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Costly attractions are not the only thing to see during a trip. Many of the local sights are either free or low cost. Try spending some time at these types of attractions. Do some research on the Internet or with travel guides available at your library to see what is available. Or spend a day or two away from attractions, relaxing at the hotel pool, going to the local lake or doing a little shopping.
1. If you are visiting an area during holidays or special event times, local areas often have fairs, parades, fire works displays, neighborhood festivals, craft shows, public concerts, etc. that are free. Try enjoying these types of events. You can plan ahead by using the Internet to search out these activities.
2. Try looking for local sporting events, etc. High school sporting events, local rodeos, minor league baseball teams and other events may be scheduled and provide entertainment, as well as an interesting look at the local culture.
3. Many towns have interesting areas where you can just spend some time and take in the sights like boardwalks, the beach, street entertainment, artsy areas, etc. Just walk around and take in the sights.
4. Public attractions like museums and parks are often free or inexpensive. Both sometimes offer free admission days, and also offer discounts for seniors and children. Many times, the admission is a “suggested donation” where you are free to decide what is both appropriate and affordable.
5. If there is a national park nearby, these are usually great to see and inexpensive. Admission is usually by the car load. Pack your lunch and you can have a great day at minimal cost. Passes are also available for extended periods, as well as for annual visitation rights to all national parks. If you are planning to visit often, or several different parks, these passes can lower the cost significantly.
6. Do not forget about factory tours. Many are free or low cost, and can be both informative and entertaining.
7. If the weather is not too good, you may want to catch a movie at the local cinema. Look for early bird specials that can decrease your cost significantly.
A big part of seeing the attractions is all of those great souvenirs available for purchase. Needless to say, there will not be a lot of bargains to be found. In order to control your cost, and still get that special remembrance, consider the following:
1. Unless that perfect souvenir is at an attraction that you will only be visiting once, try to avoid buying souvenirs until near the end of your trip. By that time, you and the kids will have a better idea of just what you want, and also an idea of where the better prices are. Everyone will leave with that special treasure, and not with a lot of items that were bought impulsively.
2. Consider giving each one of your kids a set budget for souvenirs. This will allow you to possibly save some money, and provide your children with a chance to learn about how to prioritize spending.
3. Generally, the same souvenir can be found at many local locations, and prices can vary significantly. Shop around before you make the purchase to ensure that you received a competitive price. And remember, usually the further the souvenir store is from the attraction the lower prices will be.
4. If you have many purchases, or very large purchases, consider having the store ship your purchases to your home. This can lessen the hassle of carrying your purchases around and carting them during your travel. And, since having purchases shipped will often avoid sales tax, the cost of shipping may be essentially offset.
Disney World, Disneyland and other theme parks are attractions unto themselves. While many of the tips regarding keeping lodging, food, entrance fees, and other expenses under control at attractions (as discussed above and in the “Lodging” and “Dining” Sections) also apply to theme parks, here are some tips that are more focused on Disney World and other theme parks.
1. Be sure to look for discounts on admission tickets before you travel to the park. Daily entrance fees can easily exceed $60 per person and put a significant dent in your budget. However, the majority of people visiting Disney World and other theme parks pay less than advertised admission prices at the gate. So make sure you get a discount.
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