Cheap Flights To New York

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Cheap Flights To New York City

Overview
When to Go
Airport Information
Weather
Things to Do
Local Attractions
Must See Sights
Insider Tips
Getting Around

Overview
From the Statue of Liberty to the Empire State Building, the Metropolitan Museum of Art to Central Park, New York City is perhaps the most well-known metropolitan landscape in the world. In 2009, a whopping 45.6 million tourists visited New York City - and the island of Manhattan only encompasses about 22.96-square-miles. For vacationers, it offers an abundance of activities, sights, and landmarks, not to mention more than 18,000 restaurants serving authentic cuisine from every corner of the planet and serving as a capital for art, culture and entertainment.

People travel year-round to New York City to experience Broadway and off-Broadway shows, opera, ballet, sporting events, concerts, festivals – you name it, the Big Apple has got it. NYC is also one of the best shopping destinations in the world, and is home to some of the world's trendiest nightclubs, bars and lounges.

While cheap flights to New York City are available from just about anywhere, once you arrive, plan on spending top-dollar for hotel accommodations. Even the most basic three-star hotel can cost $300 to $500 per night. It's easy to spend $500 to $1000 per night for a hotel room in New York's most tourist-friendly areas. Research before you book, as less expensive hotels may be located far away from the city or in undesirable neighborhoods.

While New York City is very much a walking city, a 45-minute to two-hour cruise around Manhattan aboard The Circle Line offers a spectacular view of New York City's famous skyline from the water. Numerous bus tours will take you through the city, allowing you to stop and explore its most popular attractions.

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When to Go
New York City remains an amazing vacation destination throughout the year, as does New York tourism. Spring and autumn usually have fewer crowds, but the "city that never sleeps" is always busy. During the summer months, the city tends to be extremely crowded with tourists, especially during the Fourth of July weekend. Thanksgiving week through New Year's Eve also tends to be an extremely busy time in Manhattan, despite the much cooler weather. Travelers choose New York because of its vast selection of special events and activities, such as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Christmas tree and ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center, the world famous Radio City Christmas Spectacular Starring the Rockettes show, and the New Year's Eve festivities held in Times Square.

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Airport Information

LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
Distance to Downtown Manhattan: 9 Miles
This is the primary airport for domestic flights into and out of New York City. LaGuardia Airport is serviced by virtually all of the major domestic airlines like United, Delta and American, and Frontier Airlines, as well as the discount airlines, like JetBlue, Southwest, AirTran and Virgin America.

John F, Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Distance to Downtown Manhattan: 15 miles
JFK Airport is the largest international airport in the region and it handles a significant number of domestic flights on a daily basis. Major domestic and international airlines fly in and out of JFK, including but not limited to, Aero Mexico, Air China, Air India, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Emirates, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, and Virgin America. If you are flying into JFK airport, you can also take the AirTrain, which provides connections to the MTA New York City Transit subways and buses.

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Distance to Downtown Manhattan: 16 miles
Although this airport is located in Newark, New Jersey, it is one of the three major airports that service the New York City area. Major airlines such as Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental, Delta, Jet Blue, Lufthansa, United, US Airways and Virgin Atlantic all fly out of Newark. Fliers can take the AirTrain to get to and from Manhattan

Travelers can find low cost airfares to and from any of the three major New York airports. Cheap flights to New York City from Los Angeles start at $297, Chicago at $217, and Miami at $194.

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Weather
New York weather in the winter definitely requires some bundling up. During the winter months, the temperature in Manhattan will range from the mid-20s to the low 50s. Rain, sleet and snow are common during the winter, so dress very warmly with rain gear and water-resistant shoes or boots. Snow in New York City melts quickly and turns into slush, which isn't pleasant to walk through without proper foot attire.

The climate warms up during April, May and June, when temperatures averaging in the mid-40s to low 80s. During the summer months, New York City tends to be warm with temperatures climbing into the 80s and 90s. August can be hot and humid. The temperature remains in the 50s and 60s, with occasional rain showers during autumn. It cools in the spring and fall, but you can still comfortably walk outside and explore New York on foot.

