How to Go to NYC for Thanksgiving on a Shoestring Budget

I've been to New York City twice, both times being when I was a poor college student working as a waitress. It can be done, and I'll tell you how!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Some money
• Access to the internet
• One or two days off of work
• The ability to pack light
• A backpack

1. If you want to experience Thanksgiving in New York, PLAN AHEAD. Especially if you will be going on a low budget. Start planning in September, or early October at the very latest. Rooms fill up VERY quickly for Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve in New York.

2. The first step is to secure travel. Honestly, the easiest way to make a quick trip like this, is via air. I know that sounds odd with all the talk of how expensive tickets are today. But the cost will even out. If you took a bus, you'd be travelling much longer, need to take more time off of work, and would have to pay for food during your trip. If you drive your own car, forget about it! If you don't know someone who loves outside the city, you'll NEVER find a place to park. Trains can take quite sometime too. Finding a flight is quicker in the long run, and ultimately saves you money.

3. There are a number of ways to do things next...I'll tell you how I did it, then offer you other options along the way. The first thing I did was make sure I would have a place to stay upon arriving in New York. I wanted to stay overnight, but didn't have the money for a hotel. I couldn't even afford the discount prices offered on Hotwire.com (more on that later), so I started calling hostels. Hostels are like BARE BONES hotels, where you are usually sharing one large room with many people. And I know you've seen the horror movies, but most of them are VERY safe. I've stayed in Hostels in Romania, Bulgaria, and good old NYC and never had a problem.

4. I would recommend the Central Park Hostel. It's quite a walk from the parade route, but I booked a flight on Thanksgiving morning, took a bus from the airport right to downtown (Which was cheap and easy to find.), walked to the parade, enjoyed it, spent the rest of the day sightseeing, and then walked to my hostel for the evening. It was a great way to see New York! Then I got up the next day, and saw more sights walking back to the bus stop to catch the bus back to the airport.

5. Don't take taxis while you're there. They are very expensive and will drain your funds quickly. Instead, walk and ride the subway. The subway experience is more fun anyway!

6. Once you have a hostel spot reserved definitively, find airfare. JetBlue.com and similar sights offer lower airfare. They're almost like the Sam's Club of flying the friendly skies. OR, you could try a service like Hotwire.com. These sites allow you to book airfare or all-inclusive plans, inclsuing hotel and on-site transportation. All of these sites offer good deals. If you're really scraping, book a flight on a discount site and reserve your hostel independantly. If you got a little more to spare, do an all-inclusive package on Hotwire.com. But skip renting a car in New York. It's entirely unneccesary.

7. The day of Thanksgiving, get to the airport very early. You may want to go to bed at a ridiculously early hour the day before Turkey Day. I'm talking, 5 in the afternoon. Thanksgiving will be a fun, but LONG day. And if you don't want to pay for taxis during the day, you will not want to go to your hostel until you are done sight-seeing for the day.

8. Find a spot to watch the parade that isn't a televised location. These places will have less dense crowds. The parade route is so long, that it's fairly easy to find a great place to watch the parade!

9. PACK LIGHT! The easiest way to do New York on no budget, without a hotel, is to have everything you could need with you in a small backpack or bag that is comfortable to wear. Bring only one change of clothes, if you have to at all. Remember, you'll likely only be gone for twenty four hours. Bring your wallet, camera, etc. But pack as light as you possibly can, because chances are you'll be carrying most everything with you all day until you get to the hostel. We did it and it was a piece of cake, and we didn't have to worry about whether or not our stuff was safe at the hostel!

10. Wear comfortable shoes! New York is all about walking, and your trip will be quick and fast. DO NOT sacrifice comfort for the sake of fashion on this trip.

11. Same thing goes for clothes, dress according to what the weather will be. But be prepared also, because it will be late November, it's always safe to bring a hat and light gloves.

12. In addition to packing light, PLAN light. New York is all about the sites and just taking the city in. Especially if you have no money, your fun will come from touring the city on foot. So don't stress out. Go, enjoy the parade, and then do whatever you want for the rest of the day! Sit in Central Park. People watch. Get a cup of coffee and just sit in Times Square. It's all about taking it in! And I find that travelling on a lighter budget to NYC gives you a much better experience than you would have if you were rushing from this show to that dinner, etc. Go, and be a spectator!

Tips & Warnings

• When staying in a hostel, sleep with your wallet and any important items like that in your pillowcase. It may sound paranoid, but you will sleep better. Also, consider renting a locker at a hostel to make sure your belongings are safe. Again, I've never had a problem, but I've always been cautious...
• Make a list of places that you have always wanted to see, locations from your favorite New York movies, Central Park, whatever it is...take the time to see the things you've always wanted to!
• Don't make a trip like this alone. I went with a friend, and it was both more fun and more safe this way!

[lordkhomar]

on 1/16/2009 Great info, 5*

[sixstring2slim]

on 1/13/2009 How Cool is this article! Absolutely the most fun I ever had on the East Coast! I took my Guitar to Washington Park also... so I could have people throw change in the case for Tips! Bleeker Street and CBGB muscic.. I wore ragged jeans and a t-shirt (not a new one) Carried nothing with me (like you said, travel light) Very, Very Good information on the Hostels, just don't watch the Movie "Hostel" before you go..:( ~ Carson