How Much Does New York Cost At Christmas? My Real 7 Day Trip Budget

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How Much Are Flights To New York At Christmas?

We flew from Manchester to JFK with Aer Lingus and my flights cost £600 per person. I actually booked our flights in July, around five months before we travelled. Considering we were flying over one of the busiest times of the year, I was really happy with the price. If you’re planning a New York Christmas trip, I’d definitely recommend booking your flights as early as you can because prices only seem to go one way the closer you get to December.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect with Aer Lingus as I’d never flown with them before, and because the price was quite a bit cheaper than some of the other airlines we looked at, I thought it might feel a bit like a budget airline. One thing that did surprise me was that the plane was a 3-3 layout rather than something bigger for a long haul flight. I think I’d just assumed we’d be on a much larger aircraft so I wasn’t expecting that.

That being said, I really couldn’t complain. The food was actually really good, there were loads of films and TV shows to choose from and the flight itself was absolutely fine. For the price we paid I’d happily fly with Aer Lingus again.

Considering we were travelling over one of the busiest times of the year, I was actually really happy with what we paid. Flights around Christmas aren’t cheap, so if you’re planning your own trip I’d definitely recommend booking as early as you can.

Flight cost: £600 per person

How Much Are Hotels In New York At Christmas?

Accommodation was the biggest part of our New York Christmas trip cost, but it was also the thing we were most excited about. When we were looking at hotels, me and the girls all agreed on one thing. We wanted a room with a view.

If I’m going all the way to New York, I want to wake up, open the curtains and see the skyline. It’s one of those little things that makes the trip feel even more special, and I knew I’d regret not booking somewhere that gave us that experience. After what felt like hours of comparing hotels, we decided to book Hyatt Place Chelsea. The total cost came to £2,540 for the three of us, which worked out at £846 per person.

We stayed in a Double Room with Two Double Beds, which worked well for the 3 of us, but I will say the room was definitely on the smaller side. Obviously, New York hotel rooms aren’t known for being huge, but when you add in 3 people, 3 large suitcases and a cabin bag each, the space did start to feel a little tight. We had to be quite organised with where we kept our luggage, so if you’re booking this hotel and travelling with lots of bags I’d definitely keep the storage space in mind.

Could we have stayed somewhere cheaper? Definitely. Would I spend that money again? Without a doubt.

I also loved the location of the hotel. We were within walking distance of Chelsea Market, the High Line and Hudson Yards, which made exploring that part of the city really easy. We also had a subway station super close by, which meant getting around to places like Times Square, Central Park and Brooklyn was really straightforward.

The views were exactly what we’d hoped for, the location was brilliant and overall it became one of my favourite hotels I’ve stayed in. If I went back to New York, I’d happily stay here again but I’d just make sure I was prepared for the room size, especially if I was travelling with big suitcases.

Hotel cost: £846 per person

How Much Do New York Attractions Cost At Christmas?

One of the best things we booked was the 5 Day New York City Pass. It cost £230 per person and for us it was completely worth it.

We used it for some of New York’s most famous attractions, including the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock and the 9/11 Memorial. If it’s your first time visiting New York, I’d definitely look into getting one because it takes away the stress of booking everything separately.

The only other attractions we paid for were the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden and One Vanderbilt. The Knicks tickets were around £147 each and I’d recommend adding a game to your itinerary if you can. Even if you’re not a huge basketball fan, the atmosphere is incredible. We also visited One Vanderbilt, which cost £61 per person and the views from the top were amazing.

One thing I will say is that some of my favourite moments in New York didn’t cost us anything. This included walking around Central Park, bowsing the stalls at Bryant Park Winter Village and looking at all the Christmas window displays along Fifth Avenue. Sometimes it’s nice to slow down and just enjoy being in the city. You definitely don’t need to spend money every day to have an amazing trip.

Attractions cost: £438 per person

How Much Does Transport Cost In New York?

When we landed we got a taxi from JFK to our hotel and then another one back to the airport at the end of the trip. That came to around £200 in total, so roughly £67 each.

For the rest of the week, we used the subway and bought a 7 Day MetroCard, which cost around £27 per person. I’d definitely recommend doing this as New York is much bigger than it looks, and you’ll probably end up walking miles every day anyway. The subway made getting around so easy.

Transport cost: £94 per person

How Much Does Food Cost In New York?

Food was probably where I spent the most without really thinking about it. Thank goodness for Monzo because I paid for everything on there, so I could look back afterwards and work out exactly what I’d spent.

