The Big Apple in a Nutshell

Travelers planning to tackle New York City on a student-style budget in ’97 have two new sources of helpful information.

“Larry’s Opinionated Guide to New York City (For Cheapskates)” is a 44-page booklet produced by Larry Lustig, owner and operator of East Coast Explorer, a backpacker bus service that provides economical back-road transportation between Washington, D.C., New York and Boston.

His publication evolved from questions that East Coast Explorer passengers were continually asking about low-cost accommodations and sightseeing in the New York City area. He started offering passengers a free information sheet, but eventually it grew into a booklet, which is now available by mail for $2.95 (plus $1 postage. Contact: Larry Lustig, 210 Congress St., Brooklyn, NY 11201).

The booklet gives advice on a variety of topics ranging from public transportation services to and from JFK, La Guardia and Newark airports to obtaining Broadway show tickets at reduced prices. The booklet also includes tips on safety, descriptions of neighborhoods, public transportation, where to find filling meals for under $6, entertainment, shopping, walking tours, budget accommodations, and tips on museums and sites.

Readers will discover some sites and museums have certain days or hours when they offer reduced entrance fees, such as the Bronx Zoo, which is free on Wednesdays, and the Guggenheim Museum, which is “pay-what-you-want” on Thursdays and Fridays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

There are 37 listings for hostels and hotels, but you’ll find just the addresses, rates and telephone numbers--no descriptions. The author warns that because he lives in the area he has not stayed in them. So travelers would be wise to try to get recommendations from other travelers or from more detailed guidebooks and to arrive early so they have plenty of time to seek out an alternative if they are not satisfied.

The East Coast Explorer bus service operates from early March until November. For 1997 the company is adding an additional motor coach so that each of its routes will operate at least twice a week.

A far more detailed source of information is the new “Berkeley Budget Guide: New York City ‘97,” which is written by Berkeley students. The 290-page book offers 35 pages with maps, more than 60 suggestions for budget accommodations, plus information on night life ranging from pool halls and dance clubs to movie houses, comedy clubs and live music venues, trendy cafes for coffee or cyber surfing, student discounts and budget tours.

For example, if you can splurge, you’ll learn about a tour that takes you to 50 famous rock ‘n’ roll sites for $25, but if you need to stretch every cent, there are also suggestions for the public bus routes that will carry you on a do-it-yourself tour of the city’s famous sites for $1.50 a ride.

You’ll also discover that the United Nations offers free entrance to anyone and gives special student discounts on tours (the $6.50 rate is reduced to $4.50).

Travelers can get free tickets for tapings of TV shows. “Saturday Night Live,” tickets are distributed by lottery in August, but you can still try to get tickets for standby seats by going at 8 a.m. on the day of the show to the mezzanine of Rockefeller Center (50th Street side).

Standby tickets to the “Late Show With David Letterman” are distributed weekdays at noon in front of the Ed Sullivan Theater at 1697 Broadway, but you should arrive early.

The guide also suggests that visitors drop by the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau because hotels and hostels often offer hefty savings coupons in the NYCVB “Big Apple Visitors Guide.” The guide offers suggestions for economical lodging in hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts and student dormitories. The NYCVB is located at 2 Columbus Circle, between Broadway and 8th Avenue.

Having a wide variety of accommodations to choose from can be a real asset because the authors found that many private hostels had an unadvertised policy of refusing Americans. They suggest that if you want a bed, you’ll have to work at politely persuading them that you’re not demanding or a risk to their property.

“Berkeley Budget Guides: New York City ‘97,” (Fodor’s, $15) is available at travel bookstores.

Izon is a Toronto-based freelance writer. She can be reached at https://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/izon