New York City Pass Discount Cards:
Which One Is Right For YOU?
There are 3 discount passes on the market: The New York City Pass, the New York Pass, and the Explorer Pass. How do you decide which of the New York City pass discounts, if any, to purchase? Consider the following: If you want to see a lot of attractions, these passes may be a good fit. You’ll save money on admission, you’ll get to see more because you can ‘jump’ most of the lines so you’ll save time and energy, and you’ll get lots of discount coupons when you purchase your pass. A discount pass could be one of the smartest, money-saving investments to make if you are planning to do a lot of sightseeing. Why? Read on. Don't worry! I've done the work and analysis for you.
THE NEW YORK CITY PASS
PRICE
Adults: $79
Youth: $59 (6-17 year’s old)
The Deal: Pay one price, visit any and all included attractions (see paragraph 1 just below) during a nine
day period. Although the price MAY seen like a lot, you'll actually save at least $20 if you visit just 4 of the listed attractions. If you visit all of these places, you'll save a whopping $65-$70! Given that these are the top tourist attractions and your given 9 days to visit, I think it's a sensible thing to purchase. Additionally, I love the fact that you will not have to stand in line to purchase tickets--the New York City Pass IS your ticket.
1) You’ll have 9 days to visit New York's top attractions: Empire State Building, American Museum of Natural History and Space Show, Guggenheim Museum, Museum of Modern Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise or Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Cruise, The Beast, and Top of the Rock.
2) Enjoy paying a lot less for all the attractions that you would visit anyway, but you can do it at your leisure—9 days is more than enough for this!
3) Skip to the front of the line privileges--so you’ll save time and energy and enjoy the day more fully.
4) Enjoy other free discount coupons for Bloomingdale's department store, Hop on Hop off bus, Empire State Building Souvenir Map, and Free Drink aboard the Circle Line.
5) Check their website often as there always seems to be a sale...seriously!
Click here for more information on The New York City Pass or to purchase the pass.
DISCOUNTS - Present your AAA for a 10% discount.
- On-going online discounts. A recent one provided $25 off per person for 3 or 7 day cards.
EXPLORER PASS
PRICE
Adults: $69.00 (3 attractions), $98.99 (5 attractions), 130.49 (7 attractions), 170.99 (10 attractions)
Children: $47.99 (3 attractions), $62.99 (5 attractions), $80.99 (7 attractions), 103.49 (10 attractions)
The Deal: Pay one price for any 3, 5, 7 or 10 attractions. You’ll have 30
days to use your pass. This New York City pass discounts card includes many different options that the New York City Pass DOES NOT including tours and museums. But I would NOT include museums as one of your events. There are too many ways to get in for free and many discounted admission rates (see my page on museums). So decide what it is that you'd like to see and do the math. If you like tours, this discount pass may offer you many on which you CAN save. So, this could be the pass for you. You COULD save between $20 to $40 depending on what you select. Keep in mind that not all events include "skip the line."1) The more attractions you purchase, the less they cost. If you purchase 3, each attraction is about $23, a 5 attraction pass brings it down to about $20 etc..
2) The number of attractions is greater than the New York City Pass.
3) Do the math. Choose the most expensive attractions that you’d like to see. Choose only those that are greater than the general admission cost, purchase the Explorer Pass for the number of these attractions.
4) You’ll also get a map, guidebook, and lots of discount passes and coupons.
5) Groups of 20 or more quality for special rates.
Included Attractions: - City Sights Hop-On Hop-Off Downtown Tour
- Empire State Building Observatory
- Radio City Music Hall Tour
- Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum
- NBC Studio Tour
- Top of the Rock Observation Deck
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- American Museum of Natural History
- BODIES...The Exhibition
- Bike and Roll Bike Rental
- Bike and Roll Brooklyn Bridge Tour
- Bike and Roll Central Park Tour
- Brooklyn Museum (PLUS Brooklyn Botanic Garden)
- Chassidic Discovery Walking Tour with Deli Lunch
- CitySights Multilingual Upper and Lower Manhattan Tour
- CitySights NY Brooklyn Tour
- CitySights NY Night Tour
- CitySights Uptown Treasures & Harlem Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
- Dave & Busters
- Food On Foot Tours
- Ground Zero Museum Workshop
- Guggenheim Museum
- Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum
- King Tut Exhibition
- Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
- Madison Square Garden Tour
- Manhattan By Sail – Clipper City Tall Ship Sails
- Manhattan By Sail – Shearwater Schooner Sails
- Museum of Modern Art
- Museum of Sex
- NY Water Taxi 1-day Hop-On Hop-Off Pass
- NY Water Taxi Statue of Liberty Cruise
- NY Water Taxi Sunset Cruise
- Water Taxi Sunset Eco-Tour of the Heron Islands
- NY Waterway Historical Cruise
- NY Waterway Skyline Cruise
- NY Waterway Twilight Cruise
- New York Water Taxi Beach–Food and Beverage Voucher
- On Location Tours: TV and Movie Sites Tour
- On Location: Central Park Movie Sites Tour
- On Location: Sex and the City Tour
- Ripley's Believe It or Not!
