New York City has long had a love-hate relationship with family travellers. Whilst the city’s large selection of museums, parks and attractions makes it a huge hit with the kids, small hotel rooms at expensive rates can make it an at times unwelcoming proposition for those with little ones.
But with the right amount of planning, taking a bite out of the Big Apple can be delicious and nourishing for all the family. So before you pen your itinerary, read this; our 7 IDEAL tips for taking the kids to New York.
Space, At A Premium
It’s no secret that the majority of hotels in New York City adopt a cram ‘em in, charge ‘em high mentality. This means that getting a family room in a central NYC hotel is probably going to blow out your budget. And seeing as the vast majority of hotel rooms in New York City itself are rarely much larger your average closet, when you’re travelling with children, the lack of space can quickly make things cramped and uncomfortable.
Instead, it’s a good idea to think outside the box and try to find affordable, larger accommodation options. AirBnb has made it much easier (and, relatively speaking, affordable) to find fully furnished apartments to stay in, which offer a more comfortable, home-from-home experience. The legality currently, however, is under question.
Or, opt for national hotel chains such as Marriott or Embassy Suites, both of which offer larger suites as standard which are more suitable for family stays. Other hotels may allow you to book inter-connecting rooms, giving your entire family both the space and the privacy that they need.
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Consider Bringing Your Au Pair,Travel Nanny Or Even a Grandparent
Although New York is a wonderful place for kids and adults alike, it can also be a very tiring holiday for little ones. Traipsing around the city and seeing the sights is a very different vacation to one spent at the beach where the kids can easily be entertained by building sandcastles and swimming in the sea. As such, it’s a good idea to bring a helping pair of hands.
If you’ve got an au pair in London who you’re bringing with you to help with the kids, then you need to consider their needs for additional space and privacy, too. Though some may defer all responsibility to a childminder during a holiday, you do need to allow for some periods where your child’s au pair can enjoy some downtime in the Big Apple.
The majority of people registered for this role are between the ages of 18 to 30, so do bear in mind that they may well want to experience New York for a little while, rather than simply seeing the inside of your child’s hotel room. Commonly, the work of an au pair is usually a 12 hour shift or so, but in the interest of fairness, you might want to reduce this time so they can enjoy a holiday of sorts, too.
Alternatively, there are some companies dedicated to supplying travel nannies for trips. The cost of hiring a holiday nanny starts from around £450. This is based on working seven hours a day with three nights’ babysitting included. However, there’s also accommodation, meals and flights to account for, and costs can often quickly add up. That said, an au pair’s presence is, if you can afford it, priceless, granting the family a holiday where everyone is calmer and happier.
Or, why not bring a grandparent, or even both, along. Generally speaking, they love spending time with the children which is great for them and for you, too. According to a recent survey, 53% of parents said their children’s grandparents would be joining them on holiday to help keep an eye on their children to give them a break or alone time. Of course, you should look into covering some, if not all, of the cost of their holiday.
Look Beyond The City
While you’re in New York, it’d be silly to keep your steely focus solely fixed on the city itself, as there are so many other great places to visit for kids in the wider state. And if you’ve come all this way, why not consider some internal flights to places slightly further afield to truly make the most of your trip. Check out flights to and from New York from Porter Airlines, as they offer affordable travel with a flexibility the family will really appreciate.
Park It
If you’re contemplating just what to do with the kids in New York, then you’ll be pleased to hear that the city is home to some of the most awesome urban parks in North America, making it one of the best places to visit when it comes to fun, free things to do.
Fun you say? Free you say? Then Central Park is of course number one on the list, with several acres of land, children’s play areas, and fun activities such as horse and carriage riding to take advantage of, particularly in the summer when there is always something going on.
The High Line comes a close second, built on a historic freight rail line located above the streets on the West Side of Manhattan, it’s ideal for a stroll with the kids. In addition, the best part is that all of NYC’s parks are free and open to the public, perfect for a budget day out. To give the crowds a swerve, visit parks early in the morning and avoid visiting on the weekend if you can.
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Muchos Museums
For families interested in history and heritage, there are several great museums in NYC that are worth checking out. Museums in New York City are second to none, with admission averaging at around twenty dollars for an adult – not too steep in the scheme of things. Of course, there are also some budget-friendly museums available to visit, such as the American Folk Art Museum or the National Museum of the American Indian, which anybody can visit fee-free.
In addition, keep your eye out for ‘Free Days’ which are held by most of the fee-paying museums in the city at regular intervals. At the Brooklyn Museum you can get free admission on a Saturday, or visit the Museum of Jewish Heritage on a Wednesday to avoid paying. The Museum of Contemporary Art is free to visit on Thursday evenings between 7-9PM.
Resist The Temptation Of Taxis
Getting about via a yellow taxi might seem like the most cliched, convenient method of exploring NYC, but in reality, hailing taxis with your family can quickly become a bit of a nightmare. Not only are taxis the most expensive form of transport in the city, but the traffic is always busy, meaning that it’s going to take you longer than ever to get to where you need to be.
Alternatively, the better option is to take advantage of NYC’s extensive public transport system. You can get family tickets on the subway, which is able to take you all around the city as fast as possible with stops at every main attraction and area. It can be easy to get intimidated by travelling around NYC via public transport when you don’t know what to expect, but the truth is that it’s easy to use and get used to. And, most people are willing to give you advice if you get stuck or need directions.
Do It Discounted
A great thing about visiting NYC is that you can find discount tickets for almost everything. If you plan to visit the majority of main attractions in the city, then it may be worth looking into buying New York City passes for your family; there are several different options available which are worth researching, since they offer entry to most of the main attractions for one flat rate, rather than having to buy separate tickets at the door. For those traveling with family, this can translate to rather large savings.
If you’re hoping to see a Broadway show, don’t book in advance – you can usually find tickets from the box office on the day of the show at discounted rates in order to get the seats filled up, which is a great way to save money on seeing some of your family’s favourites.
Lastly, many attractions, restaurants and more in NYC will accept vouchers and coupons, so take the time to search for different offers online that you can use to save money on fun, food and more once you are there. And with that, we wish you a wonderful trip!