New York City is one of those places you have to visit at least once in your life. It has an allure that only comes from a large, multiculturally diverse city home to millions and millions of people. However, its prominence as a tourist hotspot and its proclivity of being a playground for the rich and famous can often make it prohibitively expensive for those looking to travel on a budget.
However, fear not, as it is entirely possible to visit this incredible city without dipping into your child’s university fund. This post will cover some of the most exciting activities you can do in the Big Apple without breaking the bank.
Use A Third Party To Book Tours
If you are visiting NYC, the chances are that you want to see as many of the famous attractions as you can fit in. The only issue with this is that they are typically costly. New York is a popular tourist destination, and many of these attractions know this and take advantage of it. Without delving into the issue of tourists being overcharged, there is another route you can take that can provide you with the same results at a much lower price.
Many third-party vendors can make incredible deals with local venues and can pass on these savings to you. One company is Hellotickets, which specializes in creating trips of a lifetime in an affordable way. Therefore, you can explore NYC with Hellotickets by seeing which attractions they have on offer and simply booking via their website. By doing this, you will be able to fit in lots of unique activities at a fraction of the price that it might have cost you.
Remember That New York Is More Than Manhattan
When people think of NYC, the image that immediately springs to mind is shiny skyscrapers, yellow cabs, and high real estate costs. However, this is only partially true if you are talking about Manhattan. In reality, New York is split into five boroughs, each with a distinct personality. However, when discussing them within the confines of this post, they are all far cheaper to visit than the iconic manhattan island. The boroughs consist of:
- Brooklyn: This borough is arguably the most famous outside of Manhattan but tragically underrated. You can find much of the sophistication of that area mentioned above but at a much lower price.
- Bronx: While the Bronx used to be feared for its crime rate, it has become one of the trendier parts of the city. You will likely find something to see and do here if you are a culture buff. It also contains the largest park in NYC.
- Manhattan: Don’t lie; this is what you are thinking about when you think of New York!
- Queens: If you thought other places in the coyote are diverse, wait until you visit Queens. You will find many interesting and varied cultures that have made Queen’s their home over the years.
- Staten Island: The final piece of the NYC puzzle is Staten Island. It has the most considerable amount of green space in the city and is a fantastic place to go for a day to get away from big city life.
READ: Quick Guide on How to Travel on Tight Budget
Make Prodigious Use Of The Subway
Arguably the best way to get around this dense city is to use the subway. The best part is that it connects four of the boroughs together (sorry, Staten Island), meaning that you can go almost anywhere. Moreover, it is incredibly cheap for what you get. While it may be a bit dirtier than other subways in the world, it is surprisingly efficient, affordable, and will get you to where you need to be on time.
Eat As The Locals Do
With sky-high rents and a generally excessive cost of living, you might be wondering how the locals can exist while still having money left over. The trick is in understanding how they eat. IN most cases, food and drink will be your most significant expenses outside of visiting attractions. Therefore, if you want to save money, you will have to find cheaper options.
Fortunately, by eating as the locals do, you will save a significant amount of money without sacrificing anything. You will be surprised at how much you can save by asking the locals where the best places to eat are and ignoring the advice of your tour operator. In some cases, you can feed your entire family for under $10, which isn’t low-quality food. it’s delicious but typically hidden away down the side alleys or on stands on the street.
Make Use Of Free “Tours”
NY offers lots of things to see and do, and if you make a plan, you can often find lots of fun, free activities. This might be taking the ferry to Staten Island and observing the city from afar, or it could be walking across one of the three famous bridges. Whatever it might be, with a bit of planning, you can find many unique activities that won’t cost you a penny (or very little).
Get A Citi Bike Membership For Your Stay
For just under $15, you can get unlimited use of the city’s Citi Bike program for a month. Cycling is a fantastic way to see the city up close and personal while staying fit. Moreover, you don’t have to worry about someone stealing your bike as you simply pick them up and drop them off at any of the many designated stations through the city.
READ: 5 Ways to Reduce Stress While Traveling
Explore The Natural Wonders Of The Many Parks
Although New York might seem like a concrete jungle, there are more green spaces than people realize. You can choose between any of the famous parks such as :
- Prospect Park
- Central Park
- Washington Square Park
- Riverside Park
All of these parks are free to visit, and you’ll often find a variety of free activities going on, such as buskers and artists. They make a welcome respite from the busy city center, and in reality, it is easy to forget that you are in a big city.
New York is a fascinating place marked by its diversity and plethora of things to do. With this comes a cost, but if you are smart and think outside the box, you can usually find many exciting options without spending a fortune.
