New York City from Columbus, Dec 11–14: $1,991 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- Frontier fare $310 per person, $166 below this route's typical fare
- Aloft Financial District: 7.9 from 1,333 reviews, free cancellation
- Rockefeller Center tree, holiday windows, clear skies typical Dec 12–13
The catch: Frontier has one stop and takes 10h 56m to cover 478 miles, while the American nonstop takes 1h 55m at $678 for two.
Worth it if you want holiday-season New York on a low fare and can spare the travel day; skip it if travel time matters most.
Worth it if you don't mind a long travel day. It's $1,991 for two, all in: Frontier flights at $620 for two, 3 nights at Aloft by Marriott Manhattan Downtown - Financial District at $1,207 and $164 in fees charged at the hotel, with taxes and fees included. You'd go Dec 11–14, 2026, for 3 nights, and the Frontier flight isn't nonstop: it has one stop and takes 10h 56m out.
The total, before you go
$1,991 for two · 3 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $620 |
| Aloft by Marriott Manhattan Downtown - Financial District, 3 nights, two guests, taxes in | $1,207 |
| Resort fee, collected at the desk | $164 |
| The total, before you go | $1,991 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $240 |
$166 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat picks on basic fares and a checked bag (about $60 each way per bag on Frontier, $240 for two round trip); the resort fee is counted above. Prices are what we found at the time shown; the booking site’s checkout is the binding one.
The flight
$310 per person, round trip
$620 for two, taxes and fees included · Frontier · 1 stop · 10h 56m
Out Fri, Dec 11, 10:33 AM – Fri, Dec 11, 9:29 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier | $310 | 1 stop | 10h 56m |
| American. Operated by Republic Airways as American Eagle | $339 | nonstop | 1h 55m |
| United. Operated by Republic Airways DBA United Express | $329 | 1 stop | 4h |
Prices checked Oct 14, 2026, 7:04 PM EDT. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
Tweak this trip
Why now
The fare is why it's worth a look now: $310 per person on Frontier, $166 below the typical fare on this route. That typical fare is $476, the median of 9 earlier checks. For these dates we saw fares from $310 to $369 per person. December means holiday windows and the Rockefeller Center tree, and it also means peak hotel prices, which is why the hotel is the bigger part of the $1,991 total. Typical weather for these dates: rain and 51°F on Friday, Dec 11, then mostly clear at 41°F Saturday, clear at 40°F Sunday and overcast at 38°F Monday. Bring a warm coat. It's a short city getaway for two, built around the season's lights, a show and long walks.
The kind of trip this is
A cold-weather city getaway: Broadway, museums, skyline views and holiday windows, all a subway ride apart. It suits a couple or two friends who like to walk, eat well and keep the days full. The pace is brisk, with two full days in Manhattan between a late Friday arrival and Monday's trip home. It's for people who don't mind bundling up for a sunset on the Brooklyn Bridge.
Weather in New York City, Dec 11–14
Typical highs 38–51°F, lows near 29°F this time of year
| Day | Typical high | Typical low | Typical weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Dec 11 | 51 °F | 35 °F | Rain |
| Sat, Dec 12 | 41 °F | 28 °F | Mostly clear |
| Sun, Dec 13 | 40 °F | 27 °F | Clear |
| Mon, Dec 14 | 38 °F | 26 °F | Overcast |
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com · averages, not a forecast
Where to stay in New York City
Our pick is Aloft by Marriott Manhattan Downtown - Financial District: $1,207 for the 3 nights ($402 a night), rated 7.9 from 1,333 reviews, with free cancellation. It also charges $164 in fees at the hotel, and those are already in our total. The Financial District is in Lower Manhattan, which is good for weekend rates near the 9/11 Memorial, the ferries and the Brooklyn Bridge. For the top review score, The Cloud One New York-Downtown, part of the Motel One Group is rated 8.8 from 7,961 reviews at $1,444 ($481 a night), with $195 in hotel fees and no free cancellation. Holiday Inn Lower East Side by IHG costs $1,553 ($518 a night) and is rated 7.7 from 1,069 reviews, with $209 in hotel fees and no free cancellation. All three are room only.
