New York City is known as “the city that never sleeps,” and it seems like there’s a greater charge there than anywhere else during every waking moment. It’s impossible to see the skyscrapers for the first time and not be impressed, and the city only gets better the deeper you explore it.
But New York can cost a lot of money if you aren’t careful. If you know what to do and where to go, it doesn’t have to be such an expensive trip. Here are a few tips you can use to enjoy the city for less.
Airport Parking
A new travel hack lets people drive their own car to and from the airport without having to spend a ton on parking. The JFK airport parking can be a nightmare, but now you can drive your own car to and from the airport without having to pay those rates.
Hook up with a platform that lets you park at a neighboring hotel’s parking lot. Just reserve your parking spot online, then show the attendant your booking on your phone when you arrive. A free shuttle will take you to the terminal — you can save as much as $200 per trip, compared to what you’d spend on Uber.
Chess in the Park
New York City has a famed chess park where you don’t need to pay to play. Show up to Washington Square Park, and you’ll see rows of chess tables where tourists and hustlers compete.
Even if you aren’t a keen chess player, the park’s rich history transcends a mere board game. Tons of famous people played there, like the legendary film director Stanley Kubrick. Searching for Bobby Fischer was shot there, too.
Try to find a nice day, because nobody wants to play chess or people-watch when it’s raining or snowing.
Try the Pizza
New York City’s famous pizza is a delicious meal that anyone can afford! Many cities claim to have the world’s best ‘za, but, like with so many things, New York takes the cake.
Try all the pizza joints in town to find the best slice, but avoid the chain restaurants you can find anywhere else.
The High Line
Amid the towering buildings, New York has incredible parks that make for a beautiful place to walk, people-watch and take in a sunset. Chelsea’s elevated park, known as The High Line, is an excellent alternative to the park everybody knows, Central Park.
One quality great cities share is that simply being there is exciting. You’ll walk up and down the avenues, but be sure to get a slice of nature don’t miss out on the parks.
If you haven’t been to New York, you can’t imagine the energy it exudes. Of course, you can always have an excellent time if you’re out on the town and have a lot of money to burn. But keep these tips in mind if you’re looking to have a great time in New York without dropping a lot of cash.
Karen works for a big hedge fund, she’s awesome with numbers and loves what she does, but above all – she loves traveling. Whenever she’s on the road, she tries to get into the gritty tiny details of every location she explores.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram