New York Spends???

elisebutt65

Really just asking for a friend of mine. We're all going on a Uni trip in a couple of weeks - we go on a Wednesday early am and get into NY for about lunchtime then fly out late Saturday evening.

I've been saving like mad and got nearly $1100 dollars which is probably waaaay more than I'll need but I do like to be prepared for shopping emergencies and don't want to use C/Cards at all!!!

But my friend drops the bombshell that she can't come on one of the trips I arranged for everyone - a Gourmet walking tour for $45(typical - she waits until I've booked it!) because she's only got $290 for the whole trip!! So once she's paid out for the other trips that college have organised - Rockefeller Centre tour, general walking tour of NY, let alone the reservations at some of the nightplaces I've made - she isn't going to be eating a lot???

Or is she??? I know it's cheap in America generally but from what I remember of NY, you can add about 20% to the usual prices.

This sort of thing is so typical of her though - drives me up the wall - she's a student ok, but she won't get a job and lives with her mum. I'm a single parent and I've been saving up all year just for this and I can still afford to really splurge now.No CC debt left either.


Can she get by on $290 - for trips and food and transport? I ain't bailing her out this time - she ran out of money last time we went on a trip - Prague last year and I ended up feeding her then:mad: I've let her know this as well in no uncertain terms cos she never even paid me back this time.

martindow

Because the dollar is so weak you can exist very cheaply. On the other hand there are also incredibly expensive restaurants. The subway and buses are very cheap especially if you use day tickets but if you choose to go everywhere by cab... You have really asked an impossible question - one person can easily spend 10 or 20 times as much as another!

hollydays

New York is a sea of eateries,including Delis ,which are very cheap.

biffa_2

I'm going to New York in June and noticed you wrote about a Gourmet walking tour, just wondered what this was and if there are any other different tours like this that are worth going on?

hollydays

Tour including visit to a gospel church service in Harlem on a Sunday (Abyssinian church is the most famous) and a meal after at a suitable musical eatery.Only tour we did.

fatboyonadiet

Whenever I go awya I budget, but if it looks like I'm going to go over I'll have a meal at MacDs or pick up some bits from a supermarket and save a little on the trip that way.

But food is cheap and exchange rate is good

questionasker

anybody know of good deals on exchanging for us dollars???

I know its pretty good anywhere at the moment but want the best deal possible. any recomendations would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

pavlovs_dog

i always find marks and spencers very competitive on currency exchange

fatboyonadiet

questionasker wrote:

anybody know of good deals on exchanging for us dollars???

I know its pretty good anywhere at the moment but want the best deal possible. any recomendations would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Credit to pin for this comprehensive post, his hard work NOT mine!

Hi, Here is my list of top places on how to get money to spend abroad: [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=times new roman,new york,times,serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=times new roman,new york,times,serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=times new roman,new york,times,serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=times new roman,new york,times,serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=times new roman,new york,times,serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]1. Nationwide Debit Card for ATM withdrawals from destination country (no foreign loading) / the Audi credit card or the Post Office credit card for purchases in destination country (but watch out for Dynamic Currency Conversion) (no foreign loading for purchases, BUT watch charges for cash withdrawals).

2. Nationwide Credit Card (please note Nationwide's policy re chip and pin in foreign countries: see this thread from FlyerTalk) (no foreign loading for purchases, BUT watch charges for cash withdrawals).
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=times new roman,new york,times,serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=times new roman,new york,times,serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=times new roman,new york,times,serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=times new roman,new york,times,serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]
3. SAGA credit card (if you are over 50) for purchases in destination country (no foreign loading for European purchases, 1% for rest of the world, no cash withdrawal interest if balance repaid in full BUT 1.5%/£1.50 cash withdrawal fee).

4. Any other debit card for ATM withdrawals from destination country / any other credit card for purchases in destination country (but for both CHECK T&C's to see exact charges).

5. Thomas Exchange Global ("TEG") in central London - pay and pick up at store.

6. Travelex online (remember Travelex will price match any other exchange service, i.e. the one above) -pay online, pick up at airport.

For price matching: order through Travelex online as you would do normally, then call up TEG (02072401214 or 02078281880) and get a quote re their exchange rate. Email Travelex: [EMAIL="customerservices@travelex.com"]customerservices@travelex.com[/EMAIL] (must be done on the same day) stating the following: your Travelex reference number, your currency quote from TEG (and the fact you got it from TEG) and your address (Travelex will send you a cheque refunding the difference). Also Travelex normally acknowledge receipt of your email. Full terms and conditions of the Travelex Price Promise are on the Travelex website.

7. Marks and Spencer - pay online or pay and pick up instore.

8. Online FX (using this link ensures free deliver) - pay online, delivery to home.

9. HSBC (they seem to use Amex as their travel money provider and offer free delivery for orders over £350) - pay online, deliver to home or pick up from branch (and avoid any delivery charge).

10. Thomson Travel (they seem to use Amex as their travel money provider) - pay online, delivery to home.

11. Co-op Travel (they use Currency Express / Exchange and offer free delivery for orders over £300) - pay online, delivery to home.

12. Post Office (while probably not the best rate, there are many of them around, so may be convenient) - pay online, pick up at PO or pay and pick up at PO.

13. Haggle with High Street travel agent (which may ensure better rates than 5 to 9 above) - pay and pick up instore.

With 1 - 4 make sure you tell your card provider you are going abroad, where you are going and for how long, so they can put a note on your account.

With 5 - 13, if you are paying with debit / credit card check your T&C's as many providers charge for the privilege of using money exchange services.

Here are links to ATM locators: VISA and MasterCard

Here are various information links to VISA: Foreign Exchange Rate FAQ and Visa Exchange Rates

Also please read Martin's article: Spending Overseas and Loading Technicals

Also look at the these forum threads: The Cheapest Way to Spend Overseas Discussion Area and How to buy TCs and foreign currency

Hope this all helps!![/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]

metrobus

get a $24 metrocard valid 7 days on subway and buses
really easy to use and will save you a lot of walking and/or
cab fares.

elisebutt65

biffa wrote:

I'm going to New York in June and noticed you wrote about a Gourmet walking tour, just wondered what this was and if there are any other different tours like this that are worth going on?

here $45 for a 3 hour tour plus food samples - payment when you meet up - no deposit required.