Photos: The Big Apple

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  1. A green oasis

    Central Park was the first public park built in America. Its 843 acres include 136 acres of woodlands, 250 acres of lawns, and 150 acres of water in 7 waterbodies, making up 6 percent of Manhattan's total acreage. Central Park was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965 and a New York City Landmark in 1974. More than 25 million visitors enjoy Central Park each year. (Kathy Willens / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
  2. Parking space

    Central Park includes walking tracks, ice-skating rinks, and numerous grassy areas. There are 51 sculptures in the Park and 36 bridges and arches. (NYC & Company, Inc.) Back to slideshow navigation
  3. Grand Central

    Grand Central Terminal is more than the world’s largest train station. It is also a major tourist draw. Grand Central features restaurants and cocktail lounges, casual eateries and dozens of specialty shops. Additionally, Grand Central is a venue for various public events, from tennis exhibits to the annual Holiday Fair. Visitors can take a guided tour of the renovated landmark, or they can take their own walking tour. • HD View: Grand Central Terminal Click to view an interactive, high-definition panorama of Grand Central Terminal. (Bryan Bedder / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  4. Fast food

    Street vendors sell food in midtown in New York. You can get anything from hotdogs to cupcakes on the city's streets. (Jonathan D. Woods / msnbc.com) Back to slideshow navigation
  5. Chilling out

    Skaters glide around the rink at the Rockefeller Center Ice Rink. The ice rink, open between October and April, has attracted more than 250,000 people a year since it first opened on Dec. 25, 1936. (Spencer Platt / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  6. A New York icon

    A general view at night of the Empire State Building taken from the Top Of The Rock at Rockefeller Plaza in Midtown Manhattan. At 102 stories high, the Empire State Building is the second tallest skyscraper in America and the 11th tallest in the world. • HD View: Midtown Manhattan Click to view an interactive, high-definition panorama of midtown Manhattan. (Dave Etheridge-Barnes / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  7. Holy landmark

    Saint Patrick's Cathedral is the largest decorated gothic-style Catholic Cathedral in the U.S. The Cathedral's construction began in 1858, and opened its doors in 1879. (Vincenzo Pinto / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  8. Gateway to 'Chicago'

    One of the most popular areas to catch a Broadway show is on West 44th Street in New York’s Theater District. Forty-three shows opened on Broadway in the 2008-09 season, grossing more than $943 million. (Richard Drew / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
  9. J.Lo's Tussaud trousseau

    Visitors scrutinize a wax figure of Jennifer Lopez, outfitted in a wedding dress, at Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. The museum is open to tourists every day of the year, including major holidays. A general all-day pass costs $35. (Richard Drew / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
  10. Artistic impressions

    Visitors admire Barnett Newman’s “Broken Obelisk,” left, in the main atrium of the Museum of Modern Art. MoMa’s collection includes exhibits featuring architecture and design, drawings, photography, paintings and sculptures, and more, and tickets cost $20 for an adult. (Kids under 16 can enter for free.) (Mandel Ngan / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  11. Fashionable avenue

    Pedestrians walk by a fashion display in a window along Fifth Avenue in New York City. Despite a continuing grim economy, stores along Manhattan's Fifth Avenue are holding strong. (Spencer Platt / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  12. Historic venue

    The celebrated Carnegie Hall opened in 1891, with Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky conducting the inaugural concert. Some of the most popular classical musicians, as well as dancers, authors and politicians have appeared on its stage. (NYC & Company, Inc.) Back to slideshow navigation
  13. In living color

    Times Square was named after the Times building, housing the former offices of the New York Times newspaper. Its animated, digital advertisements have made the area a popular destination for tourists and Manhattan businesses. • Photosynth: Times Square View an interactive 3-D image of Times Square at night. (Paul Segner / msnbc.com) Back to slideshow navigation
  14. Get your groove on

    Hundreds of people are seen dancing on salsa night during Midsummer Night Swing at Lincoln Center’s Josie Robertson Plaza. The Lincoln Center is located on 16 acres in New York City. (Timothy A. Clary / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  15. Sandstone monument

    Visitors tour the Temple of Dendur -- a Nubian temple that was built by the Roman governor of Egypt, Petronius, around 15 B.C. -- at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. (Jonathan D. Woods / msnbc.com) Back to slideshow navigation
  16. The sea in the city

