by Martha Davis

Created on: April 26, 2008   Last Updated: December 05, 2008

New York City is an amazing travel destination-especially for a trip with all your gal pals! But navigating your way around the city can be a bit overwhelming on your first-or even second trip.

Try these tips to experience all the fun and excitement of NYC without breaking your bank account!

Pre-Planning: Once you and your friends have decided on length of stay and travel dates, set aside some time to do some pre-planning. Three or four days in the city will hardly allow you to see all the sites, but most people find it difficult to afford a lengthier stay. In deciding a date, have your travel companions discuss their preferences as far as when to go. For example, if you don't mind crowds (and I do mean crowds), NYC between Thanksgiving and Christmas is amazing! Having taken that trip twice, I'm not inclined to do it again. I found that I missed out on a lot because I spent too much time fighting the crowds. There's not much to do on Thanksgiving Day-except the Macy's Parade-and the following day is shoppers' chaos. Unless you like fighting to even look at an item you're interested in, I suggest avoiding these dates.

One of my best trips was in late March when the weather was not as cold. The crowds are manageable, and hotel rates are a little better.
Planning about a month ahead of your travel dates should give you plenty of time to look for deals on Broadway shows and other entertainment venues. You'll also be able to find the best airfare and hotel rates.

Decide on the major things the group wants to do while you're in the city. For example, agree on whether you'll see a Broadway show (or two) and which ones; talk about visiting the typical tourist sites, such as the Empire State Building and Ellis Island; Little Italy and Soho are great, but you'll need to carve out a chunk of time to make those trips.
Air Travel: To explore airfare and flight itineraries, explore the major travel web sites and the websites of airlines that serve your departure airport. The best day to purchase airline tickets is on a Wednesday since the airlines have a better handle on their volume of business travelers by that time and start to drop their fares to fill the flight. Return dates impact your airfare, as well. Staying over the weekend and taking a Monday flight home is usually cheaper.

In looking for fares, check the rates flying into any of the three major airports (JFK, Newark, and LaGuardia). Based on traveler volume, one may offer a less expensive flight, and any of the three

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