SAFETY

Even though some individuals like to "LOL" at safety, it is something to be serious about. Places such as New York City can be a fabulous destination, however it can be very dangerous. The large amount of people obviously means that the crime rate is escalated. The best advice I can give you, as a frequent visitor of these fabulous streets, is to listen to your gut. If you get an uneasy feeling about something, turn around and walk the other way. Don't let a fear of danger ruin your time, just be smart and don't "LOL" about it.

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There's more than Manhattan!

I have noticed that majority of my posts focus specifically on the borough of Manhattan. I want to briefly give a overview of the other boroughs of NYC.

Brooklyn: Brooklyn is located in Kings county, across the water from the lower east side of Manhattan. Brooklyn has a population of about 2.5 million. Brooklyn is bigger than Manhattan in terms of square miles. There are many different neighborhoods in this borough just like in Manhattan. I am not familiar with these neighborhoods though. The ones I do know of is Coney Island, Bensonhurst, and Redhook. When most people think of Coney Island, they think of a amusement park. This is not entirely a wrong image, however is not 100% correct either. Coney Island is a neighborhood that contains several amusement parks. This is located near the water, and in my opinion is very similar to the Jersey Shore. This is not a very safe neighborhood. Redhook is also not a safe place to be, however it is where they filmed a season of The Real World. Bensonhurst is more of a residential/shopping place. I have a friend who lives there, and he has said to me it is a pretty good neighborhood. Therefore, I would not feel uneasy walking around there by myself.

Queens: I have never visited Queens NY. The only thing I can say about Queens is it is where LaGuardia International Airport is located.  From what I heard about it from friends, and from what I have seen on TV is very similar to Brooklyn, in terms of appearance and population per mile. It has good parts, and bad parts just like any city.

The Bronx: In my opinion, not a great neighborhood. The main thing I can say about the Bronx is that it is home of Yankee Stadium. So, if you ever go and plan on attending a game, you will be entering the Bronx to watch the game. The stadium is located very close to the Manhattan border, therefore I think if you are careful and go with multiple people, I would see no need to fear.There is also a zoo in the Bronx, if you are wanting a fun family attraction to visit.

Staten Island: This borough is located very close to New Jersey. I have never been to Staten Island, however from what I have been told it is the closest to Midwest living. By that I mean, it seems to have more amenities as we do in the Midwest. Jersey Shore star, Vinny is from Staten Island, as well as previous reality star Angelina.

Manhattan: I am not going to describe Manhattan because I could go on and on, and majority of my posts focus on Manhattan. I will tell you, that of all the 5 boroughs, Manhattan is it's own little world. The stores are different, and typically more upscale. For example, you will not find a Target in Manhattan. If you want to visit store similar to that you will need to check out other boroughs. I know for a fact that there is a Target in Brooklyn near Brooklyn CUNY. 

*photo courtesy of nytourist.com 

Hotel Review: Hotel Welington

This post is meant to be paired with my previous post about finding the best hotel price. In this post, I will be giving a brief review of the hotel that I stay at, as well as expectations and realities that exist with majority of Manhattan Hotels. 

Review: This hotel is located on 7th Avenue, just blocks away from Times Square. In terms of locations I would give this hotel a 5 out of 5. It is close enough to the heart of NYC, but far enough away where it is typically a bit calmer and quieter. This is especially good for night time. It is also a neighborhood that I feel comfortable walking around in day or night. This is a plus, because you can walk to and from Times Square and other surrounding attractions at night without fear of being attacked. Another great thing about this hotel when it comes to location is its closeness to the subway. There is a subway platform right outside the hotel. When you exit on the side of the building on 55th Avenue you can enter the subway there. This is the N-Q-R stop. This stop will allow you to go downtown, and uptown. In my opinion, it is a great central location for subway users. 