    A 94-foot-long blue whale model hangs over the exhibit space at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. (Spencer Platt / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  17. Classic Art Deco

    The Chrysler Building (seen from the roof of the Met Life building), was completed in 1930. It was the first man-made structure to stand taller than 1,000 feet (1,046 feet). It was also the world's tallest, before being surpassed in height by the Empire State Building at 1,250 feet. (Mario Tama / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  18. Race to the top

    People walk through the Art Deco-style lobby of Manhattan's Chrysler Building, built to glorify the U.S. auto industry in the late 1920's. At 1,046 feet high, the Chrysler Building was the first building to top the then tallest structure, the Eiffel Tower in Paris. (Emmanuel Dunand / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  19. Bridging the gap

    The Brooklyn Bridge, one of the oldest suspension bridges in the U.S., stretches 5,989 feet over the East River, connecting to Manhattan and Brooklyn. It opened for use on May 24, 1883 when 1,800 vehicles and 150,300 people crossed. The bridge cost $15.5 million to build and approximately 27 people died during its construction. (Eric Feferberg / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  20. Taste of Asia

    Vendors and locals shuffle about Mott Street in Chinatown. New York City's Chinatown is the largest Chinatown in the U.S. — and the site of the largest concentration of Chinese in the western hemisphere. (Jonathan D. Woods / msnbc.com) Back to slideshow navigation
  21. Archway to the park

    The Empire State Building rises in the distance behind the arch in Washington Square Park, a landmark in the Manhattan neighborhood of Greenwich Village. (Richard Drew / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
  22. Night at the Apollo

    Patrons line up outside the Apollo Theater in Harlem to see Amateur Night. Since 1934, Amateur Night at the Apollo has launched the careers of famous entertainers such as Billie Holiday, James Brown, The Isley Brothers, Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson, Lauryn Hill, and many others. (Jonathan D. Woods / msnbc.com) Back to slideshow navigation
  23. Play ball!

    Spectators walk through the Great Hall before a New York Yankees game at Yankee Stadium. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  24. A new Yankees Stadium

    The New York Yankees play against the Chicago Cubs at Yankee Stadium on April 3, 2009 -- the first game to be played in the new Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won 7–4. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  25. Rebuilding in remembrance

    A wide-angle view of the construction at the World Trade Center site in lower Manhattan. The site is being rebuilt with six new skyscrapers and a memorial to the casualties of the 9-11 attacks. • HD View: See World Trade Center site now Click to view an interactive, high-definition picture of the construction at the World Trade Center site as it stands in summer 2009. (John Makely / msnbc.com) Back to slideshow navigation
  26. Bull-dogged

    Pedestrians walk past the "Charging Bull" -- the unofficial symbol of Wall Street -- in the financial district. The 7,000 pound bronze sculpture is said to provide good financial luck to both stock traders and tourists. (Mandel Ngan / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  27. Land of the free enterprise

    The area around the New York Stock Exchange is one of the busiest sections of town. (Mario Tama / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  28. Moving experience

    Ellis Island, at the mouth of the Hudson River in New York Harbor, is the symbol of American immigration. From January 1, 1892, until November 12, 1954, this location was the main entry point for immigrants entering the United States. The Ellis Island Immigration Museum is part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and is one of the country's most popular historic sites. (Paul Hawthorne / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  29. Carnival by the shore

    A couple walks along the Coney Island boardwalk, opened in 1923. Coney Island features entertainment parks, rides, an aquarium, a public beach, a boardwalk, fishing, and Nathan's restaurant. (Adam Rountree / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  30. She still carries a torch for you

    Tourists photograph the Statue of Liberty as they arrive by ferry from Manhattan. (Timothy A. Clary / AFP/Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  31. The way to go!

    Traveling by subway is one of the best ways to get around the city. More than 4.3 million people ride the New York subway system every day. It is one of the oldest and most extensive public transportation systems in the world. (Mario Tama / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
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updated 3/23/2009 10:17:58 AM ET 2009-03-23T14:17:58

Hotel le Jolie, from $129 a night
In Brooklyn's hip Williamsburg neighborhood, a short ride on the L subway line from Manhattan, Le Jolie offers complimentary continental breakfast, including homemade pastries, muffins, an assortment of cereal, fresh-squeezed juices, and Starbucks coffee. The 54 luxurious rooms, outfitted with business travelers in mind, feature large desks with no-glare lighting, ergonomic chairs, secure Wi-Fi and cable high-speed Internet access, dual-line telephones, and fax, messenger, and secretarial services. Other amenities include an iPod docking station, a 42-inch flat-screen TV, and a minibar refrigerator.