- SHARK Speedboat Thrill Ride
- Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Immigration Museum Ferry Ticket
- The Cloisters Museum and Gardens
- Traces & Places: Harlem Walking Tours
- Uncle Sam's Walking Tours; World Trade Center, Financial District, Greenwich Village
- Woodbury Common Premium Outlets Day Trip
- ZEPHYR Seaport Liberty Cruise
Take 5% off all non-sale Go City Cards and Explorer Passes with coupon code TAKEFIVE
 THE NEW YORK PASS
PRICE
Adults: $75 (1 day) $110 (2 day), $140 (3 Day), $180 (7 Day)
Children: $55 (1 Day), $79 (2 Day), $105 (3 Day), $125 (7 Day)
The DealA 1, 2, 3, or 7 day pass gives you unlimited access to 55 attractions. This is my least favorite of the New York City pass discount cards, why? You really aren't given enough time to see all the sights. A one day pass is $55 and you'd have to be a marathon runner to get your money's worth! Although you can enjoy skipping the line, you'll have to visit the admission's window at each attraction to exchange your voucher for a ticket! It's a waste of time and takes away from the pleasure of the day. With that said, consider that this New City York pass discount covers several attractions that the others do not including the United Nations tour. You'll also receive a host of discount coupons and New York City passes discounts including dining offers, Broadway, and shopping.
Included Attractions:
- American Museum of Natural History
- Bike and Roll NYC Bike Rental
- Bodies...The Exhibition
- Bronx Museum of the Arts
- Bronx Zoo
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- Brooklyn Children’s Museum
- Brooklyn Historical Society
- Brooklyn Museum
- Carnegie Hall Tours
- Central Park Zoo
- Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
- Clipper City Tall Ship Cruises
- Manhattan By Sail
- Empire State Building Observation Deck
- Food on Foot Tours
- Historic Richmond Town
- Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
- Jewish Children's Museum
- Madame Tussaud's New York
- Madison Square Garden, All Access Tour
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- Museum of the City of New York
- NBC Studio Tour
- New Museum
- New York Aquarium
- New York Botanical Garden
- New York Hall of Science
- New York Skyride
- New York Transit Museum
- Noble Maritime Collection
- Prospect Park Zoo
- Queens Museum of Art
- Queens Zoo
- Radio City Music Hall Stage Door Tour
- Shearwater Sailing
- Manhattan By Sail
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
- Staten Island Botanical Garden
- Staten Island Childrens Museum
- Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Immigration Museum Ferry
- The Broadway Theatre District Walking Tour
- The Cathedral of St. John the Divine
- The Cloisters Museum and Gardens
- The Hispanic Society of America
- The Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial, Educational and Cultural Center
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- The Museum of Sex
- The New York City Police Museum
- The Paley Center for Media
- The Studio Museum in Harlem
- Top of the Rock
- Tour at Lincoln Center
- Uncle Sam's Edgar Allan Poe Greenwich Village Tour
- Uncle Sam's Fifth Avenue Fashion Tour
- Uncle Sam's Hamilton Financial Tour
- Uncle Sam's Heroes of the World Trade Center Tour
- Van Cortlandt House Museum
- Wave Hill
- Weeksville Heritage Center
Don't stand in the line - buy the New York Pass online
What To BringWhen you venture out for a day of sightseeing (using your New York City pass discounts), be sure to pack the essentials. This will help to enhance your day! Be prepared by checking out my tips in the "what to place in your backpack" section of my packing list! You'll be glad you did!
Traveling with Kids?If you are traveling with children while using your New York City pass discount, check out my best tips for keeping crankiness to a minimum! I guarantee that there is AT LEAST one tip that will help you during your holiday. Click here and scroll down to the very bottom of the page.
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