According to NerdWallet, travel prices have been up eleven
percent since the pandemic, but that shouldn't sway you from visiting the most
popular destinations across the U.S. There are plenty of budget-minded ways to
see the country's hot spots without going into debt. Keep reading for the full
scoop on how to save.?
Los Angeles
Winter (post-holidays) is said to be the most affordable
time to visit Los
Angeles. Hotels will probably take up most of your budget, so save on transportation,
attractions, and food. Take the subway in Los Angeles and book your hotel in a
location where you think youll mostly be during your vacation, so your
rideshares arent expensive. You could also stay at a hotel that offers free
transportation to attractions. For example, The Garland Hotel has a complimentary guest
shuttle to Universal Studios, which saves you about $35-$75.?
The best way to visit the citys attractions is through the Go City app. Buy one pass and get access to 45
of the most popular LA attractions, including the Warner Bros. Studio Tour and
the GRAMMY Museum. Right now, a 3-day all-inclusive Los Angeles Go City pass is
$284 for one adult, which means you can go to unlimited attractions in three
days. If you bought the tickets separately, you'd be paying more. That said, LA
has plenty of free attractions, like the beach, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and
Rodeo Drive. Explore the city's budget-friendly food trucks and taquerias to
save on food.?
Chicago
You can see the Bean and have deep-dish pizza in Chicago
without breaking the bank. The subway is well-connected to the airport and
around the city. Buy an unlimited transportation day pass for one, three, or
seven days to save. Skip the boat tours and buy a Chicago Water Taxi pass for
$10. Hotel prices are more affordable away from the citys hot spots. Just stay
near a subway stop for easy access to the city center. ?
In terms of food, youll find delicious and more affordably
priced meals in Pilsen, Chinatown, Little Italy, and Greektown, home to Italian
delis, Chinese dim sum and noodle shops, and Mexican taquerias. Classic Chicago
foods like deep-dish pizza, hot dogs, and Italian beef sandwiches are more
affordable at lunchtime.?
Free attractions include the Millenium Park, The Bean, the
Navy Pier, River Walk, and Lincoln Park Zoo. Otherwise, buy tickets before
arriving for a reduced price, or go with a CityPass, which gives you one-time
admission to five Chicago attractions at a discounted price. Youll save about
48 percent on ticket prices with CityPass.
Yachts in Miami (Photo Credit: Eric Bowman)
Miami
We know Miami
in the summer sounds like a blast, but if you visit in January or February, you
can still enjoy the mid-70s during the day and lower prices. You could also see
during hurricane season in August or September for good deals and better
temperatures. In terms of flights, it could be cheaper to fly into Fort
Lauderdale Airport and take the Tri-Rail to downtown Miami. Speaking of Fort
Lauderdale, you could find better hotel prices there than in Miami. If you need
to stay in Miami, book a hotel closer to the Everglades rather than the beach
for a better deal. Those staying beachside should skip the ocean view rooms to
save significantly.?
Surprisingly, Miami has plenty of free public
transportation, including the Metromover and trolleys in Little Havana,
Wynwood, and Coconut Grove. Miami is an art lovers paradise with several free
museums like the Lowe Art Museum and the Frost Art Museum. Otherwise, check out
the free street art in Wynwood, take a free self-guided Art Deco Historic
District tour, and learn to dance salsa for free at Ball & Chain. Beyond
visiting the beach, look for free festivals and find street vendors with
delicious bites that are affordable, too.?
New York City
The great thing about visiting New
York City is you can search for the cheapest flight to several airports C
JFK, La Guardia, Newark C all connected by train to the city. Hotel rates are
pretty high no matter the year, but at least it's more affordable in boroughs
like Queens, a short subway ride from Manhattan. A 7-day unlimited subway pass
for $34 will save you a lot.?
It's not hard to find free festivals and attractions in the
Big Apple and discounts to iconic New York City attractions. Go City has 112
New York City attractions, while CityPass offers discounts to up to 10
attractions. Theres also the New York Sightseeing Pass to consider. Many
museums have pay-what-you-wish days or free hours you can take advantage of,
too! When it comes to Broadway, book your tickets in advance for discounts, see
a matinee rather than a show at night, or buy your ticket the day of at the
TKTS booths in Times Square (there is even standing room only cheap seats.) Not
to mention, New York has delicious and affordable bites in delis, curbside
carts, markets (like Chelsea Market) and food trucks. Dont overlook happy hour
at restaurants, either!
San Francisco
San
Francisco has free activities like the Mission District Murals, the Golden
Gate Bridge, a free walking tour with San Francisco Tour Guides, and The
Presidio (take the free PresidiGo Shuttle there!). Travelers can save money on
paid attractions with CityPass or Go City.
