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Last month I spent a rather spontaneous long weekend in NYC for the double holiday: Valentine's Day & President's Day.
Financially, it wasn't the most well planned trip, but it ended up being one of those vacations where everything simply comes together in a way that almost feels cosmic. I reconnected with tons of friends, ate all of my favorite foods, and took a nostalgia-filled working tour around my old neighborhood. It was healing for my NYC homesick soul, yet I left with an even deeper appreciation for my new home in Seattle.
I could go on and on, but since this is a financial blog, let's dive into the numbers!
Like I said, this trip was somewhat spontaneous, and I don't currently have a filled sinking fund for travel, so most expenses went on the credit card. Don’t worry, I'll be paying it off this month before the statement balance comes due (a top priority, always).
Unsurprisingly, my two biggest expenses were transportation and food. I made a few intentional efforts to save costs: staying at my friend's apartment in Astoria, eating occasional meals at her place before going out, making leftovers last, and taking public transit whenever possible.
My flight was the biggest expense, coming in at $466 base fare with a first class upgrade of $232.56. I splurged on the upgrade because I was flying through an entire workday (9AM PST to 5PM EST) and I was originally assigned a middle seat in row 32.
The upgrade, which came out to less than $50 per hour of flying time, spared me a day of PTO and let me work comfortably, espresso martini in hand. It ended up being one of my favorite splurges of this trip. I don't, however, think I'll be making a habit of this – at least not at this phase of my life. But for this spontaneous getaway? Absolutely worth it.
Once in New York, I mostly stuck to public transit:
Penn Station train tickets: $33.60
MTA subway tickets: $29
One Lyft ride from Brooklyn to Queens: $26.79 (saved me three train transfers and about 40 minutes when I was running late)
In-flight WiFi: $8
I revisited some favorite local spots and explored the new trending spots. Also, West Coast, please get Dunkin' already!
These prices include some pastries and friends' coffees, plus take-home chai from my #1 spot, Pause Café in the Lower East Side.
Starbucks: $20
Dunkin': $20
Win Son: $45.64
Pause Café: $29.39
Qahwah House: $8.90
Café Amrita: $7.24
This category ranges from margarita pitchers in the rain to shots with questionable names at dive bars. The first three charges are actually from the same (very fun) night out:
Double Down Saloon: $26.00
A10: $60.55
One & One: $20.40
Tootles French: $33.51
Food is one of my favorite ways to connect with people, and I love treating my friends when I can. Some of them beat me to the check, but here are the meals I was able to cover:
Sarabeth's: $84.38
Veselka: $52.84 (Ukrainian comfort food I'd been craving for months)
Yaar Indian: $52.05
Hollywood Diner: $37.15
El Mitote: $47.83
Taverna Kyclades: $126.04 (Some of the best Greek food in Astoria)
Eat It Halal: $14.18
Small gifts as a thank you for my friend's hospitality, plus I accidentally broke a hook in her closet and bought a command hook to replace it.
Magnolia Bakery Valentine's Day cupcakes: $11.90
Chateau Renaissance Wine: $36.00
Replacement command hook: $6.00
If you visit NYC and don't try Astoria rice pudding, you're missing out. And the vegan cheesecake at Martha's defies all expectations of dairy-free desserts—truly a 10/10 experience.
Airport snacks: $18.75
Rice pudding: $4.00
Martha's Country Bakery: $29.70
El Churro: $19.60
Emergency umbrella from Duane Reade after getting caught in a classic February downpour: $14.40 (now permanently lives in my backpack)
Book (Hamnet) & sticker (brownstone) from Shakespeare & Co on Broadway: $22.81
A blanket-sized scarf from Union Square farmers market: $20.00
Was this trip finance-friendly? Not exactly. Was the opportunity to reconnect with the city and people I love worth it? Absolutely.
What's your approach to travel spending? Let me know in the comments!
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