Is the New York Pass Worth The Price For Budget Travelers?

By Go City Expert

This post originally appeared in Follow Me Away, a travel blog by Victoria and Terrence, a model/photographer duo from Florida. Follow Victoria and Terrence on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. [spacer height="20px"]

We can safely say that New York City is somewhere that everyone should visit at least once in their life. That being said, The Big Apple is extremely expensive and all of the tours, museums, and attractions continue to raise their prices. That is where the New York Pass comes in. Is it worth it for budget travelers? Let’s find out! [caption id="attachment_755" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] 3 Day New York Pass[/caption] What is the New York Pass? The New York Pass is a possible solution for budget travelers because you pay one price, and are granted access to over 80+ attractions. Unlike other passes we looked at where you had to choose between THIS or THAT attraction or only had access to a few attractions, the New York Pass allows you to see each and every attraction if you have time. How much does it cost? The price of your New York Pass depends on how many days you choose. For example, the 1-day adult pass costs $109 [as of August 2016]. The more days you add, the cheaper each day becomes. If you choose a 3-day pass the total price is $239 but the individual price per day is now just $80 instead of $109. As a budget traveler, the thought of dropping $100 in a day sounds horrifying. Unfortunately, if you are in New York City and you want to visit iconic sites other than the ever-free Central Park, you are going to have to drop some money. [caption id="attachment_754" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Downtown Manhattan Skyline[/caption] How does the New York Pass help budget travelers see more for less? The New York Pass helps those of us who don’t like to spend by saving us money. By paying a flat fee, you will be granted access to 80+ attractions, many of which you may not get to experience otherwise. For example, we would never do a paid walking tour, a behind the scenes tour, or a hop-on-hop-off bus tour, but the New York Pass allowed us this opportunity. Whether it is your first time to New York or you are a seasoned visitor, the New York Pass grants you access to a variety of different experiences. How to make the most of your New York Pass and save money: If you are still a bit iffy about dropping over $100, hear us out! You can spend $100 and only visit one museum with entrance valued at $30 and obviously you will lose money. OR, you can make the most of your New York Pass and spend the entire day using your pass on any and everything. First, divide the number of days you purchased by the price to find out your price per day. If you bought the three-day pass, you will spend $80 per day. Now, in order for the New York Pass to be worth it, you will have to visit enough attractions so that the price of the attraction on its own is more expensive than $80. With the New York Pass, this is super easy to do! For example, “The Ride” normally costs $74. If you choose this attraction and one more, you have automatically saved money. Most of us visiting the city are going to choose way more than 2 attractions so you can see where the savings come in. [caption id="attachment_756" align="aligncenter" width="1022"] View From Empire State Building at Night[/caption] Let’s look at a sample 1-day itinerary: The Ride-$74 Madame Tussauds Wax Museum-$37 Inside Broadway Tours-$35 Top Of The Rock-$32 Total Without New York Pass-$172 Total With 1 Day New York Pass-$109 [or cheaper depending on how many days you add] Let’s talk about the savings! With the simple 1-day, 4 attraction itinerary above, you will save a whopping $63! The best part is the vast majority of travelers can fit in a lot more than four attractions in one day, so we are pretty sure your savings will be greater! Who should purchase the New York Pass? We feel like the New York Pass is perfect for those of you looking to make the most out of your trip to the Big Apple. Make sure you have enough time to devote to your pass. If you are visiting family and don’t have much time, a 1-day pass may be perfect for you to pack everything into one day. If you are backpacking in and staying for a week, a 4-day pass may fit the bill for you so you can see as much of the 80 attractions as you can. [caption id="attachment_758" align="aligncenter" width="1023"] View from Big Bus Hop on Hop off Bus[/caption] Is the New York Pass worth it? After using our 3-day pass, we feel like the New York Pass was TOTALLY worth it! The Pass allowed us to do “touristy” things like visiting the top of the Empire State Building and taking the Circle Line Tour that we would have NEVER done otherwise because the individual price was just too high. With the New York Pass, the more you see, the more you save! So we encourage you to pick one up and go hog wild and see everything possible on your next trip to New York City! No matter what, remember to have fun! Have you used the New York Pass? What did you think? We would love to hear from you in the comments!