Rates start at $129 per room per night on weekdays; add $20 per room per night on weekends.

When: Until Dec. 30, 2009.
Details: A minimum two-night stay is required.Taxes of 14.25 percent and a daily occupancy fee of $3.50 are not included. Based on single or double occupancy. Must book at least seven days prior to arrival.
Contact: 866/526-4097, hotellejolie.com.

Algonquin Hotel from $143 a night
The Broadway Night Out special, available to residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, offers a 20 percent discount off nightly rates (which start at $179 per room), a complimentary room upgrade, continental breakfast for two, and your choice between free parking or a $25 food-and-beverage credit at the Round Table Room restaurant. Guests can also take advantage of a complimentary booking service to arrange for tickets to a Broadway show, an opera, or a sporting event of their choice (tickets are not included). The 174-room midtown hotel, recently added to the National Trust Historic Hotels of America, is the birthplace of the Broadway hit My Fair Lady and The New Yorker magazine.

Rates start at $143 per room per night.

When: Dec. 31, 2009.
Details: The starting rate reflects a 20 percent discount as well as a room upgrade. Taxes are an additional 14.25 percent. Based on single or double occupancy.
Contact: 888/304-2047, algonquinhotel.com.

Hotel le Bleu from $169 a night
This 48-room property in Park Slope, Brooklyn, offers a welcome package that includes a selection of treats, such as Kashi Granola Bars, Frito Lay Flat Earth Veggie Chips, Nona's Biscotti, fruit juices, Voss water from Norway, and Starbucks coffee. The hotel's leafy neighborhood, about 15 to 20 minutes from Manhattan by subway, has beautiful brownstone buildings and is jam-packed with unique boutiques, shops, and ethnic restaurants. Guests will enjoy comfortable Egyptian-cotton bedding, orthopedic mattresses, Nutura organic spa products, and super-soft Touch Me robes.

Rates start at $169 per room per night during the week; add $10 per room per night for weekend stays.

It's A Snap! Readers' best shots

When: Until Dec. 30, 2009.
Details: A minimum stay of two nights is required. Does not include taxes of 16 percent. Based on single or double occupancy. Must book at least seven days prior to arrival.
Contact: 866/427-6073, hotellebleu.com.

Wyndham Garden Hotel Manhattan Chelsea West from $189 a night
With the Wyndham Weekender special, guests can choose between a 50 percent discount on a consecutive second night or get a second room at half the rate. The 124 guestrooms offer complimentary wireless and wired high-speed Internet access, 32-inch LCD televisions, alarm clocks with MP3 and iPod capabilities, Herman Miller ergonomic desk chairs, in-room coffee by Wolfgang Puck, and True Blue Spa amenities by Bath and Body Works.

Guests also have access to a 24-hour fitness center and the on-site Wyndham Café E.R.L., which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The convenient Chelsea location on the west side of Manhattan offers easy access to the Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden, and Union Square.

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Rates start at $189 per room per night.

When: Weekends through Apr. 26, 2009.
Details: Valid for Friday-Sunday. Add $15 for continental breakfast for two. Taxes of 14.25 percent and a daily occupancy fee of $3.50 are not included. Based on single or double occupancy. When booking, ask for the Weekender package.
Contact: 877/999-3223, wyndhamnyc.com.

Embassy Suites New York from $199 a night
This hotel has several packages available. We like the New York City Music & Performing Arts Package, which includes accommodations in a two-room suite, breakfast daily, two tickets to the Lincoln Center guided tour (a value of $30), 20 percent off tickets to the Carnegie Hall guided tour, 20 percent off a meal at B. Smith's Restaurant, and 15 percent off food and drinks at Café Wha. The hotel hosts a nightly reception with drinks and snacks.

Rates start at $199 per room per night.

When: Through June 30, 2009.
Details: Does not include taxes of 13 percent or local fees of $4 per room per night. Based on single or double occupancy.
Contact: 212/945-0100, embassysuites.com.