In total, I spent around £550 on food and drink. I know that sounds like a lot, but that included three really nice dinners at Beauty & Essex, Buddakan and Catch. It was my 30th birthday trip so I wanted to treat myself and those restaurants had been on my list for years and I’m so glad we booked them.

Of course if you’re trying to keep your New York Christmas budget down, you could easily spend less. There are loads of delis, pizza places and diners that are much more affordable. For me though eating at some of New York’s best restaurants was all part of the experience.

Food and drink cost: £550 per person

How Much Money Should You Budget For New York Extras?

I also spent around £75 on souvenirs. I always like bringing something home from a trip, and New York is definitely one of those places where it’s impossible to leave empty handed.

Souvenirs: £75 per person

So How Much Does New York Cost At Christmas?

For my 7 day trip, I spent £2,602 per person. That included flights, accommodation, attractions, transport, food, drinks and souvenirs. If you’re trying to work out your own New York Christmas budget, I’d say this is a realistic amount if you want to stay somewhere nice, visit the main attractions and enjoy some really good restaurants while you’re there.

Could you do it for less? Absolutely. You could stay in a cheaper hotel, book fewer attractions and eat at more casual places. But for me, this was a bucket list trip. I wanted to make the most of it, and I don’t regret spending what I did.

If you’re planning your own trip and wondering how much New York costs at Christmas, I hope this has given you a better idea of what to budget for. And if you’re still planning your itinerary, I’ve also shared my favourite things to do in New York in December, along with my 4 day New York Christmas itinerary to help you make the most of your trip.

FAQs

Is New York expensive at Christmas?

Yes, New York is definitely more expensive at Christmas. December is one of the most popular times to visit, which means flights and hotels are usually more expensive than other times of the year.

That being said, I do think it’s worth remembering that you don’t have to spend money on everything to have an amazing trip. Some of my favourite things we did in New York were completely free, like walking through Central Park, visiting Bryant Park Winter Village and looking at all the Christmas decorations around the city.

The biggest costs you’ll want to plan for are usually your flights and accommodation, so I’d recommend booking those as early as possible if you’re travelling during December.

Is New York worth visiting at Christmas?

For me, absolutely. New York at Christmas had been on my bucket list for years, and it really did live up to the expectations.

It’s definitely not the cheapest time to visit, but if you love Christmas and want that magical festive experience, I personally think it’s worth it.

What month is cheapest to visit New York?

If you’re looking to save money, December is probably not the cheapest month to visit New York. Christmas and New Year are some of the busiest times of the year, so flights and hotels are usually more expensive.

January and February tend to be cheaper, although you’ll also have colder weather to deal with. November can also be a good option if you still want some festive atmosphere without visiting during the busiest Christmas period.

How far in advance should you book a New York Christmas trip?

I’d recommend booking as early as you can. I booked my flights in July, around five months before we travelled, and paid £600 per person. Considering we were travelling during a busy period, I was really happy with that price.

Hotels are also something I’d recommend booking early, especially if you have a specific area, hotel or view in mind. The best located hotels and the ones with the best views tend to get booked quickly, especially around Christmas.

Can you do New York at Christmas on a budget?

Yes, you can, but I think it’s important to be realistic. New York is an expensive city, especially at Christmas, but there are definitely ways to keep costs down.

You could stay slightly further out from the main tourist areas, choose fewer paid attractions, use the subway instead of taxis and mix restaurants with cheaper options like delis, pizza places and food markets.

What are the best free things to do in New York at Christmas?

One of my favourite things about New York at Christmas is that you don’t need to spend money every day to have an amazing experience.

Some of the best free things to do include walking around Central Park, visiting Bryant Park Winter Village, seeing the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, exploring Fifth Avenue’s Christmas window displays and wandering around different neighbourhoods to see the decorations. I actually think some of these simple moments are what make New York feel so magical during December.

How much are hotels in New York at Christmas?

Hotels are usually one of the biggest expenses when visiting New York at Christmas. Prices vary massively depending on the location, the type of hotel and whether you want extras like a skyline view. For my trip, we stayed at Hyatt Place Chelsea and paid £846 per person for the hotel.

I hope this post on how much does New York cost at Christmas was useful and helps with your planning, don’t forget to check out the rest of my NYC Christmas posts here.

Check out my other New York guides here:

• New York City Travel Guide for First Time Visitors
• 31 Best Things To Do in New York City
• 4 Days in New York City Itinerary
• 4 Days in New York Christmas Itinerary
• The BEST Hotels in New York City With a View
• How to Get From JFK Airport to Manhattan by Subway (Under $20)
• New York Monthly Guides