverage restaurant loyalty packages

It may be enjoyable to splurge on food and drinks whereas touring. For instance, I am going to Ichiran virtually each time I am in New York Metropolis as a result of I fell in love with the model’s ramen whereas in Japan in 2017.

Fortunately, Ichiran has a loyalty program for its U.S. areas. And my husband and I’ve realized to maximise this system to every get a free half kaedama (noodle refill) each time we go to by paying for our meals individually and sustaining our personal loyalty accounts.

I do not suggest consuming at chain eating places for many meals whereas touring. If you happen to’re in search of one thing fast, you may be capable to use certainly one of your favourite restaurant loyalty packages to avoid wasting cash. You will get higher worth from packages with mounted rewards (comparable to 60 factors for a free medium two-topping pizza) for those who redeem in a metropolis with larger costs than at dwelling.

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Eat like a neighborhood

You too can lower your expenses by consuming because the residents of a vacation spot do. For instance, in Majuro, Marshall Islands, we tried native eating places for many meals and loved contemporary tuna for a few fourth of what we paid for one meal at our resort.

And in New York Metropolis, it can save you cash by consuming at bodegas, ordering easy meals from a supply app — particularly in case you have meals supply credit — or grabbing a fast slice of pizza or kebab from a stand.

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Maximize the perks you may have

If you happen to’re staying at a resort that provides complimentary breakfast for all friends, it can save you some cash by getting a espresso and a few meals earlier than leaving the resort for the day.

When you’ve got elite standing, it’s possible you’ll get some additional perks. For instance, we solely thought-about Hyatt and Marriott properties for this keep since my elite standing with each packages gives assured 4 p.m. late checkout (which was very helpful earlier than our night flight).

Likewise, it’s possible you’ll get advantages by means of your bank cards. For instance, you can go to the Capital One Cafe at 59th Road and Lexington Avenue in New York Metropolis to get pleasure from free Wi-Fi, energy retailers and 50% off handcrafted drinks whenever you pay with a Capital One card. And eligible American Specific cardholders might go to the Centurion Lounge earlier than departing from LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B or John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport’s Terminal 4.

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Go to throughout less-expensive seasons

Lastly, resort charges in lots of common locations fluctuate drastically by season.

For instance, the Fairfield Inn & Suites New York Manhattan/Instances Sq. that I booked for $126 per evening jumps as excessive as $677 per evening within the fall. And the Hilton Niseko Village that I loved throughout a Japan ski journey this winter affords charges between $146 and $829 all through ski season.

So, in case you have flexibility when visiting a vacation spot, it is price contemplating whether or not you’ll be able to nonetheless see and do what you wish to do throughout a less-expensive season.

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