Frommer's NYC Free & Dirt Cheap

by Ethan Wolff

Written by a local expert and designed for visitors and residents alike, this savvy guide delivers the inside scoop on New York City deals, bargains, and freebies Shows how to gain free admission to plays, concerts, TV show tapings, and museums (17 are free every day, and almost all are free at least one day a month) Explains where to chow down on cheap eats-happy hours, free gourmet samples, half-price meals-plus free haircuts, classes, and much more

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Reference

310 pages, Paperback

First published November 5, 2004

Reviews

[Willow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just returned from a 3 day trip to New York and this book totally saved me. Danielle and I had sooo much to do, and found really really great food and shopping that we couldn't have found easily without the book. It totally shaped our experience on the trip. We took the book with us everywhere. Not just for travelers-it includes sections on shopping, eating and drinking, entertainment, living, and several itineraries all with saving as much money as possible in mind. The Best Of section is a fave of mine. All of the places mentioned in the book have contact info, and the maps are layed out in such a way that if you go to a section looking for shopping you can also find food in the same area. We kept using these maps whenever we'd get hungry to figure out where to go next that was close. I'll keep this book forever (or at least until another adition comes out!).

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Along with guides to cheap and free entertainment and food, the book also includes numerous maps, subway directions, a chart listing free admission times at museums and galleries, and a couple of detailed plans for non-touristy walking tours. And although I won't be here long enough to take advantage of the chapters on free classes/lectures and cheap shopping, I'll certainly return to them if I ever move to the city. This one is staying on my shelf.

Plus, Wolff's chatty tone makes for an entertaining read.

Recommended for anyone coming to New York City, whether vacationing or moving here; it'll pay for itself in the money you'll save and the random places you'll find.

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently moved back to New York after decades away, and this book is, by far, the most useful guide I've seen, covering everything from theater, shopping, and restaurants to health insurance, with detailed, frequently witty write-ups. Found it while browsing in the library, then had to have my own copy and ordered one from Amazon. This will be my Bible for doing stuff in NY -- seriously, it's that good. There are more intriguing things described in the book than I could get to in a dozen lifetimes.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great for anyone living in the NYC area that wants to get the best of Manhattan for the least amount of money! I've gone to so many great restaurants, seen so many beautiful things and had such great & cheap experiences thanks to this book! Buy it and don't go to the city without it!

[Michelle V · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as helpful as I thought it would be but still a nice addition to my NYC books.

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read when I was spending over aonth in NYC. Had some great ideas on ways to get to know NYC at a deeper level.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book was certainly helpful during my week-long trip to NYC, I feel like half of it didn't apply to me, and I would've been better off checking it out from the library instead of buying it. Oh well.

Things I really enjoyed:

- breaking down cheap eats (and other things) by neighborhood, complete with zoomed-in maps
- the chart of which museums are free on which nights
- the daily itineraries included in the back

[Annasan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. I've read and used it so many times. VERY highly recommend it.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The internet is a better resource for this stuff, and unlike this book, the information there is free.

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Info for Discount Broadway/Off-Broadway tickets...planning's coming along!

[Grace]

They say that NYC is the most expensive city in the states but this book makes living on a student budget not so nickeled and dimed.

[Zahreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great tips for someone who wants to enjoy the city on a student's budget!

[samosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most useful NYC book I've ever bought. Never realized how many things you can do in NYC for free.