5 Easy and Affordable Ways to Escape NYC

Escaping New York can be easy and doesn’t need to cost a lot. {photo credit}

Despite New York being  the greatest city in the world, there are times when even the most dedicated New Yorker needs a break from the Big Apple. Whether it’s to celebrate a girls’ weekend, relax from work, or just to get a change of scenery, getting out of Gotham is a lot easier than you’d expect. Seems too good to be true? Read below for five cheap and easy ways to escape NYC.

House sitting
If you’re interested in traveling but worried that the Airbnb options are a little out of your budget, look into house sitting as a way to score a free place to stay. Yes, you’ll have to take care of the house, pets, and land as part of the agreement, but the positives outweigh the negatives.  Because house sitting is on a case-by-case basis, you’ll work directly with a homeowner to determine the terms of your arrangement (which, in most cases, you’ll be able to work around your schedule). Trusted Housesitters and House Sitters America are good online resources to start with.

Hop the train to New Jersey
Yeah, yeah – many people think that New Jersey is the place you go if you can’t live in (or handle) the bustle of New York, but that couldn’t be further from the truth! Thanks to the NJ Transit system, it’s incredibly easy to buy a train ticket and cross the river.  Princeton, NJ has amazing museums and nearby wineries, and the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton Township is a terrific place to stretch your legs and breathe in the fresh air.  For an easier, guilty pleasure trip, take your inner foodie (and your sweet tooth) to the original Carlo’s Bake Shop (from Cake Boss fame) in Hoboken.

Explore Hoboken, NJ. {photo credit}

Driving someone else’s car
If you’re looking for a little extra cash and an excuse to travel for work, consider signing up for a vehicle transport or driveaway service. Most companies only require you to have a driver’s license and a clean driving record to sign up, and as long as you’re of age (usually 23) you can go on a sponsored road trip whenever you have the availability.  It’s not something you can do often if you already have a full-time job, but it’s a great excuse to get out of NYC (and make a profit, while you’re at it).

Become a seasonal au pair
For a long-term and long-distance NYC escape, sign up for an au pair service to work with a family for a summer season. The application and placement processes are timely, but getting to explore a foreign country with a host family is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you’ll never forget. If you choose to go overseas, you’ll need a valid passport, perhaps a visa –– depending on the country and length of the trip –– and language skills for your host country.  Being an au pair requires a lot of preparation, but if you’re looking for a cost-effective adventure – this is one of your best options.

Event-based volunteering
If you’re ever seen an event you’d love to attend but don’t have the funds for a ticket, consider volunteering at the event instead.  Most volunteer opportunities ask you to cover one shift, and in exchange for your service you get to attend the rest of the event for free. The money you’ll save on a ticket makes a longer trip worth it, so whether it’s volunteering at the Bacon and Beer Classic and spending the day at Citi Field, or riding the LIRR to Long Island, you’ll have an easy and affordable escape from NYC.

Volunteer for an event at Citi Field. {photo credit}

Posted on April 25, 2016