Hi Hanna!

It is pretty hard to find a cheap room in NYC. The way I get a great deal is to go through www.hotwire.com. I got a room in midtown Manhattan for a 3rd of the price! Any neighborhood in Manhattan is usually pretty good. Only problem is you won’t see the hotel name until after you pay, but that usually isn’t a problem if you stick to 3 & 4 star hotels. Another cool option is a hostel. You meet awesome people and it is SUPER cheap. A pretty cool hostel is http://www.chelseahostel.com/ or http://www.bigapplehostel.com/. Hotwire.com is also great for cheap plane tickets so is Priceline.com. Depending on where you’re coming from JetBlue has some great deals.

One thing you can’t miss while you’re in NYC is Serendipity III (225 E 60th St, New York, NY). It is a little hole in the wall on the Upper East Side, very close to Bloomingdales. Sit down and have a big frozen hot chocolate. One of the yummiest things ever!! Might be a good idea to make a reservation. Another great food spot is Magnolia Bakery (401 Bleecker St, New York, NY). Best cupcakes in the world! It is also on Bleeker street which is a great spot if you’re into the history of rock music. If you’re into art one of Claude Monet’s famous waterlilies is on display at MOMA (Museum of Modern Art). I just saw most of the series in Paris, AMAZING! And of course, none of my trips are complete without a visit to Strawberry Fields in Central Park where the John Lennon Memorial is located (West side of the park, 72nd street entrance, follow the path with the signs). A haunting but beautiful place. Bring a flower or card if you’re a fan. The memorial is always covered in them.

Another great find is a vegetarian cafe (owned by Moby) on the Lower East Side called Teany. (90 Rivington St, New York) It’s a little off the beaten path but great! Check out Chinatown for some fun cheap shopping and Little Italy around the corner for delicious food and great stroll. Another fantastic stop if you’re into art is the Met. There’s a great little outdoor cafe on the roof where you can have a drink and look out over Central Park.

Have a great time!!!!!