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St Patrick's Day 2020: What's On In NYC?

That's right, folks. It's that time of year again. Time to fetch the garish green coat and comically large top hat from the back of the wardrobe. Time to tell yourself that you have at least a little bit of Irish in you. Don't we all, after all? Yes, it's St Patrick's Day. Again. It only feels like yesterday that we were all doing this merry jig. Yet, here we are. 2020. The future is now. Surely St. Patrick, the man himself, would adore the annual debauchery? After all, he was a man of the cloth. So, if you're in New York for St Paddy's, well, you're in luck. Not only is it the greatest city on earth, but it also celebrates the big day like no other. Are you wondering what to do this year? Perhaps worried you'll miss out on all the best entertainment the city has on offer? Well, turn that frown upside down. Research can be mildly irritating. You know that. We know that. That's why we did it all for you. Here are all the wild and wonderful things we found. Read on, for the very best NYC events on St Patrick's Day 2020. Featuring: New York's timeless paradeThe best Irish foodDrinks that will have you seeing greenAnd coffee to keep you goingSt Patrick's Day Parade 5th Avenue No list would be complete without the obvious, so let's start there. Now in its 254th year, New York's St Patrick's Day Parade predates American Independence from the villainous redcoats. Thousands of people attend the streetside shindig every year, so if you're visiting from another land, why not check it out? If you're thinking of going, here's what you need to know. When is NYC's St Patrick's Day Parade in 2020? Tuesday, March 17. The very day of St Patrick's celebrations. Festivities kick off at 11 am, and the parade ends at 5 pm. Where is the parade? Starting on 44th Street, the parade then heads up Fifth Avenue. Eventually, it passes St Patrick's Cathedral, and finally ends at East 80th Street, which is the home of the American Irish Historical Society. What an appropriate place to end the parade! What to see at the parade Green. Lots of green. Parade floats, marching bands, and more shamrocks than you can shake a green stick at. Also, a lot of people. There are always big crowds for the parade. Tips for attending the parade Get there early if you want a decent spot. Also, if you move, you're going to lose your space. You'll have a small army of keen, green celebrators right behind you. Avoid driving anywhere near the thing. A road-based event plus a megaton of people equals closed roads, traffic diversions, and plenty of sad, sad drivers. Instead, look to get public transport from wherever you're staying. Or, if you're lucky, simply walk there. In the spirit of the celebrations, St Paddy's can be pretty lively. Many a Guinness and other assorted beverages will likely be imbibed by parade-goers. Bear that in mind if you're bringing your kids.Go get an authentic Irish meal While Ireland might be most famous for their potatoes, Irish cuisine has so much more going for it. And, as New York has stacks of Irish heritage, you'll find a wealth of dining opportunities in the city. So make the most of St Patrick's Day, and go try some. Here are our picks for the best Irish restaurants in town. Lillie’s Victorian Establishment Union Square & Times Square The first thing you'll notice when walking into Lillie's is its lavish decor. Walls adorned with framed pictures and paintings. Period ceiling paneling. Stained glass displays. The whole nine yards. The next thing you'll notice is its delicious menu. There's Chicken Pot Pie, Shepherd's Pie, or Blackened Salmon if you want to warm up. Or, if you're looking for something a little lighter, get Lillie's Cucumber Sandwich with some smoked salmon. Then, wash it all down with a refreshing cocktail, including an entire section dedicated to Old Fashioneds. Nice. Cronin and Phelan’s Astoria Don't let their decidedly Nineties website fool you. Cronin and Phelan's is one of the best Irish spots in New York. Their menu is dripping with twists on Emerald Isle classics too. There's the Reuben Sandwich, which marries corned beef with Russian dressing, sauerkraut and swiss cheese. Broiled fillet of Scrod - that's a small fish to you and me - with Dijon sauce and potatoes. And Irish Nachos, an unusual meeting of cultures that includes Irish bacon, Dubliner cheese, and chips. Sign us up! Molly’s Manhattan Molly's talks a big game, professing to be the 'most authentic Irish bar in New York City'. But as soon as you step inside, it's clear they know what they're talking about. The Tudor-inspired interior is filled with finely crafted wood, Gaelic artwork, and enough personality to fill twenty bars. And their menu? It's something else. Along with classic American cuisine like burgers, wings, and potato skins, they also have an entire section dedicated to Irish delights. Shepherd's Pie, Irish Lamb Stew, Sausage and mashed potatoes, pot pie, corned beef and cabbage. The list goes on. Molly's is simply an unmissable experience if you want authentic Irish cuisine. ...and then get an authentic Irish drink Multiple venues What better way to celebrate St Patrick's Day than with a cool, refreshing Irish beverage. There's a large contingent of Irish pubs across New York that will be even more lively on March 17. On the Upper East Side you've got Doc Watson's, which attests to having the best pint of Guinness this side of the Atlantic. Not only do they have bands playing all day over St Paddy's, but they're only a few minutes from the parade. So if you're going to one, you've no excuse not to go the other. Or you could try McFadden's in Midtown. Every year they hold a pre-parade celebration where you can get unlimited beer and mimosas from 8 am - 12 pm, as well as all you can eat at the breakfast buffet for $35. An absolute steal. You can even head stop by after the parade, as St Patrick's celebrations go on until 4 am. Just book the following day off. No one needs to see you all bleary-eyed, fumbling through spreadsheets the following day. Alternatively, if you're looking to add a little variety, and a few more steps, to your session, why not check out a Spirits on Foot beer, spirits, and wine pub crawl? Alongside Irish offerings, you'll also stop by watering holes in different parts of the city. Plus, you'll learn a little more about New York's cultural cauldron too. And get authentic coffee You may well need one of these the morning after. If you're feeling brave, or simply crave a little hair of the dog, why not start the following day with a gut-warming Irish coffee? Dead Rabbit, in the Financial District, does a mean Irish coffee, mixing Clontarf Irish whiskey, choice beans, and a healthy drizzle of demerara syrup. Or, pick up a Classic Irish Coffee at Ryan's Daughter: coffee, whiskey, and sugar, all topped off a spoonful of cream. Sublime. However, if the hangover is too severe and you're looking for something a little less flammable, why not check out some of our favorite hidden coffee houses? And that's all you need to make St Patrick's Day 2020 one to remember. Or forget, if you have a few too many whiskeys. Are you celebrating St Patrick's Day in NYC this year? Let us know what you're looking forward to doing in the comments below.
Dom Bewley
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Exhibitionism - The Rolling Stones Now Free with the New York Pass