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Things to Do

Stay
As mentioned earlier, New York hotels can cost a pretty penny. There are plenty of mid-priced chain hotels such as the Hilton, Marriott, Sheraton, Holiday Inn, W Hotels and Hyatt. Many of these are located in mid-town Manhattan, within a short walking distance of Times Square and in the center of the city, making it easier to get to the best attractions.

While prices will be significantly higher than in most other U.S. cities, the size of basic hotel rooms may be small. Even traditionally low-cost hotel chains, like Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Super 8, often charge higher for a very basic, no-frills room. However, if you're visiting Manhattan for the first time, it's worth it to splurge on one of New York's fabulous historic, upscale or boutique hotels, all which offer timeless elegance.

Sure, it's a hefty premium, but New York is a city known for its hotels: The Plaza, The Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, the Waldorf Astoria, Park Central, London NYC, Mandarin Oriental, The Peninsula, Warwick, and a handful of other luxury hotels located along Manhattan's upper East Side all offer extreme comfort and superior amenities. The Roosevelt in mid-town offers 1,015 guest rooms and 52 suites, with luxury amenities and several bars to sip a – what else? – Manhattan. The fashionable Paramount hotel is just a stone's throw away from Times Square.

It is possible to find deeply discounted hotel rooms online during off-peak travel seasons. For those who need the best deals on hotel rooms in New York no matter when they travel, it's a good idea to check in with the small to mid-size boutique hotels located throughout Manhattan. The Belvedere, in the heart of the Broadway theater district, offers comfortable accommodations and spacious rooms decorated in earth tones. Go truly urban at the Hudson, with bold designs, affordable rooms and a hotel gym. Several very inexpensive, but clean and safe "pod" hotels, including the Jane NYC and POD Hotel, which offer rates under $200 per night. Modeled after cruise ship cabins, the basic, no-frills rooms are cozy and sleep one or two people.

Play
Choosing what to do during your Manhattan stay can be overwhelming – the abundance of New York attractions makes it difficult to choose! If you're a first-time visitor to the Big Apple, you'll definitely need to see the following:

Central Park - More than 25 million people visit the 150-acre Central Park each year. Located in the heart of Manhattan, Central Park features immaculate landscaping, lakes, and a handful of attractions, including an outdoor ice skating rink, zoo, sculpture garden, a carousel and numerous playgrounds, plus live concerts and other events. Rent a bike to ride around, row in a boat on the lake, or take a horse drawn carriage ride for a romantic ride.

Rockefeller Center - This complex is home to the NBC Television Network, a famous outdoor ice skating rink, shopping, and a variety of other indoor and outdoor attractions, including the Top of the Rock observation deck. The NBC Studio Tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at popular TV shows like Saturday Night Live.

Empire State Building - Travel to the top of the city's most famous and tallest building to see a breathtaking view of New York City's skyline and surrounding areas.

Statue of Liberty - A gift of friendship from the people of France, this famous lady is a symbol of democracy and freedom worldwide as it greeted new immigrants to New York. There are a variety of tour companies offer transportation to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, both of which are open to the public. Plan on spending at least a half-day at each of these popular attractions. Until late-2011, however, entrance into the Statue of Liberty is restricted due to refurbishments being made.

Metropolitan Museum of Art - One of the world's finest art museums, the Met houses over two million art works over five thousand years of history. Browse traveling exhibitions or permanent collections from ancient Egypt, Asia and Medieval Europe to artists such as Monet, Cezanne, Johanna Vermeer, Vincent Van Gogh, El Greco, Jacques-Louis David, Jasper Johns, Jackson Pollock, and Paul Klee.

Times Square - Often referred to as "the heart of New York City," Times Square is where you'll find shops, restaurants, Broadway theatres, comedy clubs, and a variety of attractions, not to mention hundreds of animated and colorful billboards.

United Nations - Guided walking tours of the United Nations, which last about 45 minutes, are offered on weekdays only. Tickets can only be purchased on the day of your visit, and often sell out early in the day.

Ground Zero - The tragedies of 9/11 will be in our hearts and on our minds forever. See where some of these events unfolded at the former site of the World Trade Center, and witness construction of the new Freedom Tower in progress. Plus, visit the WTC Tribute Visitor's Center.

