Here's a little secret – the best time to visit Times Square is about an hour after the ball drops on New Year's Day.
Everyone who stood around for hours with no restroom in sight runs off like wild banshees to the nearest public stall, leaving Manhattan's iconic neighborhood empty in what's otherwise always a bustling attraction in the ‘city that never sleeps'.
New York is America's most action-packed city, with every borough having its own unique flair and personality. But there's another city across the Hudson River that's so close that it not only feels like the ‘Big Apple' but has also become the city's unofficial ‘sixth borough'.
Cheaper, vibrant, and surprisingly cultural, those looking to enjoy the thrills of NYC without breaking the bank should make their base in Jersey City, an underrated destination well worth exploring on its own, but also an easy springboard for back-and-forth day trips for Broadway shows, world-class eats, and all the delights of Central Park.
An Extension of New York: A Pleasant Surprise A Train-Hop Away
Ever visit somewhere where it went the complete opposite of how you expected? That's what my first trip to New York was like when I realized all Times Square boils down to is oversized Applebee's, pesky vendors, and overhyped cheesecake (sorry, Junior's).
The real delights were the unknown streets splintering off from the famous attractions past the sea of yellow taxis, where locals escaped the lines of FAO Schwarz and the short-lived cronut phase.
The same goes for Jersey City. What's essentially an extension of New York, because let's not kid ourselves — the only reason anyone visits Newark is cheaper flights, and let's not even get started with what's going on with their airport's outdated floppy disk system…
The main reason we can call Jersey City (also referred to simply as “JC”) is its easy accessibility.
An Uber ride will break the bank, but a train ride won't. Take these 3 PATH trains from Manhattan:
- Newark-World Trade Center
- Hoboken-World Trade Center
- Journal Square-33rd Street
It's important to note that unlimited ride Metro Cards do not work for Jersey PATH trains, although the remaining balance of pay-per-ride cards will suffice.
Upon arrival, it feels just like New York at a slightly slower pace — fewer cabs, more laid-back, and quieter streets with the exception of a screaming transient.
Move Over Bronx! JC Is New York's Newfound Cultural Hotspot
Have you ever been to the Bronx? It's edgy, gritty, and culturally rich, but it also feels unsafe once the sun goes down, much like the aforementioned Newark.
Jersey City, though? Not so much. Many neighborhoods are buzzing with lively bars, adorned with eye-popping street murals and random art installations, and trendy restaurants with wine flowing and laughter echoing.
JC is a textbook melting pot of cultures. In fact, between Manhattan's Koreatown, Little Italy, and Chinatown versus Jersey City's Journal Square (specifically India Square), I'd take India Square any day.
I've never had the pleasure of visiting India, but like you, I've seen questionable street food videos go viral. India Square is nothing of the sort. It showcases the best of its heritage and customs through dance, music, and yes, sanitary cuisine—no “Delhi Belly” here.
In fact, you'll find the Western Hemisphere's highest concentration of Indian restaurants in Journal Square, and compared to New York City's upscale and (often tourist-driven) prices, there's few places better to eat cheap and leave satisfied.
As vibrant as Journal Square may be, summer is an excellent time to explore more of JC as there are frequent festivals scheduled such as the 9th Annual Taste of Culture, Jersey City Night Market, in addition to the All About Downtown Street Fair in September.
The Affordability Factor
Other than realizing Times Square isn't all it's cracked up to be, the worst part of visiting New York is that all your money goes to hotels.
They've been notoriously expensive since the city chose to become a “sanctuary city,” housing immigrants in numerous hotels, which limits supply and ultimately raises rates for tourists.
Right, wrong, or indifferent, that seems to be the facts as tourists are left with the bill, despite New York City mayor Eric Adams claiming it's a surge in tourism driving up prices…
Yeah…okay, buddy.
According to Airbnb, New York is seeing not only record hotel rates but record rents too.
JC is the Big Apple's best loophole since it's technically another state, but also an extension of NYC.
According to local New Jersey 101.5, the best hotels to save some serious dough are:
- The Westin Jersey City Newport
- The Canopy by Hilton
- Hyatt House
I did some digging for you too, though. My pick would be Sonesta Simply Suites Jersey City for $165 this summer, and mere steps away from the scenic Waterfront district with unmatched views of Manhattan's iconic skyline.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.