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I believe in traveling the most efficient way possible, and one of the best ways to do that is by purchasing City Passes. A City Pass is a compilation of some of the best activities that a particular city has to offer a visitor. This guide to city passes will help you to explore your destination cost-effectively.
It’s a booklet of coupons that offer entry to that city’s most revered and treasured landmarks and activities. The best part of this tourist pass is that it’s sold at a reduced price which makes it more affordable to purchase the activities as a group rather than separately.
It’s an exceptional way to see all of the touristy spots while you’re visiting a new city. I will admit that I rarely use every coupon in my passbook, but that’s okay because it’s virtually impossible not to get your money’s worth.
The most popular pass, though not the only one of its kind, is sold by the aptly named CityPASS.
You can purchase a CityPASS for the following cities: Atlanta, Georgia, Boston, Massachussetts, Chicago, Illinois, Dallas, Texas, Houston, Texas, New York, New York, Denver, Colorado, Orlando, Florida, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, San Francisco, California, Seattle, Washington, Tampa Bay, Florida, Southern California and Toronto, Canada!
CityPASS is so versatile, it allows you to bundle a myriad of experiences into your trip! CityPASS Atlanta, for example, admits you to the following attractions:
- Georgia Aquarium
- World of Coca Cola
- CNN Studio Tours
- Zoo Atlanta or Center for Civil and Human Rights
- Fernbank Museum of Natural History or College Football Hall of Fame
As you can see, there’s enough variety to interest the most discerning traveler and the prices are more than fair. The price of the Atlanta CityPASS is $77.00 for anyone over the age of 13. Children between the ages of 3 -12 will have to pay $63.00. If you were to pay for the activities individually, you would pay $125.93! Of course, prices vary by city.
Most CityPASS products last at least six months after purchase. Check their FAQ section to confirm when your CityPASS will expire.
When I visited Savannah, Georgia, there was no equivalent pass available. However, we did check out the City’s website and found that we could purchase an Old Town Trolley Hometown Pass which covered all of the City’s historical landmarks with 15 stops! The cost for a one day tour was $30.71 pp or you can choose a 2-day tour for $47.90 pp.
Moral of the story? Always check your destination city’s website, tourism board or convention and visitor’s bureau. For instance, the Hawaii Tourism board sponsors their own Go Oahu pass. It’s a great way to save money on curated Oahu activities. You are sure to find the best discounts and trip ideas there. As soon as you are certain about your destination, purchase your City Passes.
I like the flexibility of planning my must-do activities fairly quickly so that I can enter the details on TripIt! and determine what my free time will be.
Pro tip: if you’re getting the Oahu pass…
The Zoo in Honolulu has seen better days.
Also, there are ton of homeless people in Waikiki, so you’ll want to get off the beaten path as much as possible.
Thanks for the update, James. The times, they are a’changing….