Shows
Times Square is home to Broadway, where you'll find well over a dozen show offerings, from famous revivals and plays to the latest Broadway musical extravaganzas. Just a sampling of Broadway's hit shows include Wicked, The Lion King, Billy Elliot, Mamma Mia!, Jersey Boys, Mary Poppins, American Idiot, La Cage Aux Folles, Chicago, Memphis, and more.

Show tickets are available from the theatre box offices, or by calling Ticketmaster (212-239-6200). Budget between $75 and $200 for a full-priced Broadway show ticket. Same-day, half-price tickets for many Broadway and off-Broadway shows, however, can be purchased at the TKTS booth in Times Square.

Aside from Broadway and off-Broadway shows, New York City is famous for its other cultural entertainment experiences, such as the New York City Ballet (212-721-6500), symphony concerts at Lincoln Center (212-362-6000), The Metropolitan Opera (212-362-6000), and concerts at Carnegie Hall (212-247-7800).

You can also experience major concerts and events at Madison Square Garden (212-465-6741) and Radio City Music Hall (212-247-4777).

Professional Sports
If you're a sports fan, seeing one of the famous New York sports teams play on their home turf is always a memorable treat. The New York Yankees (718-293-6000) and Mets (718-507-8499) for Major League Baseball fans, the New York Jets (516-560-8200) and Giants (201-935-8111) for NFL Football fans, the New York Knicks (212-465-6471) for NBA fans, and the New York Rangers (212-465-6040) for NHL fans. Queens, New York (one of New York's boroughs) is home to the annual U.S. Open Tennis Tournament.

While tickets for home games sell out well in advance, you can often work with a licensed ticket broker to purchase same-day or last minute tickets to New York area sporting events. Expect to pay a premium.

Eat
New York City is home to more than 18,000 restaurants, from fast food establishments to the ultimate in fine dining experiences. The options for eating in New York are limitless. Countless celebrity chefs have flagship restaurants in Manhattan, where you can find authentically prepared cuisine from anywhere in the world, virtually anytime, day or night.

On the Upper East Side, the restaurant Daniel has a vibrant and elegant atmosphere only matched by its contemporary French cuisine. Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca, opened by Mario Batali in Greenwich Village, offers exquisite Italian fare that combines fresh seasonal produce, fine olive oils and traditional aceto balsamico. Just east of Union Square is Michelin Star-winning Casa Mono, featuring Catalan specialties prepared by chefs from the Iberian Peninsula. Keens Steakhouse, home to the largest collection of churchwarden pipes in the world, is equally famous for its mutton chop, prime rib and aged porterhouse steaks.

Even on a budget, you can eat fantastic food in New York. Cafeteria NYC offers affordable American classics like meat loaf and macaroni and cheese, 24 hours a day. Great NY Noodle Town in Chinatown is cheap and plentiful, serving up wontons, roast duck, and shrimp with walnuts. And what's a trip to Manhattan without eating New York pizza? Check out delicious New York style pizza at John's Pizzeria (there are three locations, one in Times Square), or for $4 a slice, try an artichoke-spinach slice at Artichoke Basille's Pizza & Brewery. If you don't mind eating with your hands, New York is also known for its street food – bite into a delicious hot dog practically anywhere in the city.

Shop
New York City offers travelers awesome shopping experiences, from the finest designer retailers to boutique shops and thrift store finds. Department stores like Bloomingdale's, Bergdorf Goodman and Barney's on Madison Avenue offer luxury goods, but for sheer size, you can't beat Macy's in Herald Square (a department store occupying 2.1 million square-feet of shopping space!).

Flagship stores for some of the world's most recognizable brands, including Henri Bendel, Louis Vuitton, Versace, Chanel, Prada and Dior, are located along Fifth Avenue, but plenty of designers like Stella McCartney and Christian Louboutin have set up shop in the Meatpacking district. Stop in FAO Schwarz to find the best toys on the market, or head to the Strand Book Store for cheap secondhand books. For fashionable boutiques, try Elizabeth Street in the Nolita neighborhood, 9th Street in the East Village, Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village, and Lafayette Street between SoHo and NoHo.