The rooms are smaller than most hotel rooms in other cities, but for a Manhattan hotel room, it is very spacious. Each room has private bathrooms, which is a plus when looking at hotels in this city. Each room has baseboard heaters as well as window air conditioner units. The rooms are very clean, and most of them are newly renovated. At this time, not all rooms are renovated yet. I have stayed in a non-renovated room. The bathrooms are very clean, and very nice. They are also very spacious. They have heated floors and a tub/shower combo. The only downfall to having a non-renovated room is the decor mostly In my opinion, those rooms just look outdated. They are just as clean, and comfortable as the new rooms. Each room also has a desk with mirror, chair, closet and a TV with basic cable. Specialty channels can be purchased for an extra charge. They also have full-service concierge, that will store your luggage if you arrive before check in, and when you check in they will bring your bags to your room for you. *don't forget  to tip*

In my opinion the only negative is that fact that this hotel doesn't offer free internet. The only way to connect to internet is to pay for it, and it is not cheap. Also, I have an AT&T iPhone, and when inside the building my internet on my phone wouldn't load anything. I could call out, receive calls, and text with a slight delay. I'm not sure if this is because of the buildings materials, or if they have a signal block to force you to pay for their web access. Either way, you can go across the street and access a Starbucks wifi signal for free.

Expectations: When visiting majority of cities, you have a pretty basic expectation of a hotel room. Most cities have large spacious rooms, with amenities such as free breakfasts, private bathrooms, and swimming pools and workout facilities. When visiting NYC, and staying in Manhattan these aminities are not common, with hotels less than $200 a night. When booking your hotels, make sure that you are buying a room with a private bathroom. This seems like it should be standard, but with cheaper hotel prices, they commonly share bathrooms with other rooms. So, if this is something you are not a fan of, be aware when purchasing. 

*This is why I like the Wellington, because I can book it for near $100 a night, and it has private bathrooms*

Times Square, USA

Times square is by far the one spot that most people think of when they think of New York City. Times Square is located in Midtown Manhattan. Times square is known as "The Crossroads of the World." Times Square is located at 7th Ave and Broadway. It forms a X like shape, and spans between west 47th St. and west 4nd St.

Times Square is the heartbeat of Manhattan, and I even believe it is the heartbeat of all the boroughs combined. There is so much to do there. You have Broadway, plays and attractions located there. You can sit on the Times Square Stairs, and see where the New Years Ball is dropped ontop of the Toshiba tower. Visit the American Eagle Outfitters Headquarter store. See the three-floor indoor ferris wheel at the Toy's R Us store. This is arguably the most massive toy store I have ever seen. You can experience all Manhattan has to offer with a variety of street food venders. Visit the three story high Walgreens, and pick up anything you could ever need. Visit Planet Hollywood, a restaurant/bar where all the stars go.

When you are standing in the middle of Times Square, imagine what it would be like on New Years Eve when it is crowded for blocks and blocks. Imagine all the famous events and celebrities who have stood in the same spot that you are at that point. 

Where ever you are staying in the city, there is a MTA Subway stop directly in Times Square. It is impossible to miss, because at every check point it is clearly labeled Times Square (42nd St) Station. Now, when you are walking around Times Square you will be stopped by pushers and advertisers for various Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. Just simply take the pamphlet they are trying to give you and say thank you. Do not ignore and be rude to these people, because you never know what they could do if they feel offended. Also, just like with any location that you are not familiar with, do not go down alley-ways and only stay on main streets. Most importantly, have a BLAST.

Tip: Visit at night, and bring your camera. Also, watch out for traffic/cabs.

*photo's taken by David Cox 2012*

Ice-Skating at Rockerfeller Center

Whenever anyone says anything about ice skating, the first thing most of us think of is the famous rink at Rockerfeller Center in Manhattan. This is something fun to do for people of all ages, men and women. This iconic activity is only available during the obvious times, winter. The rink is open from November 9th to January 7th, if weather permits.

Reservations: The rink if open form 7AM to Midnight. The rink can only hold 150 skaters at a time, therefore you will have to plan time to stand in line for a while. Even if you purchase advanced tickets, expect to wait anyways.You enter the rink from 5th Ave, between 49th and 50th Street.

While in Rockerfeller Center, there are plenty of other things to do. There is shopping, restaurants, NBC studio tours, the famous Christmas Tree, and even Top of the Rock. There is so much to do, so plan to spend a whole day, or maybe even two doing all that this place has to offer.

Sex and the City Locations!

My favorite television show of all times was and always will be HBO's Sex and the City. This show shows how single women can rule the streets of Manhattan, and the world. I personally believe that this can be translated, and interpreted by single men also. 