Get around the city cheaply with Muni public transportation
day passes or rent a bike through Bay Wheels. Don't forget about the BART
train, which you might want to use to travel to and from a more affordable
hotel in Oakland or other suburbs outside San Francisco. It could also be
cheaper to fly into Oakland International Airport than San Francisco
International Airport, and BART can take you from the airport to your
destination. Eating in San Francisco could hit your wallet hard if you're not
careful, so look for casual eateries. Grab a burrito in the Mission District or
some delicious Asian takeout in the Sunset District.?
Austin skyline. (Photo by Paul Heney) (Photo Credit: Photo by Paul Heney.)
Austin
Austin
is a beloved travel destination, and because of that, prices are rising. The
Texas capital is mostly full of free attractions like the bats under the
Congress Bridge or a free walking tour of the Texas State Capitol. Most travelers
explore the outdoor
areas like Zilker Park, go on a self-guided mural tour, rock climb and swim
in the Barton Creek Greenbelt, or listen to live music for free at the Elephant
Room or the Little Longhorn Saloon. You wont typically find covers at bars or
clubs.?
Airbnb is the most affordable way to go, but you may save
money if you book a hotel far from downtown. Rideshares aren't too overpriced
yet, but you can save more by taking the MetroRail from a North Austin hotel
into the downtown area. The MetroBike and MetroBus services are also affordable
and make it easy to get around. ??
In terms of food, grab some breakfast tacos in the late
morning, which will hold you off until happy hour. Don't forget, chips and
salsa are free at Mexican restaurants, so fill up!
Seattle
It's free to take photos of the Seattle Space Needle and the
Fremont Troll, hike in Seattles
surrounding areas, and hang out at the beach at Alki Beach Park. For the
attractions that arent free C theres CityPass. It gets you into Seattle
attractions like the Seattle Aquarium and the Museum of Flight for a discounted
price.?
We know you will want to visit Pike Place Market during your
Seattle vacation, which is an ideal place to have an affordable meal for lunch
and take advantage of specials and deals at night. Public transportation is the
way to go in Seattle, and there are plenty of options: Link Light Rail, South
Lake Union Streetcar, Seattle Center monorail, and the First Hill Streetcar.
The Washington State Ferries to Bainbridge Island or Bremerton are super
affordable, too. Hotels will be a bit pricey unless you visit in the winter
when its cooler and rainy. Find better deals when you stay further from the
city center (just make sure to book near a light rail stop).?
Las Vegas
Youd be surprised by how much you can save in Las
Vegas. Hotels on Fremont
Street are more affordable than those on the Strip. Besides, taking a
rideshare to The Strip to explore those properties is not expensive. Either
way, check the Fremont
Street Experience and Visit
Las Vegas sites for the best hotel deals, discounts, and coupons before you
book. (Don't forget to check the resort fees, as they're usually not included
in your estimated booking price!)?
During your visit, sign up for the loyalty programs at the
casinos, as they may offer you free play, a deal, or a discount. Maybe you'll
win big and pay for your trip. Most casinos offer free drinks while you play
the slots or the tables, which is good because food and drink in Vegas are
expensive. Look for special deals on the hotel and casino social media pages,
or search for happy hours when possible. If you want to get into a nightclub or
a pool day club for free, find a nightclub promoter through social media (a
Google search also pulls up lots of results). Many pool parties and clubs offer
free entry to women.?
Hole-in-the-Rock at Papago Park in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo Credit: Patrick Clarke)
Phoenix
Outdoorsy travelers are making their way to Phoenix,
and we've got insight into how to save. Hotels are reasonably priced in
Phoenix, but if you find a better deal in Scottsdale, opt for that, as it's
only a 30-minute drive away. While you may want to rent a car to go hiking or
bouldering nearby, there are quite a few hiking destinations within rideshare
distance (20-minute rides), like Camelback Mountain or Piestewa Peak. The city
even has a light rail that you could use to save on transportation costs. For
fun and free experiences, check out First Fridays in the Roosevelt Row Arts
District to explore vendors and get affordable
meals from food trucks. The Phoenix Art Museum also has a pay-what-you-wish
deal on Wednesdays. Otherwise visit the ASU Art Museum and the Penske Racing
Museum (for race car fans) for free.?
Boston
Aching for some Boston
clam chowder and a lobster roll? You may want to visit in the winter when
prices are slightly cheaper. Find cheap eats at food markets like the TimeOut
Market or grab something from a food truck at Dewey Square. Lunch specials in
Chinatown are also very reasonable. Go City Boston and CityPass are available,
though you can find free days at many art museums. Some of the biggest
attractions (like the Freedom Trail) are run by the National Park Services,
which only charges a small entry fee. Dont overlook free attractions like
Trinity Church, the Boston Harbor Islands, the Arnold Arboretum, and the Black
Heritage Trail.?
Take the subway when exploring Boston, or just walk if its
not too cold. The water taxi is also a fun and affordable way to see Boston.
While renting an apartment or a room is more economical in Boston, you could
find some cheap hotels in the South End or a charming inn further from the city
center.?
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