For the ultimate in high-fashion bargains, there's no better place to shop than Century 21 (located across the street from Ground Zero, the former World Trade Center). This massive department store sells designer fashions at deeply discounted prices. Mott Street in Chinatown offers a great selection of antique shops.

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Local Attractions

Circle Line Cruises - One of the best ways to see Manhattan's spectacular skyline is to experience a cruise aboard The Circle Line. The 45-minute cruise allows you to see the city, as well as The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island up-close. Circle Line Cruises also offers a two and three hour narrated cruise and a high-speed boat cruise.

Grey Line Bus Tours - These narrated double-decker bus tours take you throughout New York City and make numerous stops at popular sights and attractions. Passengers are free to hop on and off the bus at their leisure.

Guggenheim Museum - This museum, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is home to one of the finest collections of modern and contemporary art in the world, including Wassily Kandinsky, Piet Mondrian, Amedeo Modigliani, Marc Chagall, and Hilla Rebay.

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) - This museum features a permanent collection of modern and contemporary art, plus ever changing exhibits which feature pieces from some of the world's most renowned artists, including Henri Rousseau, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, Paul Gauguin, Henri Matisse, Frida Kahlo, Alberto Giacometti, Edward Hopper, Dorothea Lange, Georgia O'Keeffe, Mark Rothko and Max Ernst.

Museum of Natural History - A great family outing, you'll find more than 40 permanent exhibits, including a fantastic dinosaur exhibit, plus a variety of temporary exhibits that cater to guests of all ages. There's also an IMAX movie theatre within the museum complex.

South Street Seaport - History, shopping and dining combine at this indoor and outdoor waterfront complex. During the warmer months, you'll find talented street performers entertaining audiences outside. There are several maritime museums to visit, and actual ships you can tour.

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Must See Sights

Nightlife

New York is the city that never sleeps for a reason ? there?s always a new club, bar, or lounge just around the corner to explore, not to mention a hip music scene. Joe?s Pub, Bitter End and the Bowery Ballroom all host bands ranging from up-and-comers to indie darlings and chart toppers. The Comedy Cellar and Upright Citizens Brigade offer alternative, fast-paced comedy shows and standup sets.

Whet your whistle in the East Village at McSorley?s Old Ale House or the historic White House Tavern, while Old Town Bar in Gramercy Park remains one of the city?s oldest bars. Jimmy?s Corner in midtown provides a dive bar relief from expensive cocktails, as does the very reasonably priced Holiday Cocktail Lounge.

For fancier fare, check into the comforts of a hotel bar. Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle Hotel sings romance with dark corners and killer drinks. The Oak Room at the Algonquin is where Dorothy Parker and her witty cronies used to trade barbs at the Algonquin Round Table, or live the high life at Bull and Bear in the Waldorf Astoria, where the gentlemen?s pub is served by a waistcoated staff providing you with classic cocktails all evening.

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Insider Tips

• CityPass NYC and New York Pass allow tourists to pay a deeply discounted flat fee for admission to multiple tourist attractions and museums throughout New York City.

• For help navigating your way when riding New York's MTA subway system, visit www.mta.info. Here, you'll find trip planning tools, interactive maps, information about MetroCard fare cards, and everything you need to know before riding New York's subway or bus system.

• The official New York City tourism website offers complete trip planning information, plus advice on where to stay, where to eat, what to do, and how to get around Manhattan. The City of New York website is also an excellent resource for tourists.

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Getting Around
No matter when you visit, plan on doing plenty of walking if you truly want to experience all that Manhattan has to offer. Taxis, buses and the subway are all very viable modes of transportation for getting around. You won't need a rental car. Most tourists do as New Yorkers do, and take public transportation, such as the New York City subway and bus system, or rely heavily on taxis or hired town cars/limousines to get around. Besides walking, the New York Subway system is the least expensive mode of transportation.

If you do decide to brave driving in New York traffic, regardless of which airport you choose, rental cars are readily available at each airport and at pick-up locations throughout Manhattan. In addition to paying a premium rate to rent a car in New York City, however, there's also the added cost of rental insurance, gas and parking. Plan to spend between $40 and $80 per day to park a rental car in a public or hotel parking lot, with no in/out privileges.

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