This show was unique, because it was filmed mostly in NYC. The most famous set is the building used for the lead characters apartment. In the show she was supposed to live on the upper east side, East 73rd Street near Madison Ave. However, the building that HBO purchased and used was in the west village. After filming the building was purchased and transformed into a private town-home. Now, if you plan on visiting this location, you have to respect privacy. The famous staircase is currently roped off, so do not go over it to walk on the steps. Also, pictures from the sidewalk are allowed, however the owners ask that you donate money into a fund that they donate to various charities. Also, as always, me quiet and calm when outside the home.

Here is a map with just a few of the many locations used in the HBO hit, Sex and the City. (Zoom out once to see tagged locations).

View Sex and the City Locations! in a larger map

Slideshow of My Pictures

Here is a slide show of a few pictures that I have taken on a visit to NYC.

Bryant Park

History: Bryant park is a 9 acre park in Manhattan. It is located between 5^th and 6^th Ave, and 40^th and 42^nd. This is near the area of Manhattan known as Midtown. The main entrance is located on 6^th Ave. Bryant park has a long interesting history. In 1886 it was named a public place by the colonial governor of New York. This was unique because this was back when the island of Manhattan was mostly wilderness. The park was also a spot where Washington and his troupes in 1776. Perhaps the oddest thing I believe that this park was a graveyard. In the mid 1800’s it was used as a graveyard for poor people. I find this hard to believe, because today it sits in one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in Manhattan. It had another dark period in the 1970s, when it was taken over by drug dealers and used as a place to sell and buy drugs. Until recently Mercedes Benz Fashion Week was held at Bryant Park. But, due to pressures applied to the fashion industry, the major event is now being held at Lincoln Center. 

Today, you can visit the park for free. There are shops, and venders in the park year around, but the most significant time to go shopping in Bryant Park is around the holidays. From October 26 to January 6 there are 100’s of boutiques and shops, as well as street vendors in the park selling holiday items. These items are very unique, and make a fantastic gift for somebody. Now, since I will be arriving on the 6^th of January, I will have to make Bryant Park my first stop of the week. The shops usually close down around 6 or 7PM. Even if you go after the Winter Shops are closed for the season, there is still plenty of things to do in the park without shopping.

*Visit the Bryant Park Website in the “Links” page on my blog.

The Statue of Liberty

History: This monument was a gift from the French people, that was dedicated to the US in 1886. The statue is located on Liberty Island, in the New York Harbor. She stands just shy of 152 feet. Over the past years she has been restored, the most recent restoration was in 2012. This monument symbolizes freedom, and was the first thing immigrants would see when they were making their way to the United States.

Tour: You can visit both Ellis Island and Liberty Island. Ellis Island houses the magnificent immigration museum. The statue itself is located on Liberty Island. There are many different options to chose from when purchasing tickets for this monument. The best, and most interesting is to do the "whole package." By this I mean, you can buy a package that gives you access by ferry to both islands (from New Jersey or New York) and while spending your time on Ellis Island, you have the option of participating in an audio tour. This is interesting and for the history lover, a great time! Once you have completed your time on Ellis Island you are then transported via ferry to Liberty Island where you are free to wonder around the Statue. Access inside the statue is limited, as of current day most access is not allowed. You can enter the Crown by reservation only (re-opened in October 2012). Due to terrorist scares access to the Torch is off limits at all times. 

Tips: DO NOT plan on buying your tickets the day you plan on going. I would buy them at least a week in advanced. Also, don't buy them through third party venders. Buying them through the National Parks and Services assures no third party fees, and legitimate booking and tickets. Also, keep in mind the time and day you want to visit. Tickets are only good for a short window of time, meaning, if you book your tickets for a6:00PM depart from NY, you have to be there no later than 6:30. However, from personal experience and stories I would recommend you arrive at your exact designated time.

Empire State Building

A great place to visit when you are in the Big Apple!

The Empire State Building is located at 350 5th Ave. This is located very close to the famous 5th Ave shops. This neighborhood is known as Midtown West. It is in walking distance to Times Square (which is where my hotel is always located).

History:  This skyscraper is 102 floors high. It stands a grand total of 1,454 ft (to the top of the antenna on top of the building). It was completed in 1931 and was named after the nickname for NY, or otherwise called "The Empire State." This massive structure held the title for the worlds tallest building for nearly 40 years. The title was taken by the World Trade Center's North Tower in 1972. In 2001 there was an attack on the WTC and the Empire State Building was once again the tallest structure in New York City. Also, this building is currently the third tallest building in the United States.

