What Families Are Booking for the Winter Holidays
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September 21, 2024
Downtown Los Angeles – Photo Credit: 4kclips/Adobe Stock
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 you’ll mostly be during your vacation, so your rideshares aren’t 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 city’s 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 city’s hot spots. Just stay near a subway stop for easy access to the city center.
In terms of food, you’ll 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. You’ll save about 48 percent on ticket prices with CityPass.
Miami
Photo Credit: Eric Bowman
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 lover’s 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 – JFK, La Guardia, Newark – 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. There’s 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. Don’t 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
Photo Credit: Paul Heney
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 won’t 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 Seattle’s surrounding areas, and hang out at the beach at Alki Beach Park. For the attractions that aren’t free – there’s 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 it’s 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
You’d 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.
Phoenix
Hole-in-the-Rock at Papago Park in Phoenix, Arizona – Photo Credit: Patrick Clarke
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. Don’t 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 it’s 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.
This article originally appeared in TravelPulse.