Aloft by Marriott Manhattan Downtown - Financial District
$1,207 for 3 nights, two guests · $402 a night
See roomsThe Cloud One New York-Downtown, part of the Motel One Group
$1,444 for 3 nights, two guests · $481 a night
See roomsHoliday Inn Lower East Side by IHG
$1,553 for 3 nights, two guests · $518 a night
See roomsAll hotels in New York City for these dates
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
Where in New York City
- Midtown: Times Square, Broadway theatres and the most hotel choice.
- SoHo / NoLIta: Boutique hotels amid cast-iron streets, shops and restaurants.
- Upper West Side: Quieter residential blocks next to Central Park and museums.
- Williamsburg, Brooklyn: Rooftop bars and skyline views one subway stop from Manhattan.
- Lower Manhattan: Weekend rates near the 9/11 Memorial, ferries and the Brooklyn Bridge.
What to do in New York City
- See a Broadway show after a walk through Times Square
- Take the Staten Island Ferry past the Statue of Liberty from Lower Manhattan
- Cross the Brooklyn Bridge on foot at sunset on Sunday, Dec 13, typically clear
- Spend Saturday morning at the Met or MoMA
- Walk the High Line to Chelsea Market for lunch
- Watch the sunset from Top of the Rock, then see the Rockefeller Center tree
Also worth it
- Spend a morning at the Met or MoMA
Tours and tickets in New York City
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Getting there and around
| Airports in Columbus | John Glenn Columbus International (CMH), Rickenbacker International (LCK) |
|---|---|
| Airports in New York City | John F. Kennedy International (JFK), Newark Liberty International (EWR), LaGuardia (LGA) |
| Flight time | 10h 56m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 478 miles each way |
| Time difference | same time zone |
What 3 nights in New York City costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $620 |
| Hotel, 3 nights (Aloft by Marriott Manhattan Downtown - Financial District) | $1,207 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 3 days for two | $1,140 |
| Total for two | $2,967 |
Flights and hotel are the prices we found; spending is a planning estimate for a luxury destination, per person per day times two.
Price history: Columbus to New York City
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $310 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $298 (Oct 13, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $476 |
| Price checks | 9 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travelers from the United States: a government photo ID is enough for New York City.
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- Holiday windows, the Rockefeller Center tree and peak hotel prices
- No passport needed; it's US dollars and the same time zone as Columbus.
- Frontier leaves CMH at 10:33 AM Friday, Dec 11, and lands at 9:29 PM, with one stop.
- A checked bag is about $240 for two and isn't in the $1,991 total.
- Only the Aloft offers free cancellation; all three hotels are room only.
- Prices are all-in as we found them when we checked and can change.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Worth it if the long Frontier day doesn't bother you. The fare is $310 per person, $166 under the $476 typical fare on this route, and the Aloft has free cancellation. If you'd rather land fast, the American nonstop takes 1h 55m at $339 per person.
How much is the whole trip for two?
It's $1,991 for two, all in: $620 for Frontier flights, $1,207 for 3 nights at the Aloft and $164 in fees charged at the hotel, with taxes included. A checked bag (about $240 for two) and spending money aren't included. We'd budget $1,140 for two over 3 days.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip from Columbus, paid in US dollars, with no time difference.
What is the weather like?
These are typical conditions, not a forecast: rain and 51°F on Dec 11, mostly clear at 41°F on Dec 12, clear at 40°F on Dec 13 and overcast at 38°F on Dec 14. Lows run from 26°F to 35°F.
Is 3 nights enough?
For a holiday-season visit, yes. The Frontier flight lands at 9:29 PM Friday, so Saturday and Sunday are your two full days for a show, a museum, the tree and a bridge walk.
Is there a nonstop from Columbus?
Yes. American, operated by Republic Airways as American Eagle, leaves at 5:14 PM and lands at 7:09 PM, a 1h 55m flight, at $678 for two. The Frontier fare in our total is $620 for two and has one stop.
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