[URIS id=1024] [spacer height="20px"] Exhibitionism - The Rolling Stones has opened its doors in the West Village and we could not be happier to announce that you can now visit it for free with your New York Pass. The exhibit covers an extraordinary amount of material and memorabilia from the 50 years of existence of The Rolling Stones, one of the world's most legendary rock bands. The exhibit takes you through every facet of existence of the band, ranging from a replica of their humble dwellings in London in the early 60s, a collection of musical instruments, notebooks, sheets of music, through fan memorabilia, costumes and a whole lot more. Expect to spend between 1 and 2 hours walking through this exhibit, admiring all the artifacts detailing a true rock 'n' roll lifestyle. You can also watch footage of band members and managers talking about their experiences, the music and the lifestyle. One part of the exhibit lets you mix your own Rolling Stones songs and the whole thing is concluded with a 3D movie from a 2014 concert, so you can imagine what it would be like to see the Stones live. The exhibit is open through March 12th during the following hours: Sunday - Thursday: 10 am - 6 pm (last entry at 4:30 pm) Friday - Saturday: 10 am - 9 pm (last entry at 7:30 pm) Address: Industria 356 W 12th St. (at Washington St.), New York, NY 10014 How to get there: Subway: L, A, C, 1, 2, 3 trains to 14th St., then a short walk down 12th st. The box office is located across the street from the exhibition space, which is adjacent to Barbuto, a staple West Village restaurant.
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