Budget Tips
1. Off-Season Travel
New England is busiest in summer, when children are out of school, and fall, when foliage is at its peak. Visiting in March or November can save you a bundle; hotels are empty, restaurants offer specials to lure diners, and air fares are lowest. Keep in mind, though, that attractions, chefs, and B&B operators often choose these slow times for their own vacations.
2. Discounts
Most museums and many attractions offer discounted admission to seniors (usually 65+) and students with proper ID. Many other discounts, including room rates, are available to members of the American Automobile Association (AAA) or its British affiliate, AA.
3. Free or Reduced Admissions
Most large museums offer reduced or free admission for one day, or part of one day, each week; check individual websites for details. Sometimes the free admission does not include special exhibitions or specific galleries.
4. Ticket Discounts
In Boston, BosTix kiosks (in Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Copley Square) sell half-price tickets to most non-commercial arts events and some commercial productions, from 10am on the day of the performance. Most purchases must be made with cash, but some are available on the website.
www.bostix.com
5. Free Outdoor Entertainment
Many cities and state parks throughout the region host free concerts and other entertainment, especially on summer weekends. In Boston, check the Boston Globe for news about free films and concerts at public spaces such as Hatch Shell, City Hall Plaza, Rowes Wharf, and Copley Square. Hampton Beach has free concerts in July and August.
6. Outlet Shopping
To dispose of over-stocks, leftover seasonal clothing, or goods that did not move at full price, many manufacturers of apparel and household goods maintain their own “outlet” stores; they are plentiful in Wrentham, Massachusetts; North Conway, New Hampshire; Freeport and Kittery, Maine; and Manchester, Vermont (for further details see Shopping Destinations).
7. State Parks
State parks offer camping, picnicking, swimming, boating, hiking, and other outdoor activities for a relative pittance. (Some ocean-beach parking can be expensive, but that is an exception.) The states do not publish guides to their parks, but detailed information is available on their websites.
CT • www.ct.gov/dep
RI • www.riparks.com
VT • www.vtstateparks.com
8. Movie Matinees
In addition to giving senior discounts, most cinemas also discount tickets to first-run movies for afternoon screenings on weekdays, and sometimes for first screening of the day on weekends.
9. Weekday Fuel Purchases
Fuel prices are volatile. Stations offering the lowest typically raise the cost a few cents on Thursday then lower it again on Monday. Some offer substantial discounts for cash fuel purchases on Wednesday.
10. Cash Discounts
When dealing with small merchants (as opposed to chain stores), always ask if you can get a discount by paying cash. The answer is often yes, especially from antiques dealers. When you use a credit card, the merchant pays a percentage of the sale to the credit card company; most would rather give the money to you.
