Fall flights to New York City from $42 one way plus savings tips

Autumn is notoriously a wonderful time to visit New York City. With schools back in session, you’ll find lighter crowds and tourists, the weather is perfect for walking and exploring, and hotel rates are a bit more reasonably priced. Well, sort of… Here are some travel and savings trips for the city.

First, take advantage of great airfare deals! Pay just $42 each way on your choice of airlines and airports. There is no ticket-by date on these offers but you should find them available for purchase through September.

Purchase one-way travel if you want to mix and match with other airlines offering similar rates.

New York-LaGuardia Airport:
Southwest Airlines $54-$63 October 4-November 16
Frontier $42 September 20-November 16
American $64 October 4-November 16; November 30-December 14
Delta from $99

Newark Airport:
United $54 September 27-November 16
Delta $79 October 4-November 16; November 30-December 14

JFK:
JetBlue $54 September 21-November 16; November 29-Dec 14
Delta from $99

Note that American, JetBlue and Delta extend their lowest rates through mid-December. Check out the 12 Best Christmas Markets in New York City.

When searching for a hotel, you will save max dollars if you stay out of the Midtown area and the Theater District. Not only will you avoid the mass of tourists, but taking a hotel in a more residential area will give you more of an authentic experience – including restaurants and bars. No matter where you are in Manhattan, you are within minutes of top attractions and no more than 30 minutes using the subway. Also, look for very nice hotels and decent prices in the Brooklyn and Queens neighborhoods.

Hotel savings tip: Do not judge a hotel by the price (the higher, the better). Cheap hotels can often raise rates if a particularly busy week or weekend is expected (conventions, concerts, sports events). This is one time when you should read the most recent reviews of a property.

Save on dining by combining some sightseeing. For instance, take a cruise for lunch or dinner and take in the skyline with narration. Another good way to save is to take a walking food tour. Along the way, your guide points out hidden landmarks often missed by visitors and locals alike, leaving you with inside knowledge about the neighborhood. You’ll sample treats along the way – and these can make up a large sit-down meal! Find out all of the hundreds of tour options at Viator.

One of the best deals on a cruise is aboard the North River Lobster Company, New York City’s only floating lobster shack. The 7 p.m. cruise lasts two hours and cruises to the Statue of Liberty and back, $25. All other cruises are 60 minutes and cost just $10. Reservations are not taken and boarding is first come, first served.

Theater bound? Never buy theater tickets from street hackers! Some half-price theater tickets in New York can only be bought on the day of the show, and there is no guarantee your show will be available. Not all tickets are 50% off and many ticket discounts are 40%, 30% or even just 20%. Also, you will not find half-price tickets to any of the Top 10 Broadway shows. Find out how to score a deal at the TKTS ticket stands.

Other ticket sources are NYC.com and Ticketmaster breaks down ticket searches online to include 2-for-1, Me+3 or 4-Pack, tickets under $40, and more.

JFK to Midtown is a flat rate of $52 by taxi for up to four persons (plus any bridge or tunnel tolls and a surcharge of $4.50 during peak times). Whether you choose taxi, town car, shuttle or public transportation is your choice depending on the number of people and how much luggage you have. Visit this link for other public transportation options between LaGuardia and Newark. Frequent travelers to NYC find Newark to the city is the easiest, fastest and least expensive option for tourists.

See Clark’s travel planning and booking guide for the best tips on stress-free travel, and check out InsureMyTrip.com for travel insurance.