Multi attraction passes

Consider, prior to purchasing a multi-attraction pass, especially for museums, whether or not you qualify for other discounts and how many places you can reasonably visit.

Here was my thought process:
1) Created spreadsheet to list ticket prices for myself and members of my party, including discounts.  Discounts may come from: senior, child, or student prices, or free evenings or days at museums.

2) Compared total ticket cost to cost of pass.

Based on this calculation, it initially appeared beneficial to get the Chicago Go card but not the New York Go card/pass due to extensive discounts available in New York. Also, there are benefits to getting a Met museum 3 day full price pass vs. the same day pass included in the Go card.

However, I overestimated how many attractions I could visit in Chicago, further complicated by the problem of a 3 hour delayed flight plus an impromptu event that I learned about upon arrival and that I really wanted to attend.  Thus I ended up not being able to visit one Chicago attraction for which I paid for on my 'build a pass'.  As a result, I think I may have lost money or broken even vs. ticket prices without the pass. 

Don't overestimate.  If you are not sure, prioritize the bigger savings as far as adding them to your pass, and make sure you visit the pass attractions first.  Give yourself wiggle room for unforseen circumstances and last minute things you may want to do.

Chicago Metro

You can buy metro cards, called Ventra, online, at least for US addresses (not sure about international).  Allow up to 10 business days for shipping.  Mine shipped quickly, but there was an error such that they shipped me a second set within 10 business days of the first order.

If you load your card with a pass, the cost of the card is applied toward the cost of the pass.

Activate your card prior to use.  I unlisted my credit card online after I received the card,  as I only planned to use the card for one visit.

New York City Metro

There is no online option for purchase, but you can buy it at many locations and on buses and vending machines.  I bought my 7 day pass from a kiosk in the La Guardia airport.  They charge $1 for a new paper Metro card and apparently cannot reload an old card with an unlimited pass from a kiosk.  You can add cash value to an old Metro card.  The La Guardia kiosk only took credit and ATM cards and not cash.

For buses, feed the card into the slot with the "M" facing down and towards you.

For subways, slide the card like a credit card and push the turnstile.

Subways usually have express vs. local routes.  The express skips stops and often, but not always, comes at the opposite side of the same platform.

New York City Art Museums

What is still free or low cost nowadays in NYC with regards to art museums?

1) Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
Free Friday nights sponsored by Uniqlo
- there is a huge line for entry.  If you do not mind less time in the museum, the line may clear out later in the evening, like 1 to 1.5 hours after it starts
- the huge line continues to the 5th floor as everyone crawls at a snail's pace towards Van Gogh's starry night
- the galleries then gradually get less crowded, but it is still way more crowded than usual.  If you hate crowds, consider paying for entry and going another time.
- there are only elevators or stairs to the first floor; thereafter, you can take the escalator, elevator, or stairs to other floors
- bags are searched upon entry
- it took me about 3 hours to explore

2) Guggenheim pay as you wish Saturday nights
- there is a huge line for entry that does not seem to dissipate as it was still there when I exited
- the Guggenheim is close to the Met, so consider pairing the two visits
- there is a spiral ascent covering all galleries, or you can take an elevator.  There was one main exhibit covering most of the spiral, a special exhibit on rooms on 2 floors, and, and the regular exhibit on the 2nd floor with impressionist art when I went
- it took about 1 hour to explore

3) New Museum pay as you wish on Thursday nights
- there was no line
- the two buildings are connected and the exhibits are dispersed throughout
- it took me about 2 hours to explore only because they had excellent video art on display which I took time to watch

4) MOMA PS1
If you got into MOMA for free on a Friday, then you can save the ticket and get into MOMA PS1 within 14 days with the same ticket
- It took me less than 1 hour to explore
- Medium to large bags and large umbrellas must be checked in

5) Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) is only pay as you wish for local residents
If you pay full price, you can save the ticket, which serves as a 3 day pass.  Within the 3 days, you can return unlimited times to the Met or visit the other Met campuses (Met 5th Avenue, Met Breur, Met Cloisters are the three campuses).
- Save your ticket and receipt since the attendant had trouble scanning my ticket but was able to read my receipt code
- It took me three visits and 13 hours total to quickly browse the Met 5th Ave.
- It took me less than 1 hour to view the Met Breur
- It took me about 1-2 hours to view the Met Cloisters

6) Frick Collection pay as you wish Wednesday night
- it closes at 6 PM.  I was unable to get there in time so ended up visiting another day and paying full (> $20) admission.
- It took me about 1 hour to explore