A family holiday to New York City doesn’t need to break the bank. New dad Barry Divola, a regular to the city that never sleeps, discovers there’s plenty of affordable activities for all the crew.
I’ve been making an annual solo pilgrimage to New York for almost 20 years. Last year my wife had a baby, and I suddenly realised that future trips might involve a) entertaining a little girl in Manhattan, and b) trying not to break the bank in the process.
So on my most recent stay, I started asking questions that you may also be asking if you have a family and are considering making the trip. Can you stretch your dollar in New York City with kids? Are there alternatives to the regular tourist traps? And can you get anything for free in the city that never sleeps?
Fortunately, the answer to all those questions is yes. You just have to think outside the square. Sure, New York can be an expensive town. But do your homework, avoid the tourist traps and walk on the wild side a little, and you’ll take a big bite of the Big Apple without it taking a big bite out of your credit card.
Empire State Building vs Brooklyn Bridge
Empire State Building: US$44 – $146 per person
Brooklyn Bridge: Free
Sure, you could pay US$79 each at the Empire State Building ticket office and then wait in line for so long that “Are we there yet?” will become the mantra that drives you off the deep end.
Or you could walk across the Brooklyn Bridge for free. With a pedestrian path and bikeway running along the middle of the bridge, high above the lanes of traffic, the views from the middle are panoramic, taking in the city skyline, the East River and even the Statue of Liberty.
And after you’ve taken all your photos, why not keep walking and end up in Brooklyn Heights, with its tree-lined streets and brownstone buildings? Alternatively, head to the High Line, an abandoned elevated railway line redesigned into a public space running through the Meatpacking District and Chelsea. With food and coffee carts in the middle look-outs and seats dotted throughout, it’s a cheap and scenic way to spend an afternoon.
Central Park bike tour vs cycle Governors Island
Central Park bike or pedicab tour: US$45 – $180 per person
Bike ride on Governors Island: From $21 for 2 hours or $28 daily, or free for an hour (certain times only)
Sure, you could go on a guided bike tour of Central Park for $49 each. But did you know your family can ride bikes for free on Governors Island, right in the middle of New York Harbour?
A free ferry leaves from Battery Park, and on weekday mornings from 9am to 12pm (excluding holidays), you can get a free hour of bike hire from Blazing Saddles Bike Rentals. It’s easy to pedal around the little island in that time, stopping now and then to take family photos with Manhattan in the background.
Guests also get free use of a small fleet of black cruiser-style pushbikes if you stay at The Jane Hotel in the West Village. Or you can rent a bike from one of the eleven Bike and Roll outlets (from US$17 an hour or US$40 for the whole day). Best ride: the Hudson River Greenway, a bike path that runs all the way along the western edge of Manhattan, completely separated from traffic and very child-friendly.
Pricey NYC hotel vs budget accommodation
Sure, you could stay at an anonymous midtown hotel for US$300 or more a night. Or you could stay at Yotel New York (from US$102 a night in low season), a space-age place three blocks from Times Square. The kids – and possibly the adults – will love the Yobot, a giant robotic arm that picks up luggage and stores it in big white drawers in its glassed-in lair off the lobby.
A low-cost alternative on the east side of town is The Pod, with a modernist Ikea-style design and bunk beds for the kids. Or why not be adventurous and sublet an apartment from Airbnb? It will work out cheaper than a hotel, and your family will get to live like real New Yorkers and get to know the neighbourhood.
Overpriced tourist cafes vs authentic eateries
Sure, you could eat at generic, tourist-clogged cafes and restaurants dotted around midtown. Or you could have a fun, unique dining experience that won’t break the bank.
Alice’s Tea Cup boasts three magical uptown destinations for anyone who’s a Cheshire Cat fan and enjoys homemade scones. Line up early if you want lunch at the original Shake Shack in Madison Square Park – the queues are there for a reason, as one of the best burgers in the city is served there.
And what would a visit to New York be without visiting a diner? Seinfeld fans in your brood (young and old) will have to visit Tom’s Restaurant on Broadway, which served as the place where Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer hung out in the TV show.
Basketball at Madison Square Garden vs 'The Cage'
Sure, you could take your sports-mad kids to see the New York Knicks play at Madison Square Garden for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Or you could go to ‘The Cage’ (formally known as the West 4th Street Courts) on the corner of W4th Street and 6th Avenue and shell out nothing.
Since 1968, this outdoor court has been the place where some of the best basketballers in the city gather to play. Team scouts often check out the action, and many players have been signed up for the NBA as a result.
New York City fast facts
When to go
New York is at its very best in the early northern autumn (September to October) and spring (March to April). Avoid peak times, holidays and special events for cheaper flights and accommodation.
