Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Taking a heaping bite out of The Big Apple may seem difficult under tight time constraints, but it's entirely possible to get a taste of New York City in a few short days on a manageable budget.
Saving money and getting around to more than just the average tourist spots starts with braving the subway. Weeklong metro cards are available at a discount and New Yorkers are friendly enough to point out-of-towners in the right direction. Fear not getting lost: many of NYC's gems are off the beaten path and cabs are always an option for the directionally challenged.
At lunchtime, avoid convenience shops that serve food: they're often expensive and not very tasty. Instead, check out the many mini-restaurants that New York has to offer. Many of these small eateries are clean, fast, and offer everything from organic food to pizza.
Little Italy Pizza at 55 W. 45th St. has true NYC style pizza for a respectable price, but as with many restaurants in the Big Apple, be prepared to order fast and sit with other patrons.
For a low key but semi-tourist type day, start at Battery Park, which is easily accessible by the subway. Visitors to the park can catch a decent view of the Statue of Liberty while munching on a hot dog, without paying the hefty price to ferry over to the green giant. There are plenty of permanent and semi-dodgy stands for doing a little shopping. "..."
Feet away from Battery Park is Wall Street, where visitors can grab plenty of photo ops in front of the Stock Exchange, the Trump building, the Wall Street bull, and nearby Trinity Church and Ground Zero.
Those with sturdy feet can walk a few additional blocks to South Street Seaport. Large ships and piers provide a beautiful and quieter background to the bustling city. The area is fairly uncrowded during weekdays. Shopping is available on the piers and several quaint outdoor cafes provide a welcomed rest and midday happy hour.
Sharpening their subway skills, visitors can grab a train to Chinatown or Little Italy. In Little Italy, restaurant hosts shout from the doorways of restaurants attempting to lure in patrons. These are not the best places to eat. Restaurants frequented by locals fill up without hosts dragging in tourists.
Benito I Restaurant at 174 Mulberry St. is a cozy and fairly inexpensive eatery in the area. The spaghetti and meatballs and salad special runs just under $13, a steal in NYC.
For those looking for an easy transition from seeing the sights, dinner, and nightlife, The Perfect Pint at 123 West 45th St. provides a perfect place for eating and is only a few short blocks from Times Square. Despite its close proximity to tourist attractions, the restaurant and bar offers several filling sandwich and fries choices for $10. At night, those under 21-years-old must ask at the door to go to the upstairs restaurant.
Next door is O'Lunney's, a spacious and lively pub filled with patrons of all ages. The pub usually provides live Irish music targeted at younger crowds and pints are priced between $4 and $6, depending on the quality of brew.
NYC is full of activity in every corner: visitors should not be afraid to wander. It's easy for someone to find his or her way to a spectacular sight or into a delicious restaurant that would otherwise take hours to find.
