How to Make the Right Choice?

Taking a trip to New York often means making a lifelong dream come true. Considered one of the most expensive destinations in the United States, the Big Apple is both magical and excessive. To avoid breaking the bank (too much), it is essential to prepare your trip well and be on the lookout to find all the good deals. One of the best ways to save money is to take a New York Pass, which allows you to visit the city's must-see attractions at a reduced rate. How does it work? Which one to choose? Why is it interesting? We tell you everything!

Why take a pass for New York?

The cultural offerings in New York are very rich, it is not for nothing that they say that it is the city that never sleeps! During your stay, you will surely want to see its main symbolssuch as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building or the Guggenheim Museum. Of course, you can buy separate tickets for each of the attractions, but most of the time it doesn't make financial sense. In addition, since the Covid crisis, the majority of sites require you to reserve a defined slot well in advance, whether you take a pass or not. So unless we ignore it, today it is impossible to go to New York without having anticipated your visits.

The main advantage of a pass for New York is therefore economic. Depending on the option chosen and what you want to do there, you will spend at least 30% less than by taking separate tickets, especially since there are regular promotions on the purchase of passes.

No matter which one you choose, they all work in much the same way:

• You buy your pass on the dedicated site by choosing the start date of your pass and the number you need.
• You will receive your purchase confirmation by email, accompanied by a QR code.
• You download the app corresponding to your pass on your phone.
• You reserve your visit slots at the different attractions.
• All you have to do is show your reservation at the entrance to each site!

You will have understood, the procedure is simple: everything is done dematerializedno need to print anything or take out the credit card each time since the pass is on your phone!

But taking a New York pass also offers other purely practical advantages. Having everything anticipated allows you to don't waste time thereyou will be entirely available to discover the city, without having to worry about the next day's program, apart from coffee breaks and wandering the streets or parks! In addition, having a pass for New York allows you to not having to queue at the checkout. Even if everyone now takes this option, the transition is fluid and goes very quickly.

What are the different types of passes for New York?

In all, there is 6 different passes for New York, which can be put into 3 main categories:

The New York City Pass

It is the one that has existed the longest and it provides access to 5 essential activities for 9 days. The Empire State Building and the American Museum of Natural History are automatically included and you can then add 3 by choosing from the following list: Top of the Rock, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Memorial and Museum of the 11 September, Circle Line sightseeing cruises, the Intrepid Sea and the Guggenheim Museum.

Benefits :

• This is the only pass that offers you the chance to climb the Empire State Building twice in the same day. Nice if you want to admire the view day and night!
• Perfect for a first trip to New York of less than 10 days and if you want to do the classics without breaking the bank.

Disadvantages:

• The choice of visits is limited.
• No Hop-On Hop-Off bus.
• It's the only one not to offer MoMA.

“A la carte” passes

There are three: the GO City Explorer Pass, the Sightseeing FLEX Pass and the New York C3. The principle is a little different since you choose precisely between 2 and 12 activities. It is therefore the most flexible formula and which will suit those who already know the city or who want a tailor-made stay.

Benefits :

• A wide range of visits is offered.
• Great if you stay in New York for a long time since the first 2 are valid for 60 days, but also if you want to do a lot of attractions.

Inconvenience :

• The price can quickly increase depending on the options chosen.

“Unlimited” passes

There are two of them: the Sightseeing DAY Pass and the New York pass. The idea is to pay according to the number of days during which you wish to use it, and not on the number of attractions, since you can choose an unlimited quantity from a selection which includes more than a hundred.

Benefits :

• Ideal for visiting as much as possible.
• Suitable for those who stay a short time and want to optimize.

Disadvantages:

• Not suitable for families with young children: it will be difficult for them to keep up to make the pass profitable.
• You must do at least 3 attractions per day to cover your costs.

Note that the Summit One Vanderbilt Observatory is not in any New York pass at this time. If you want to go, you will have to buy this ticket extra.

Are you lost in the mass of information? Don't panic, here are some tips to help you in your choice:

• Start by listing all the visits you want to make in New York, taking into account the number of days there and limiting yourself to a maximum of two attractions per day to have time to take the pulse of the city while strolling.
• Compare prices of your essentials with those of the different passes so that the latter is as amortized as possible.
• The idea is always to start from your desires and not the other way around, but above all to ask the right questions. For example, if you're not a fan of museums, will a pass really be worth it for you? Or, if you don't care about going to the base of the Statue of Liberty, isn't seeing it for free from the Staten Island ferry enough?
• If you leave with familyplease note that children under 3 do not pay for any attractions in New York, so they do not need a pass. However, the question arises for children who are between 3 and 6 years old, because some sites offer free entry, but this is not the case everywhere. Once again, compare prices to be sure whether it makes sense to take one or not.

To conclude, we can say that New York is full of things to do (and even unusual and secret places!), although it is impossible to see everything. It's up to you to select what appeals to you the most and choose your New York pass accordingly! In any case, the experience will be crazy and you will come back with stars in your eyes…