A great getaway for interliners is a trip to New York City to see one of the many musicals and plays that take place almost every night in New York City.
Even for those crew who have an overnight at Newark, La Guardia or JFK, this is a great option to spend the evening.
But with prices running from $50 to over $200 this can get pricey. But there are ways to save money and do a 2 or 3 night trip to New York City and take in the plays on the cheap, if you know what to do.
First plan your getaway to take in a Tuesday and Wednesday night. These are the nights when you are going to find the most options for musicals and plays at the best rates.
Then wait till you get to New York and then buy your tickets at TKTS ticket locations.
On a recent trip to New York on a Tuesday night we found special prices on a lot of the popular plays and musicals. Our options included Phantom, Les Miserables, The King & I, Fantastics, Kinky Boots, Jersey Boys and many other popular plays. All have half off from TKTS.
The performances typically start at 7pm, some at 8pm. So you can grab dinner before or after the play.
If you love Italian, then check out Carmines on 200 W 44th St. Here they provide family style dining and HUGE servings. It is right in the middle Theatre District and is typically open till 11pm or later. So yes, you can make a performance and have dinner at Carmines after.
We had dinner at Carmines and it ran under $50 for two with tip and there was enough leftover to feed almost 4 other people. Yes the servings are that large.
Now where to stay.
We found a great rate the ROW NYC. The rooms are not large. We paid an extra $7 to upgrade to larger room and it was still under 170 sq ft. Small and comfy which is not bad because you really shouldn’t spend much time in your room except to sleep when you do a 3 day getaway to New York City.
What is great about the ROW NYC was the location. At roughly 8th and 44th it is just a block from Times Square and in the middle of the Theatre District. There were theatres in every direction from the hotel and the NYC subway was 2 blocks away, which meant we could get anywhere we wanted quickly and cheaply.
For those who have never heard of the ROW NYC, it is a modern hotel, very hip, popular with Europeans, very clean and probably the best price for the location in New York City.
Never heard of the ROW NYC? Well maybe you know if by it’s previous name, the Milford Plaza. Yes the same Milford Plaza so many flight crews stayed at when they overnighted in New York City years ago. While known then as the Mildew Plaza, it’s not anything like that anymore.
Yes the rooms are still small but you will be pleasantly surprised with the ROW NYC. Unfortunately they currently offer no interline rates. However as we go to press InterlineTravel.com is trying to work a deal with the hotel for interliners. So check with them for rates – 800 766-2911
So the ideal getaway to NYC looks like this.
Fly into say Newark on Tuesday morning. Take the New Jersey Transit train from the Newark Airport to Penn Station in Manhattan. From there take a taxi to the ROW NYC.
Prior to leaving for New York City download the TKTS App. Once you get to New York City check out what shows are available and the cost. You can usually buy them online or at the TKTS ticket office near Times Square.
Here is the link for the TKTS App, available on both Apple and Google.
Now figure out do you want dinner before or after the show. Ask the concierge at the ROW NYC for suggestions. They know all of the local restaurants and which ones to avoid. We did Carmines and it was wonderful.
If you did a late breakfast, skipped lunch, then grab a hot dog from the hot dog stand by the ROW NYC and save yourself for dinner at a place like Carmines before the show or if you can wait, then enjoy a late dinner after.
The next day get up and explore New York City. Visit the 911 Memorial and Museum. Go shopping in the garment district. Check out art in the art district. Do serious shopping along 5th Avenue. Take a carriage ride thru Central Park. Stop in for lunch at Katz Deli where the famous scene from When Harry Met Sally took place.
So much to do, one day won’t be enough. That evening, after you have checked the options for last minute half price tickets from TKTS and bought your tickets go enjoy another wonderful play or musical and go enjoy dinner afterwards.
Now while TKTS has tickets every day, your best and most options will typically be found on Tuesday and Wednesday. The least options as expected will be on Friday and Saturday night. Monday night used to be the night all shows were “dark” (not taking place), these days you can even find some shows taking place on Monday night. But again the best options for the most choices will be on Tuesday and Wednesday night. So plan you NYC getaway for those nights so you have the best shot at scoring some great tickets to some of the most popular shows!
Then your three day getaway is over and it’s time to head home. Grab the subway back to Newark and start planning your next trip to New York City.
Now we are suggesting Newark as the ideal airport for a getaway to New York City because it has the easiest and least expensive option to get from the airport into downtown Manhattan. Taking the New Jersey Transit or Amtrak is easy, quick and relatively inexpensive compared to getting in from La Guardia or JFK. While you can get to Manhattan from either of those two airports, you are going to find it so much easier and cheaper from Newark.