This skyscraper gives you the best views of Manhattan. From it you can see central park, uptown. When you look downtown, you can see all the way down to the new Freedom Tower. I think the most amazing site from this height is the view of Flatiron.

Visiting: There are several different options to choose from when visiting this massive landmark.

Main Deck Only: This includes access to the 86th floor only.

Main Deck Express: Gets you to the 86th floor faster.

Main Deck + Top Deck: This gives you access to the 86th floor and the 102nd floor, which is the highest point visitors can see.

Main Deck + Top Deck Express: Gets you to the 86th floor and the  102nd floor quickly.

This is an attraction that is not possible to do cheaply. Your best bet would be to buy your tickets 2 weeks in advanced. They are a bit cheaper online when compared to buying them the day of.

*please note that this is a very popular event. Regardless of weather and day of the week, expect to stand in line for a while. If you are unable to stand in line for 2 hours at a minimum (including express tickets) I would advise you look into another attraction.*

*Picture courtesy of ESB website*

China Town, USA

China Town is located in lower Manhattan. It is several streets that resemble a market place in China. A market place is exactly what it is. It is shop after shop. These shops include multiple clothing shops, also many NYC souvenirs, along with many items that originate in China. Fish markets and authentic Chinese cuisine is also common in this neighborhood.  

The main street in this unique area is Canal Street. When you take the subway from anywhere in the city, just simply get off at the Canal St. station, and when you emerge from the underground subway you will be smack-dab in the middle of little china.  (China Town is very close to Little Italy)

China town can be fun, because you can barter with venders to get good prices on goods, as well as get a lot of things you can't get anywhere else. You can eat at many good and delicious restaurants. However, there are some things to look out for when visiting this neighborhood.

Do Not's!

1. DO NOT talk to the venders on street corners who will try to sell you "real" Tiffany, Coach etc. These products are always counterfeit, and it is illegal to buy them. Police patrol these areas heavily and you WILL be arrested for buying a counterfeit item. *don't be rude to them, just simply decline*

2. DO NOT leave the street to go into shops located in alleys or off of main roads. ONLY go into shops that are located on main streets with heavy traffic. 

3. DO NOT try to bargain with the venders too much, because you can offend them and they will get very angry and possibly violent.

4. DO NOT lose track of your personal belongings, and keep a good eye on your money. DO NOT flash money.

5. DO NOT eat anything that you are not used to, or anything that does not look or smell good. Food poisoning is highly possible in areas such as this.

**photo taken by David Cox**

Arrival

The day you leave for your get-away to the city is the most exciting. I am going to give you a few tips for that day. Most of these are obvious to frequent travelers, but for those who have not traveled I sure they will come in handy.

1. show up to the airport at least an hour early (depends on size of your local airport)

2. Double check your packing list and make sure you have packed your bags according to airline regulation

3. Bring a camera with you for some awesome shots of Manhattan as you fly into the city (Pictured Below)**

4. Bring something to keep you busy, the flight is usually about 5 hours of air time (not including layovers)

**This is something that I always love to do, because it is the best view you will ever have of the city.

(All photos were taken by me, David Cox 2012)

Why?

I know some readers and people may wonder why I love New York so much. When asked this question the first, and instant reply is "because it's the best city in the world." Most people will shrug your reply off simply because that's what everyone says when asked why they love a specific city.

So, why is NY the best? I am going to list several reasons why I think NY is the best city in the world.

1.) attractions: there are so many attractions and landmarks to visit in NYC. You can go into tall historic buildings such as the Empire State Building, see sights such as Central Park, Times Square. You can also participate in events and festivals in Bryant Park and other venues. You can also visit museums and art galleries such as the MET, MoMA, and many more. There is also monuments to visit such as the Statue of Liberty, see Wall Street and even go to China and Italy in lower Manhattan.

2.) food: there are thousands upon thousands of authentic restaurants in NYC. It is said that a New Yorker could eat out three times a day, for a lifetime and never eat at the same place twice. All these restaurants range in types of foods, you can get anything from Mexican to Indian within blocks of each other. And contrary to popular belief, some foods (not all) are very cheap to enjoy.

3.) shows: broadway, is the longest road in manhattan that houses hundreds of life productions. Famous broadway shows can be a fun and exciting way to spend an evening.

