FareSpotter > City Guides > New York City

New York City

New York City Travel Notes

New York brims with major landmarks, culture, and spectacular cuisine. Even after taking in a Broadway show, tasting the finest cuisine, and seeing Times Square at night, you have only just begun. The beauty of this amazing city is that there's always more to do.

New York City

New York City

About New York City

New York City is one of the world's most exciting and vibrant cities and an ever-popular destination. For many, it is the most iconic city in the world (or simply "the City" as it's referred to by most natives), full of urban wonders, excitement, and never-ending action. With more than 40 million annual visitors, tourism is a major part of the city itself. Central Park, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rockefeller Center, The Guggenheim Museum, The Empire State Building, and more - New York City never seems to run out of world famous icons you can visit. Moreover, New York City has some of the best food anywhere in the world, the hippest shopping, world-renowned sports teams, Broadway shows, cool walking neighborhoods such as Greenwich Village and Tribeca, and so much more. However, with so much to offer, New York City can seem completely and utterly overwhelming. Once you add how expensive staying in the City can be, it often seems easier to just stay home. But an affordable trip to New York City is not as challenging as it may seem at first. Though it is more expensive than most American cities, even in New York City there are ways to make sure you're getting the most for your money - from cheap discount hotels and cheap rental cars (for a trip to the Hamptons like the natives) to discounted tickets for Broadway shows. With some research and planning, frugal travelers can start off their trip to the Big Apple with a cheap flight to New York City and then enjoy the best that the world's greatest city has to offer without breaking the bank.

When to Travel to New York City

New York City has cold, snowy winters and hot, humid summers. However, fall and spring can be beautiful; there's nothing like a crisp fall New York City day. Winter temperatures hover in the upper 30s and low 40s, and annual snowfall averages about 29 inches. Springtime temperatures tend to be mild, with temperatures in the mid- to upper-50s. By early summer, temperatures are in the upper 70s, with the dog days of summers being notoriously hot and humid, with New Yorkers retreating to cooler locale every weekend possible. Autumn brings unusually pleasant weather, along with beautiful fall colors, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s in September to the mid-50s in November. New York City claims more than 200 days of sunshine annually. Since New York City is a major domestic and international tourist destination, as well as a world economic capital, there is a year round, constant influx of people into the city. This means that there's no typical "best" time to visit for budget travelers who want to avoid big crowds and high hotel prices. Instead, you'll add the most value to your trip by avoiding the highest peak seasons and booking flights well in advance to find good cheap flights to New York City and Manhattan hotel bargains. If there is a "low" season, hotel occupancy tends to be at its lowest in January and February, so try booking hotels well in advance for those periods if you are looking for a deals on hotels in New York City.

Cheap Flights to New York City

Travelers going to the New York City area have several airports to choose from. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is located in Queens and about 17 miles from Manhattan. JFK is the busiest of the three New York City airports, and in fact the busiest international gateway airport in the world. It is the home airport for the discount carrier JetBlue Airways, a hub for Delta Air Lines, and a major hub for American Airlines, so those are the airlines to look for when checking for special deals on cheap flights to New York City. The New York City area is also served by the smaller LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), which is technically in New Jersey. Both are convenient to the City. While staying in New York City may be expensive, getting there doesn't have to be. Most of the low fare airlines—such as Alaska Airlines, AirTran, JetBlue, and Southwest—fly into one of the New York City metro area airports. The prevalence of low-cost airlines and competition between three major airports, keeps airfare in check, so that even if you book with major airlines such as American and United, budget conscious travelers should find cheap flights to New York City at all times of the year.

More on New York City