Going on vacation can be fun, relaxing and rejuvenating. But one thing it usually isn’t is cheap. Just paying for a place to stay and admission to attractions can add up to hundreds of dollars. And by the time you factor in travel, dining and shopping, your vacation could cost a small fortune.
The good news is that if you know where to look, you can find coupons and discounts that will significantly reduce your costs. It’s entirely possible to go on a trip and not pay full price for anything. Here are some places to look for vacation deals.
* Visit Free-Attractions.com. This website lists lots of things you can do for free all over the United States. There are zoos, museums, parks, festivals and more, and they’re all organized by city and state.
* If you’re interested in visiting a specific place, visit the area’s official tourism website. Many such sites offer coupons for local attractions. Some make printable coupons available online, while others will send you a coupon book for free or for the cost of shipping and handling. If you pay for coupons, however, it’s important to be certain that you will use enough of them to make up for the cost.
* Get your hands on a newspaper or guidebook from the area you plan to visit. These are great sources of coupons.
* Check the official websites of attractions you plan to visit. They may offer coupons or have details of promotions that are going on. Some offer reduced admission or two-for-one deals on certain dates.
* Consider a season pass. Amusement parks often sell them for the price of two to three days’ admission. If you’re planning to visit for a week and go to the park each day, a season pass might be the cheapest way to go. And if there’s an attraction in your area that you might visit several times in a year, a season pass is definitely the way to go.
* Look for package deals. These are often available from travel agencies, and include airfare, accommodations, admission to attractions, and often dining and shopping gift certificates. It’s important to add everything up to make sure you’re getting a good deal, but such packages can save you big bucks.
* Are you a member of an organization such as AAA or AARP? They offer discounts to their members for lots of things, including vacation expenses. Even some credit card and insurance companies offer special discounts to their customers.
There are numerous ways to save money on a vacation. If you plan well in advance, you may be able to knock hundreds of dollars off of your expenses. That’s money that you can use to pay off debt, put into savings, or put away to go toward next year’s vacation.