There are many many more reasons to say NYC is number one, but above are my top three. In future posts I will be breaking down visiting and attending these events/attractions with tips and tricks to do it cheaply and efficiently.

Attractions Attractions Everywhere!

There is so much to do in NY, and it would take hundreds of posts to list them all. In the course of this blog I will break down and give detailed information about several of my favorite attractions. I would like to say that there is a lot to do in the city that is free or very cheap. Below is a video with a few attractions that are either free or very reasonable in NY. Watch the video to get a broad overview of some of the types of attractions that are available. Please be aware, that some of the locations in the video are not free nor inexpensive. The Empire state building is rather pricey when compared to other places to visit in NY, and that will be broken down in a post to come.

Also, check out this video, it has some duplicate locations but also some that aren't mentioned in the first video.

Packing etc!

What to pack.

Here is a general traveling packing list:

1.) general clothing (be conscious of the weather conditions. Since I am going in the winter I need to pack warmer clothing EG. Jeans, long sleeve shirt etc).

2.) extra clothing (coats, jackets, gloves, cap. If going in the winter season)

3.) hygiene products (soaps, skin care items, make-up, sprays etc)

4.) phone, iPod, and do not forget your chargers for your devices

5.) camera and batteries

Now, when going to any travel destination, you want to pack as light as possible so that you can bring home souvenirs. With the airline tickets I purchased I get two free checked bags, and one carry on bag. What I also do, and would suggest is using a large suitcase to pack all of your clothes in. This will be the bag that you can check. Now, in a typical suitcase set the second biggest rolling suitcase is typically suitable for carry on service (check requirements online). This smaller bag can be used to carry your coats and jackets on the way there. When returning this bag will be used to hold purchased items. If you find it necessary you can check this bag as your second free bag and carry on a back pack instead.

General airline bag requirements:

Any liquid or aerosol bottle measuring more than 2 fl oz has to be checked and can not be carried on board the airplane. So what I suggest is putting these items in a plastic bag inside your checked suitcase.

*Keep on on current airline luggage policy when traveling for they change periodically.

How to get from the airport?

Now that you have purchased and reserved your hotel rooms, and your airline tickets, the next step is to plan and purchase necessary transit/transportation tickets  from, and back to the airport.

First things first, you have got to get from the airport to your Manhattan hotel. There are many different options. You can walk several blocks to a MTA (New York Public Transit) stop. Also you could do a cab, but that is very pricey. There are several different airport shuttle services to chose from. I have found that AirLink shuttle services is the best and most dependable. You can visit their website by clicking HERE! They are a neat service in the fact that they will take you directly to your Manhattan hotel, and drop you off. Average cost for round trip (to and from airport) is around $30 per person(from LGA). They include two bags in that price. If one was to take a taxi the same distance it would be at least a $50-$80 cab ride. The only down fall to this shuttle is it is a shared space. There are other people in the bus/van with you, but I do not see this as a problem because when in NYC that is something you must get used to because there are people everywhere.

PLEASE BE AWARE:

When being picked up, I have found that it is better to be picked up at your hotel. However there are some trips I have been using the last day to see an attraction. When this happened I selected to be picked up at Grand Central Terminal. When you chose this option, you will NOT be picked up at GCT. Out side the building on 5th ave there is a GoAirLink building and that is where you will be picked up at. So if you chose this option, do NOT wait around Grand Central Station because you WILL miss your shuttle.

Getting the best Air-Deal

After you select your hotel room for your January escape to the City that never sleeps the next step is to buy airline tickets to get there. I am going to mention the tickets I just recently bought for my January trip. I decided on visiting the city again around June and July. In late July is when tickets starting becoming available for the week I am going. I naturally looked at travel sites, but at this point in the game they are not cheaper, and do not provide the companies I prefer to use. 

What do I use? I check out each airline company individually to see which has the cheapest fare. I have noticed that the bigger airlines are far too expensive. Delta, American, Continental and United airlines all total over a thousand dollars round trip. That price does not include a bag check either. I am not sure as to why they charge so much more for their services, but they do. In the past I’ve used AirTran to fly to New York but in the recent past Southwest Airlines has purchased AirTran therefore their destinations are slowly intergrading. AirTran was my choice in the past because Southwest did not fly into LaGuardia, the nearest airport was Newark New Jersey. AirTran for my trip this year was running around $380 round trip. This seemed like a great deal, but after some research I discovered they no longer include a check-bag for free, and there is a $24-50 fee to check one. I browsed Southwest to see if going into Newark was cheaper, and that is when I discovered they flew into LaGuardia now. The price for the trip was the same as AirTran’s, but offers two free checked bags.  This is the one I purchased. 

