North America: Round-the-World Travel Destinations
Budget Scale: 1-5
1-least expensive; 5-most expensive
5 - There aren’t many cities in the world that are as expensive as New York. Even typical cost cutting measures like taking public transport and eating street food can send the budget soaring. Even though New York is expensive, it’s still one of the greatest cities in the world, and you should consider it for your RTW trip.
Indie Travel Scale: 1-5
1-not a good Indie Travel destination; 5-a great Indie Travel destination
2 - Because of the high costs and plethora of tourists, New York comes in at a 2 on the Indie Travel scale. Manhattan is the polar opposite of what indie travel is, but that doesn’t mean the indie traveler should leave New York off the trip list.
Indie Travel Tips
There are plenty of ways to get off the beaten path a bit in New York and have a truly indie travel experience. You don’t have to stay on the island of Manhattan when visiting New York. Famous sites like the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, and Central Park are all great and should be seen on any trip to New York, but if you are looking for a little more authenticity, check out the following places and experiences to have as indie of a New York experience as you can.
- Head to Astoria in Queens and just wander the multitude of ethnic neighborhoods. Pop in and out of different markets, eat at unique, authentic restaurants, and just take in all the culture.
- While the Met and MOMA are some of the best museums in the world, the high prices and large crowds can turn some away. Consider some lesser known museums like The City Reliquary, The Jewish Museum, or The Rubin.
- We all know the most famous park in New York is Central Park, and spending a day wandering around is fun for anyone looking to get away from the concrete jungle of New York. A visit to Central Park is quite nice, but did you know that there are more than 29,000 acres of green space in New York City? Check out Lighthouse Park on Roosevelt Island, Highbridge Park in Harlem, or the Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn for something a little different.
- Sure, everyone would love to head to Yankee Stadium for a game, but tickets are not cheap. Try saving a few bucks by heading to a local bar instead to catch the game. Stan’s and the Yankee Tavern are both near Yankee Stadium and are the places to go if you’re looking to be surrounded by Yankees fans watching the game.
- Street carts are all the rage these days, and New York is leading the charge in the US. Check out this map of street carts in the New York City area. For great, unique food at a much cheaper price than the restaurants, this a great way to still eat well and not kill your budget doing it.
Why you should add New York City to your RTW travel list
- You’re in the Big Apple! Everything is available all the time
- Flights go nearly everywhere in the world, so it’s easy and cheap to get in and out of
- It’s easy to get around using public transportation
- Take a trip through the touristy areas of Manhattan – the Empire State building, Central Park and Times Square
- Let’s get obvious: the Statue of Liberty is a must
- Indulge yourself in the finest restaurants in the world
- Or if you’re on a budget, search out the most popular street carts for cheap, top notch food
- Wake up in the city that doesn’t sleep
- Take in ball game at Yankee Stadium and a show on Broadway
- Boroughs and districts: diverse Astoria, neighborly Little Italy, exotic Chinatown, hip Brooklyn
Why you should not add New York City to your RTW travel list
- It’s one of the most expensive cities in the world
- There’s a whole lot of tourists all the time, which means long lines for seemingly everything
- It’s really expensive
- It can be pretty intense, dirty, and smelly, especially if you’re not used to big metropolitan cities
- The weather can be really hot in the summer and really cold in the winter
- Did I mention that prices are high in New York city?
Are you heading to New York City? What do you need to do?
