How to save money during a vacation in a metropolis: 5 tips

Vacations in America have never seemed as expensive as in 2024, despite the fact that experts predicted a decrease in airfares.

The Times has offered expert recommendations to help make your vacation in the metropolis more affordable.

Find the cheapest way to get into the city from the airport

Often faster and always much cheaper to use public transportation from JFK is to take the AirTrain to Jamaica Station ($7), then either the E train (45 minutes; $2) or the Long Island Rail Road (19 minutes; $9). In Los Angeles, the FlyAway bus costs $7.70 and drops you off at Union Station, where you can take the Metro to Hollywood. In Chicago, the L train into the city costs $4, and the off-peak Washington Metro ride costs $1.60 to downtown.

Use public transportation

In New York City, the subway is the cheapest way to get around the five boroughs; an Uber from Wall Street to Central Park costs $40. Instead, it costs only $2 on the C line, and you can connect with a contactless credit or debit card.

In Los Angeles, the subway is a smart alternative to traffic jams.

Find free admission to museums

Art and culture in the US are mostly privately funded, so museums are expensive, with admission to the largest costing between $20 and $25, but there are opportunities to walk in for free.

Take advantage of reduced prices for meals and tickets

In New York City, Restaurant Week is held once in the winter (it was from January 16 to February 4 this year) and again at the end of July, with lunches for two and three-course dinners at more than 600 restaurants at a price of $25, $35, and $50. Broadway Week, which runs concurrently with Winter Restaurant Week, offers two-for-one tickets to 23 of the city's most popular shows, including The Book of Mormon, Hamilton, and Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd.

Save money by eating at food trucks

Most American hotels are room-only, with breakfast costing between $15 and $30; lunch and dinner in mid-range restaurants cost between $20 and $40 respectively, so that's a minimum of $75 a day for food.

In New York City, you can eat at five street food stands offering everything from bagels with cream cheese to Lebanese labneh.

Earlier, TravelWise wrote about 5 little-known travel life hacks that will make your trip easier.