New York is suddenly affordable. Summer in New York City is steaming up with last-minute vacation bargains and deals. First-time visitors to the U.S. should make a beeline for New York CityPass, a pocket-size booklet of must-see, bold-face attraction tickets, priced 44% less than regular admissions. Hotel rates have been slashed up to 30% and airfares are at all-time lows. The city is pulling out all the stops to make Summer 2009 a budget bonanza.
New York CityPass goes straight to the heart of the city, to the places visitors really must see. Tickets to New York’s most famous attractions are bound in a convenient one-purchase booklet that speeds visitors past most entrance lines: Empire State Building Observatory, The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Statue of Liberty from Liberty Island or as admired from a cinematic Circle Line cruise, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History, and the Guggenheim Museum. New York CityPass is $79 USD for adults, a savings of $61, and $59 USD for youth, age 13-17, a $42 savings. Bookets are valid for nine days, allowing plenty of time to combine these legendary landmarks with shopping, dining and other must-see city icons, parks and neighborhoods.
Times Square is now very pedestrian friendly. It’s the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Henry Hudson. On America’s birthday this year, the Statue of Liberty reopened the climb to the crown. Visitors seeking the thrilling experience of the climb to the top of the crown can get important information on how to reserve tickets in advance (a must) at www.citypass.com. NYC & Co, the city’s convention and visitors bureau, has created The Real Deal site with exclusive offers throughout New York City on hotels, dining, shopping and more, including many great deals for families. A Sunday Stays program discounts Sunday night bookings by 20-30%. During July and August, a Signature Collections Third Night promotion at select luxury hotels offers a free third night.
CityPass offers an e-ticket option to avoid the cost of international shipping. Vouchers are redeemable at any attraction, and booklets are sold at each attraction and at NYC & Company’s Official Visitor Information Center, 810 Seventh Avenue between 52nd and 53d Streets, North of Times Square. The new mobile application allows travelers to take CityPass information along on their iPhone. Go to http://wheretraveler.com/mobile/cp/.
CityPass saves time and money in 11 North American destinations: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hollywood, Houston, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Southern California and Toronto, Canada. For more information, to take an online page-by-page look inside a CityPass ticket booklet or to check attraction exhibits, public transportation, CityPass price savings and how to purchase an eticket, click on citypass.com.
