Visiting the US but worried about spending too much? Here are some top money tips for the US to help you get more bang for your buck.
Travel doesn’t always have to come with an expensive price tag – from free museum evenings to discount city passes – Visit The USA assembles five top value-for-money travel tips to make your tourism dollars go further. With the added bonus that the U.S. has dropped entry testing requirements just in time for summer, there’s never been a better time to head across the Atlantic. Here are some money tips for the US to help you get the most out of your trip as possible.
Snap up a free ticket to world-class museums
The U.S. is home to some of the most iconic museums in the world, and there are multiple ways for the savvy traveller to enjoy free entry to them. When it comes to some top money tips for the US, you want to take this on board. Many museums offer monthly free entry days or evenings, such as MoMA in NYC, which is free on the first Friday of every month from 4 to 8pm. Other museums in the U.S. are free year-round, such as Birmingham Museum of Art in Alabama and Oklahoma Railway Museum in Oklahoma City; so it always pays to check the museum website in advance to see if you could snag a free ticket. If you’re travelling to the U.S. in September, look out for Smithsonian Museum Day, an annual celebration where hundreds of museums and cultural institutions across the country provide free entry. This year’s Museum Day will be held on 17 September 2022, but keep an eye out from mid-August to grab your free tickets.
Save time and money with a City Pass
Saving money and seeing the U.S.’s top attractions can go hand-in-hand with a city pass, which bundles admission to attractions such as theme parks, zoos and museums in one flat fee. Some bundles offer over 50% discounts and the added perk of preferred express entry so that you can bypass long ticketing lines, saving you precious time and money. The CityPASS is one of the most popular in the U.S., available in 15 major cities. Must-see cities which offer the pass include the southern charm of Atlanta, Georgia; cruising on the Mississippi in Boston, Massachusetts; the metropolitan hub of Chicago, Illinois; the glittering Texas capital, Dallas; and theme park fun in Southern California. For more information, visit: https://www.citypass.com.
Put on your comfy shoes in the U.S.’s walkable cities
We often spend so much of our working week sitting at a desk, so what better way to enjoy your holiday than stretching your legs and your budget by choosing a popular walkable city for your next trip. The U.S. has numerous walkable cities, beyond the famous big commuter cities like New York, Boston and Chicago, which will allow you to cut down on expensive car-hire costs. Try the 2.5 mile waterfront promenade, River Walk, which winds through downtown San Antonio, Texas. Not too far from the walk you’ll find the Alamo, which is a historic Spanish mission and another free way to explore Texas’ rich history. Charleston, South Carolina, is another pedestrian-friendly city, offering beautiful beaches, popular open-air markets, and a stunning promenade where dolphins are a known regular sighting. For an extra touch of mobility, try a low-cost cycle hire, another increasingly popular way to get around the U.S. Or if you’d rather sit back and relax, try Amtrak for its numerous affordable rail journeys across the state.
Hike off the beaten park in permit-free National Parks
National parks in the U.S. are experiencing a high volume of demand, with many parks being completely booked out this summer, but that shouldn’t stop you from exploring America’s great outdoors. In Denver, the Rocky Mountain National Park is just one way to see Colorado’s spectacular scenery. Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness is a 12 mile drive southwest of Aspen that offers world-class wilderness without need for a permit. Serious hikers can try the 28-mile Four Pass Loop, which circles the wilderness’ famous twin fourteeners. Closer to Denver, Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is another must-see, with a variety of free trails and guided tours. While there, don’t miss checking out the famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre, an open-air music venue built into the mountain, where countless legendary musicians have performed. For other alternative national parks in the U.S. where you don’t need a permit, try an underground labyrinth for caving at the Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky, or the pure wilderness of the North Cascades National Park in Washington State.
Plan your travel around festivities
With 50 states and five territories, there is always a special festival or event taking place in the States, and many are easy on the wallet. In NYC, Restaurant Week is a twice-yearly event – usually during winter – when more than 300 of New York City’s best restaurants offer a prix-fixe menu at a very low price, relative to their regular prices. If you’re in Illinois in early September, the Chicago Jazz Festival is a favourite Labour Day weekend tradition that is entirely free, and boasts internationally renowned talent. November is another festive time to travel to the States, with Thanksgiving being America’s favourite family holiday. Many cities throw big free Thanksgiving parades with bands, singers, floats and giant balloons. Beyond the iconic Macy’s Day Parade in NYC, try America’s Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit, Michigan; the H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade in Houston, Texas; or the Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade in Charlotte, North Carolina.
These are just a few money tips for the US that should help you get more bang for your buck. Have any other tips? Let us know!
