Book Cheap Hotels in New York

Getting to New York from Newark is refreshingly straightforward: the Newark Airport Express train reaches Manhattan’s Port Authority in under 40 minutes. This convenience comes at some cost, though, as the combined New Jersey and New York tickets cost $15-$20.

Despite the elevated public transportation cost, the Airport Express is consistently preferable to a Newark taxi, which costs $50-$60
and still demands at least 40-60 minutes to reach New York. With the New Jersey-New York tunnels often representing the city’s most notorious traffic conditions, taxi rides over 75 minutes are a common occurrence.

Where to Stay in New York City

Best Value Hotels

Best Times Square Hotels

New York’s taxi, subway, and bus systems are the best way to see the city that never sleeps, but trying to understand when one method is preferable to another can cause sleepless nights itself! Try these New Yorker-approved tips to make touring New York as cost-effective and painless as possible.

When traveling longer north-south distances with limited east-west movement, taking the subway will always be your best option. With few exceptions, New York’s subway system is designed to expedite north-south travel at various intervals across Manhattan.

However, when you’re going long distances crosstown without moving north-south much, MTA buses are both your fastest and cheapest options. Complementing the subway system perfectly, crosstown buses track the entire island width at major east-west thoroughfares throughout Manhattan. 

Taxis are most cost-effective when routes demand equal parts north-south and east-west movement. With very few exceptions, the only way to track this route with public transportation is taking both the subway and a bus, which is a time-draining exercise. Taking taxis in situations like these can help maximize your time touring New York without breaking the bank!

Can't Miss in New York City

Central Park is a ubiquitous presence on New York sightseeing lists (and deservedly so), but many overlook just how vast New York’s nature preserve really is—it represents over 5% of Manhattan’s total area! Rather than get lost searching for the hot spots, head straight to Bethesda Terrace, which bridges the Central Park Mall and Lake. Overlooking the fountain lies the famed Bethesda Terrace Arcade—its Minton tile ceiling and gilded archways evoke an ornate European cathedral rather than an American park.

The High Line