Ticket prices for Summit One Vanderbilt are cheaper if you book via a third party rather than on the official site. This is why.
Reduced entrance fee for Summit One Vanderbilt
Summit One Vanderbilt is one of New York City’s top tourist attractions. From 336 metres up, this, NYC observatory offers prime views out over the city.
However, before you book tickets for Summit One Vanderbilt, you should be aware that there’s a way of reducing the entrance fee.
How much do Summit One Vanderbilt tickets cost?
Book via Summit One Vanderbilt’s official site, and the ticketing page initially says that tickets cost from $44. Underneath, in much smaller writing, is a $3 booking fee.
Then, not mentioned at all until the checkout stage is $4.18 in tax.
This means that the $44 ticket actually costs you $51.18.
Getting cheaper tickets for Summit One Vanderbilt
It turns out that Summit One Vanderbilt is one of many attractions in North America where it’s a little bit cheaper to book through a third party.
I checked Summit One Vanderbilt ticket prices with two popular tours and attractions sellers – Viator and GetYourGuide.
With both, the admission ticket was advertised as $48, but actually cost $47.92.
Tickets without the booking fee
That’s not a lot cheaper, but it is cheaper. Essentially, that sneaky booking fee disappears.
Ordinarily, I’d suggest booking through the official site, but given the same thing is being sold for less on a third party site, you may as well go for the cheaper deal.
How to save money on Summit One Vanderbilt tickets
Time for total honesty. If you book through these Viator or GetYourGuide links, I will earn a small commission. Of course, I’d prefer you to do that.
You could, of course, search for the third party ticketing companies. It’ll be the same price for you, it’s just that the kindly travel journalist who saved you money on the tickets doesn’t get anything for his caring, thoughtful advice…
Either way, you’ll be paying less for your Summit One Vanderbilt tickets than you would do going through the official site.
Discounted prices on North American attractions
It’s worth remembering this advice when booking other attractions in North America. Many add booking or processing fees and taxes to the advertised price later in the booking process, even though they really shouldn’t.
This isn’t the case for all attractions, but I’ve discovered going via Viator or GetYourGuide to be cheaper on several occasions.
Why is it cheaper to book via a third party?
It’s reasonable to ask why booking via a third party is cheaper. The answer lies in supplier agreements and laws in different jurisdictions.
Viator and GetYourGuide sell globally, including in countries where all fees and taxes have to be included in stated prices by law.
Meanwhile, the supplier agreements these third party sites have with the attractions insist that they must be given the lowest available price, with the supplier taking care of all taxes.
Therefore, an attraction can attempt to make tickets look cheaper on its own site by hiding fees and taxes – but Viator and GetYourGuide can’t do this. And because the attraction has agreed to supply the lowest available price to the third party sites, it can’t tag on those sneaky fees when selling through the global ticket-sellers.
It’s boring, but worth remembering, as knowing this can save you money.
More New York City travel
Other New York City travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Stories of Nolita on the Catacombs by Candlelight tour.
- Seeing Manhattan a different way on a Central Park scavenger hunt.
- New York City city slavery and underground tour review.
- A first time visitor’s guide to Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
- 5 niche New York City museums worth visiting.
