New York is probably one of the most popular tourist cities in the world. And no wonder– there is so much life here! I’m sitting just off Times Square as I write this, in the sweltering heat of New York summer. New York is a city of extremes– and I’m not just talking about the weather. On 5th Avenue, I saw an older woman wearing a giant black hat and Chanel walking alongside a twenty-something woman wearing shorts and flip-flops.

But enough about the culture and vibrance of New York. This post is about the affordable New York City vacation. If you’re planning a New York City vacation, you know that you might have to budget a fair amount aside for the trip.

So is it possible to visiti New York on a budget? Absolutely.

My airfare from SFO to Newark was free. I used miles. You’re probably wondering how I was even able to use miles in peak season. Last minute tickets can be easier to book using miles. I don’t know why but I found that the closer I got to my travel date, the easier it was to book my tickets.

As for hotel, I’m staying at the Four Points Sheraton in Times Square. In mid-July, that hotel could cost up to $250 a night. But trust Priceline to negotiate me a deal. I got this hotel for $104 a night!

Travelling within New York City is really easy. I used the subway. Since I’m only here for less than a week, I didn’t even get the unlimited 7 day Metrocard. In all, I spend $10 on my Metrocard for the past two days within Manhattan. Using the Metrocard, I’ve been to SoHo, Chinatown, Times Square and Central Park.

Food in New York is known to be expensive. But not if you are willing to eat street food. So far, I’ve had 2 kabob meals from the kabob trucks (there’s one on every corner) and one hot dog. Of course, if street food isn’t your fare, there are always plenty of cheap eats. This week is “restaurant week” where you can have lunch for $25 at participating restaurants and dinner for $35. I made reservations at a restaurant called “Blue Fin”. Let’s see how that goes.

As far as the good’ol New York shopping trip on Canal street, once known for its replica Louis Vuitton purses and fake Gucci hanbags, the designer knockoffs are no more. I ventured out to Canal street after drenching myself in the pouring rain in SoHo. Once I got to Canal street, I noticed that many of the purse stores in Chinatown were no longer operated by Chinese people. In fact, many were Bengladeshi (or so I guessed, I’m not sure). Remember the days when you could walk into a Chinatown purse store, to be shown the “secret” collection of knockoff Prada purses? Gone are those days. One of the shopkeepers told me that there were no more fake purses in stores because it was too much trouble. I knew exactly what he was talking about. Parked outside, on the corner of Lafayette and Canal, was a huge NYPD van.

I guess bargain hunting fashionistas will have to resort to the Internet for their designer knockoffs then.

All in all, I spent a total of twenty dollars for two days worth of food. Not bad, eh? But let’s see what the bill comes out to once I let go of the street kabobs and actually try a real restaurant. Tomorrow, I’m trying out the restaurants participating in restaurant week. Let’s just hope I lay off the kabob trucks for the remainder of the trip.