Finding fun travel deals shouldn’t be hard. Right?
If you arrived on this page by scanning a QR code in Texans Touring LONDON, this Universal Studios Florida post might be a bit confusing.
Have no fear, Anglophile!
The information here applies.
Knowing where to look for fun, hot travel deals is key.
This angry looking dragon sits atop Gringott’s Bank within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Florida. Fans will recognize the creature from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movie.
The sharp-toothed beast is guarding a fun, immersive ride inside the building.
To grab your attention it breathes fire every now and then, like this…
A massive, fiery ball accompanied by a huge, flame thrower noise that roars and burns overhead, startles unsuspecting park-goers below.
Like my family of five.
There we were, making our way excitedly through Diagon Alley for the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts ride, when suddenly I am muttering mild expletives and ducking for cover behind my husband.
Some links on our website lead to our affiliate partners who may provide us with a small commission, at no additional cost to you, should you choose to purchase from their site.
What’s this got to do with finding fun travel deals?
Well, similar to the heart-stopping shock of being confronted by a fire-breathing dragon, is the heavy disappointment of discovering too late that fun travel deal were to be had.
Here are a few places to see if the tour, excursion or attraction you plan to visit has any money saving opportunities (this is not just for Universal Studio parks).
Become a Member or Season Pass Holder
This is the simplest money saving route, but only if you anticipate you will be frequenting a venue.
Often places – such as those listed below – offer regular patrons free or discounted admission and deals on food and concessions, when they become members. Memberships are typically renewed annually.
- Museums and Historical Sites
- Zoos and Aquariums
- National and State Parks which includes Trusts and such
- Amusement Parks
To find these deals, visit the site’s official webpage and search for a Members or Donate section.
You may find spending money on a membership is not a value for you, monetarily or otherwise. But look beyond the immediate museum, or wherever you considering, because these place are often in networks and their benefit may extend beyond just the one location.
For instance, a $70 annual investment in a Texas State Parks Pass grants the holder and their guests, free entrance into any of 89 state parks for a full year! Plus you receive discounts on camping reservations and the gift shops.
Another example would be buying a membership to Historic Royal Palaces in the United Kingdom. Starting at £55, members gain free entry to The Tower of London, Kensington and Hampton Court Palaces plus discounted admission to Kew Gardens, in addition to other perks. Even if you will only be in London for a few days, you could recoup your expense by visiting two of the six castles included.
Consider a City Pass
A city pass differs from a membership to a single venue or organization, by offering a variety of local experiences.
These passes are put together by companies or municipalities as incentives for tourists to visit beyond one or two attractions. Most are purchased for short time frames like a day or two to a week or so.
Providers of these passes contract with local businesses to offer discounts on entry fees and restaurants.
- Commercial City Pass – a handful of companies, like CityPASS, sell passes for large cities such as Dallas, Houston and London. They provide discounted tickets for a limited array of activities to take advantage of during short stays in a single area.
- Tourist Bureaus – an example would be I amsterdam, a “public/private foundation” that integrates free and discounted museum entries, canal cruises and free citywide public transport in and around Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Hop On Hop Off Bus Tickets – a comparable option since these tickets often include discounts to their passenger for attractions and eateries near their stops.
Since these passes have finite lifespans, it is wise to consider how many sites you can realistically see and how much they cost pre-discount, before deciding if the pass is a value.
Shop an Online Travel Agency
Websites like GetYourGuide and Viator are fabulous research tools when you are looking for fun or hot travel deals.
Far better for finding singular experiences than buying a membership or purchasing a city pass, if you only have time or bandwidth for one thing. These websites can be searched by attraction, excursion, or tour and by city, state, province or country.
Readers write reviews and both companies have intuitive phone apps that you can use to price shop or book tickets on the spot.
To Recap
Fun travel deals are yours for the taking.
Check the website for the attraction, destination or tour you are interested in enjoying and see if they have offer a membership or any other perk you can take advantage of.
If you are planning to be in one city for a day to a week and want to see everything possible, shop for a city pass.
Looking a deal on a certain activity? Try an online travel agency like GetYourGuide.
Happy trails, y’all!
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