One of the classic vacations families around the world consider planning is a trip out to New York City. For travelers who both live in and outside of the United States, the Big Apple often represents the pinnacle city vacation. The pure size of New York City means that there are countless activities for a person to take part in, with multiple trips to this location often being required to make the most of the city. Therefore, learning how to plan the best New York City trip, including how to budget and the best activities to consider, can help any potential traveler get their trip booked.
Fast Facts About Tourism in the Big Apple
New York City is one of the most traveled to destinations for tourists, receiving over 60 million visitors on an annual basis. Part of the reason for this large number of visitors is due to just how big the city itself is, with a size of around 300 square miles. This equates to a population of around eight million people compressed into the city itself, making it also one of the densest populations in the world.
In recent years, over $52 billion has been spent on an annual basis in the New York economy stemming from tourism. Clearly, tourism is booming in the Big Apple, which goes to show why so many people choose to take the time to visit this location.
How Expensive is a New York City Trip?
One of the first considerations a person must think about when planning a vacation is the associated cost. As of 2022, New York City and Singapore were tied as the most expensive cities in the world, a fact that has been directly driven by an 8% increase in global prices. This value equates to an average cost of around $1,900 for a single person on a week-long vacation. This means that a family of four could spend well over $6,000-$7,000 on a New York City vacation.
Budgeting for an NYC Vacation: Tips to Remember
Given the heavy cost associated with an NYC vacation, all travelers should take steps to budget for their vacation as soon as possible. The following tips are some of the most important to keep in mind as you start to build out this budget:
Have a dedicated travel savings account
One of the best tips for budgeting for a vacation is to set up a dedicated savings account with your bank that has the sole purpose of holding money for travel. Then, on a monthly basis, you can deposit small amounts of money into this account after you have transferred money to your primary savings or investments. This will allow you to build an excellent travel nest egg over the years that can be put towards expensive vacations.
Book activities in the off-season
A simple way to save money when planning a vacation is to book all of your activity’s months prior to your actual vacation when it is during the off-season. Naturally, increased demand for activities will result in an increase in their prices. However, by booking your activities in advance and during a less popular time, prices will be lower.
Consider alternative accommodation options
Finally, many families often consider staying in hotels when they start to look at accommodation options in their vacation destination. While these are excellent and safe, choosing to stay in a vacation rental could help a family save money in the long run by allowing them to cook their own food all for a lower price.
4 Famous New York City Activities to Consider
With a budget built out and money already saved, the next step in planning a New York City vacation is to plan out the activities you will take part in. Each of the following four activities can provide you with exciting memories for years to come:
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Culinary tours of iconic locations
One of the best ways to experience new foods in a city you are traveling to is to take a culinary tour of your destination that allows you to see multiple food venues in one fell swoop. Regardless of whether you are a foodie or just looking for tasty meals, a culinary tour is a unique way to experience the food scene of a new area.
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Ferry boat tours to the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island
The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are two major America monuments to freedom and independence. Millions have stared in awe at these landmarks in the past, which is why taking a ferry ride out to see them for yourself can be an excellent choice.
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Soaking in the views from the Empire State Building
Standing at over 1,400 feet tall and serving as the 6th tallest building in the United States, the Empire State Building is an unforgettable building in New York City. Consider heading up to the viewing stations in this building to take in the sights of New York from above it all.
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Paying respects at the 9/11 Memorial Museum
September 11th, 2001 was a dark day in American history with nearly 3,000 people losing their lives due to the terrorist attacks at the Twin Towers. In recent years, a gorgeous monument to those brave and lost souls was built to honor them all. On top of this, a unique museum was opened that can serve as an excellent history lesson for anybody looking to reflect.
The Bottom Line
For those who have never taken a classic city vacation before, a New York City trip will certainly be tempting. However, it’s important to keep in mind that this is a massive city with countless activities to take part in, which is why properly planning your vacation is so important. Start by setting a budget for your journey so that you can gain an understanding over what you can afford, then book activities once you have this value determined.
