Ways To Save At Your Destination
Use Those Coupons, Freebies and Happy Hours
In a previous article, I gave you ten surefire tips for saving money on booking travel. But there are things you can do to save even more money once you get there.
Use these tips and you're sure to save enough for a splurge here and there on your trip:
1] Use coupons. For some reason, some people have an aversion to coupons. I say if a piece of paper will save me money, it's a great thing. And nowadays, with the digital age, you don't even need the actual paper. E-Coupons (electronic coupons) exist for everything from car rentals to dining to even attractions at your destination. Use them!
2] Use attraction combo-passes. Many major cities offer discount museum/attraction passes via the city's visitor's bureau website. In addition companies like CityPass have bundled together some of the hottest area attractions into a coupon book that will save you over $100 on average.
3] Buy public transportation passes. If you plan to be in a city with public transport like New York, London, etc, and plan to use the subways and busses, consider buying a multi-day pass. You'll often save a few bucks this way and sometimes these passes come with extra discounts.
4] Look for happy hours. Many bars have afternoon blocks of time when they discount drinks and sometimes even food, such as appetizers. Check with your hotel concierge/front desk or pick up one of the local free alternate newspapers for lists of places which have happy hours. It's a great chance to socialize and save money at the same time.
5] Shop locally for souvenirs. Sure it's easy to hit the gift shop in your hotel or the airport, but bring back a truly original gift for those you love. If you must have something that says you were there, consider postcards or magnets for cheap alternatives to t-shirts - as a plus, they take up less room in your luggage. Better yet, buy something from local stores - local candy, a scarf from a local designer, perfume only available in that country. You get the idea. Just check with customs regulations when dealing with food -- many don't allow food items, like fruit, into or out of the country due to health reasons.
6] Shop duty-free. When on cruises or returning from international destinations, many countries offer duty-free shopping up to a certain limit. This means you can take advantage of higher ticket item savings by buying them while traveling and not having to pay taxes upon your return. Check with your country's customs office for the regulations and limits. Also be sure to check on what prices for the same items are in your country to make sure you really are getting a good deal purchasing it duty-free.
7] Post on message boards. Many alt-weekly newspapers and even some radio stations have message boards. Post a request stating your dates of travel and ask if there are any local bands worth checking out or if anyone can recommend good cheap places to eat. I've often gotten guestlisted for local band shows, received invites for art shows and gotten great tips on restaurants and bars that offered great deals and food. You can do a google search to find the websites for these newspapers and radio stations in the destination you're going to. Also consider the message boards at travel sites like BootsnAll and Lonely Planet. There's good insider info out there - all you have to do is ask.
8] Load your itinerary with freebies. In any location, there are free things to do. Visit the city parks, look for free admission days at museums, take self-guided walking tours, visit the beach, stroll the shopping districts and just window shop - every penny you save doing these things is money you can splurge on something else. And you know what? These things are a great way to get a true taste of the destination.
9] Consider alternate eating times. Sure it's great to eat in a nice restaurant for dinner, but often times the same restaurant will be cheaper for lunch. Some restaurants also have early-bird specials. When I ate at Café Med in South Beach during their early dinner time period, I got two entrees and two drinks for the same price as one entrée would have normally cost.
10] Keep your itinerary flexible. I've found last minute deals and opportunities tend to pop up at random times during my trips. If you schedule every moment of your trip, you lose the ability to take advantage of these freebies and discounts as they pop up.
If you follow these tips and ones from my previous article, you should have no trouble maintaining your budget when you travel - without sacrificing moments worth remembering.