A good tip for frequent travelers is to sign up for airline rewards programs. I have found that Sountwest is typically the best to use, because I do fly Southwest much more because of their low fares. Their rapid rewards program is very good and useful when trying to save money on travel. I have received enough points to total a decent savings on next year’s trip to the City.

Quick Tips: Make sure that you do not wait till the last minute to book your airline ticket. The earlier you book them the better.  Typically I have found that tickets are at their cheapest as soon as they become available. Though, I have been surprised before. The cut off for “cheap” tickets is always three weeks before desired departure. But as a whole buying months in advanced is always the safest and cheapest.

Picking the right room!

Before I get into finding a cheap and good hotel room, I would like to do a follow up to my first post. When you are choosing a week go visit NYC you should make the decision as early as 6 months in advanced.

I chose my dates in June, and to refresh I am visiting January 6-13. Now, most people would recommend buying airline tickets before purchasing a room, but I have found that to not be the best way to do it, when you are planning several months in advanced. I think it is better to research and buy a room because the room will be the most expensive part of your NYC trip. Also, hotel rooms will be available to purchase far more advance than airline tickets. I have found that you can purchase hotel rooms for your selected date several months before airline tickets will be available. Plus, when planning a trip so early, though good at getting good deals, but leaves more time for obstacles that could hinder alter or change your trip plans. Most hotel rooms have cancellation policies that will give you a full refund if canceled within 24 hours of your check in day.

Now, in today's world buying online is the way to go with a lot of things, an hotel room is something that seems to be best when bought and paid for online. Now, when buying online using third party websites, such as hotels.com or Expedia.com months early you need to watch out to make sure you actually are getting the best deal. When buying early, these sites are not always cheaper than buying them directly through the hotel website. These sites get cheaper the closer you get to your selected date. However, I have found that the savings of waiting are not worth the risk of not getting a room. For example the hotel I always stay at is called The Hotel Wellington. When I buy the room months early, I get them for roughly $110.00 a night (and since I buy early these are the same prices on either website). Now, one time I did wait tills about December to buy my rooms, and I got them for $103. Now personally for me the savings are not worth the risk of not getting a room. I say this because the Wellington is the cheapest rooms I have ever found, in a safe neighborhood. I typically do book them through hotels.com rather it's cheaper or the same as directly through the hotel because as a member of their website I get rewards for every night I book on the website.

As I mentioned above, a safe neighborhood and good location is the most important thing when visiting a city such as New York. Though on of the greatest cities ever, it does have its very rough and not safe areas that one should avoid. as a visitor staying in Manhattan is the best option for visitors. It is not always the cheapest, but that is where majority of the famous NYC attractions are located. Now, when staying in Manhattan I like, and advise people to stay in midtown west. The hotel I stay at is locate on west 55th and 7th ave. it is a few blocks from Times Square, and also blocks from the famous 5th ave shops. Great neighborhood and location for the price!

So the things to remember when booking rooms, book early, check prices on multiple sites, and research location.

When?

The first thing to do when considering visiting New York City, the first thing to do is to consider when to visit.

I have found that visiting after the new year (Second week in January) is the best time to visit. I am visiting again this year, January 6-13, last year I visited January 10-15 and it was far more pricey, so even just a matter of days can make a huge difference. I am going to list out a list of pro's and con's that I have found with visiting the city during this time of year.

The Pro's:

1.) Lower cost (will be broken down in a future blog post)

2.) Smaller crowds

3.) Some winter activities may still be going on

4.) The city is beautiful in the winter (if snow has fallen)

The Con's:

1.) Cold temperatures

2.) Weather related travel delays

3.) Limited outside activities*

These are the pro's and con's according to me, others will have some similar ones as I do, and some may have others.

About The Blog

This blog is going to give hits and tips on visiting one of the most amazing cities in the United States, New York City. The blog is titled "Big Apple, Little Budget" because I am going to give hints and tips on how to visit the city for a minimal amount of money. Along with money saving tips, I will provide advice on attractions, times and dates that I have believe make visiting NYC even more fun, and less chaotic.