Expert fragrance customizations, easy-to-win Broadway ticket lotteries, and more secrets to living lavishly (while on a budget) in the Big Apple
It ’s no secret that New York is a pretty expensive urban center , so it ’s easy to think you ’ll spend your liveliness deliverance on a deluxe and stylish weekend in the Big Apple . But it ’s potential to live lavishly on a budget amongst the intriguer boutiques on Fifth Avenue and the suites at the Four Seasons , especially if you know where to look for free artistry galleries in prissy mansions , easy - to - win lottery for Broadway ticket , and deal of eating house offering all right dining for dissipated passing Mary Leontyne Price . Having a slightly swanky time in New York City is much more accessible than people intend ; you just have to recognize which fancy activities can be done for free and which ones are worth open up your notecase for .
Whether you ’re a womb-to-tomb New Yorker looking to have a bougie staycation or a first - time visitor who ’s saved up for years to visit , register on for a slightly fancy , everlasting 48 hours in the Big Apple .
Who I am : I’m Annie , an associate editor program at Thrillist who was endure and raised on Long Island and now promise Bed - Stuy , Brooklyn , plate . A lover of nutrient , live performances , and the bustle of NYC , I ’ve spent much of my liberal time exploring all of the ways to engage with this city ’s vibrant acculturation . I delight nothing more than order people on to the things that made me fall in love with New York .
Manhattan Bridge in Dumbo, Brooklyn|FilippoBacci/iStock/Getty Images Plus
A Locals-Approved Guide to Exploring New York City’s Hidden Gems
Skip the tourist traps while still eating pizza, seeing a show, and embracing all that makes NYC special.
Before you go
Book too soon : New York City loves reservations . While many bars and restaurants will leave some outer space for pass - ins , these spots may come with hour - long wait metre , and you might be change state forth altogether if there ’s too much need . If you ’re interested in a restaurant that offers reservation , plan ahead and book a table . The same employ for big museums , live shows , and most other attraction . Any time you may , buy your tickets ahead of meter to secure your spot .
Need to do it : Though it may be daunting , visitant should take reward of the MTA , the metropolis ’s subway system , to get from property to position . The train are ordinarily faster than rideshares or cabs , and they ’re importantly cheaper . If you ’re not certain how to navigate the underground scheme , habituate your phone ’s GPS to map out your path ( apps like Google Maps can get up tube routes ) , download the prescribed MTA app to rest on top of closedown and delays , and do n’t be afraid to demand a New Yorker for directions — we’re not as scary as we seem .
where to stay
Two Slightly Fancy Days in NYC
Day 1
Morning: Cosplay as an art handler
Mid day: Grab your reading glasses
Afternoon: Have a luxe dinner
Evening: Take in a show
Day 2
Morning: Indulge your senses
Mid day: Go old school for lunch
Afternoon: See a city-style sunset
Evening: You like jazz?
If you have three days
All of the above, but add…
If you have four days, plus…
The Spa at Hotel Chelsea|Photos by Annie Schlechter
The Spa at Hotel Chelsea|Photos by Annie Schlechter
Photo courtesy of Casa Cruz
‘Dear Lord, Make Me Beautiful’ at Park Avenue Armory|Photo by Stephanie Berger
Photo courtesy of Olfactory
The Met Cloisters|Photos by Brett Beyer