Casablanca Hotel from $239 a night
The Savvy Senior Sundays package includes $30 off the best available Sunday night rate, a bottle of red wine, dark chocolates, turndown service, passes to New York Sports Club, and daily breakfast. There's also a complimentary evening wine and cheese reception at the hotel. The $239 rate is available at the Casablanca Hotel. This package is also available at the Hotel Giraffe from $259 and at the Hotel Elysee from $335.

When: Ongoing.
Details: Does not include taxes of 13 percent or local fees of $4 per room per night. Based on single or double occupancy. Valid on Sunday night stays only. At least one of the guests must be age 60 or over to qualify.
Contact: 212/869-1212, casablancahotel.com.

Affinia Shelburne from $255 a night
After a two-year renovation, the 268-suite hotel is marking its reopening with a New York Point of View Summer package. It includes breakfast as well as the signature weekend Jazz Brunch at the hotel's Rare Restaurant (also known for its burgers), two cocktails at the rooftop bar Rare View, a discount on entry to Birdland Jazz Club through Affinia's e-concierge, and a $50 My Affinia credit.

The suites have a modern, urban feel with an open floor plan, an in-room granite pantry, a vanity/wardrobe with a well-lit dressing area, and LEED-rated carpets and flooring. Guests can choose from six types of pillows to go with the signature Affinia bed, covered with luxurious triple sheeting.

Other perks include three Experience kits (a fitness kit with exercise DVDs,a yoga mat, stretching blocks, weights, and more for in-room workouts; a BYOB kit that includes an insulated wine carrier, a picnic blanket, and a corkscrew; and a Walking Tour Kit, which includes city maps, guidebooks, and an iPod with downloaded NYC walking tours), a nonalcoholic welcome drink, a selection of best-selling books for guests to borrow, a full range of travel-size toiletries, and a 24-hour fitness center.

The Shelburne offers easy access to the Empire State Building, Grand Central Station, and most midtown attractions. When you consider all the extras, you'll save about 23 percent.

Rates start at $255 per room per night.

When: May 25-Sept. 7, 2009.
Details: Taxes are an additional 13.5 percent. Based on single or double occupancy. Use promo code AHRTB.
Contact: 866/246-2203, affinia.com.

Lodging for the military from $25 a night
The nonprofit Soldiers', Sailors', Marines', Coast Guard and Airmen's Club (SSMAC) in Manhattan's Murray Hill has affordable rates to active or retired members of the armed forces visiting New York City. Founded in 1919 to accommodate soldiers returning from World War I, the club is housed in two adjoining Victorian town houses. Many of the five-floor property's original features, including high ceilings, oak banisters, and carved antique furniture, have been retained.

It’s A Snap: Travel Photo of the WeekThe starting rate includes one night of dormitory-style accommodations, which consist of 29 rooms with anywhere from two to six beds, and a complimentary breakfast of bagels, doughnuts, and coffee in the recently renovated canteen. Separate-sex restrooms and showers are available on each floor.

Guests can watch TV in the lobby lounge and sitting room as well as in the second-floor library, where they can also borrow donated books. Guests with disabilities will stay at one of the nearby hotels at a discounted rate because the SSMAC doesn't have elevators.

Rates range from $25 per person for cadets to $60 per person for merchant seamen. The rate for children between the ages of 3 and 14 is $10 per person, and those under 3 stay free of charge.

When: Ongoing.
Details: Must show proof of current or prior military membership. Since the SSMAC is a nonprofit organization, no taxes will be charged. An additional $5 key deposit will be refunded at the end of your stay. Prices are per person based on military rank. The starting rate is based on two or more people sharing a room; add $35 for a single room or $100 for a VIP room with a queen bed.
Contact: 800/678-8443, ssmaclub.org.

Planning a longer trip? Try an apartment rental. Roomorama has properties available in New York City for holiday stays. Also, you could consider the trend of house swapping — Budget Travel recently covered the secrets to a good house-swapping experience.

Getting there: According to a recent search on Kayak, the lowest round-trip fares for New York City in late April start at $172 from Chicago (Air Tran), $201 from Miami US Airways), $232 from Houston (American), and $259 from L.A. (Virgin America) and Seattle (Delta).

Copyright © 2012 Newsweek Budget Travel, Inc.

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