Travel Savings for the Savvy Shopper

When you’re planning a vacation, how do you try to save money? For most people, the answer is shopping around for the best rates on hotels, airfare and car rentals. But did you know that there are lots of ways to save on smaller travel expenses—which can add up to big savings? It’s true! By being a savvy online shopper, and taking a little extra time to plan your trip, you can save lots of money in unexpected ways. This article will show you how.

Check out websites of the visitors’ center and convention bureau for the city you are visiting. These sites usually offer a wide range of discounts for tourist sites, shopping, restaurants, and more. Be sure to sign up for their e-newsletter—they often have “unadvertised” deals, and last minute hotel savings!

Be sure to request the visitor bureau’s information kit (they are free, and every city has one these days!). These info kits often include FREE coupons for tourist sites, shopping, restaurants, and more. Another great option is buying a multi-attraction pass: these are almost always less expensive than buying separate passes for each destination.

If you already know the particular sites you’ll be visiting, research any special exhibits/events, hours, and costs & savings they may have. Many attractions have a “free admission day.” For example, in New York City, Wednesdays at the Bronx Zoo are ‘pay as you wish day’—which can mean up to a $52 savings for a family of four! Also see if these attractions offer discounts for any organizations/demographics you belong to—such as AAA, AARP, senior citizens, military personnel, or students.

If you’ll be spending a few days in a particular city, try buying an “Entertainment” book for your visit (www.entertainment.com). These popular coupon books are city-specific, and are filled with tons of deals. Savings include “buy one, get one free” coupons covering eating establishments, car rentals, hotels, and more—plus great savings on museums, galleries, ‘day trips’ and more. One great thing about the Entertainment book is that their price drops throughout the year—so a book that costs $40 in January may cost $20 by the time your summer vacation rolls around! Even better: lots of the venues are national chains, so you can continue saving money once you return home, too!

And while your local car rental agent might be telling you he’s giving you ‘the best deal,’ you can probably save even more! Try car rental search engines like www.sidestep.com, which offer the lowest rates available with national rental car companies, as well as with smaller, regional companies you probably haven’t heard of—which are usually cheaper, to begin with! The truly savvy shopper will combine these savings with the rental company’s site offers, or those that are often listed in the Entertainment book, too!

Lastly, try “Googling” ‘coupon.’ Many coupon websites allow you to enter the zip code of your destination city, to pick up lots of other local deals.

These are just some of the ways you can save on little items to save big on your next trip! Get creative and you’ll soon be coming up with your own ways to save money when traveling.