The Art Institute of Chicago is my favorite museum in this city. I enjoy picking a new-to-me gallery, inspecting it thoroughly, and then heading off to visit my favorite art works. Since the price of admission is rather high, I can’t do this very often. But I have been paying attention to their admission fees and here are the things I’ve noticed:
1) Admission is free on Thursdays from 5-8 p.m. I think most people kn
ow about this one. See #5!
2) City residents receive a $2 discount if they present proof of residency at the ticket booth. While not fabulous, discounts always help.
3) This one isn’t posted on their Web site. I have noticed that a few times I’ve received an additional discount after 4 p.m.
4) City residents can obtain free museum passes (for a lot of museums, not just this one) through their local library. Since each library only has one pass to circulate, it is first-come-first-serve. It is also rare to see the Art Institute pass available– it is very popular.
5) Free days resume! The first and second Wednesday of each month are free! Whoo hoo! I’ve missed free days the past few years.
Chicago has a lot to offer in the way of entertainment, but it can get expensive. One way to buy tickets at reduced prices is through GoldStar Events (http://www.goldstar.com/). Anyone can create an account, select a city, and start browsing for current and upcoming events. A lot of events listed on GoldStar are small venues with tickets that are reasonably priced to begin with, but if purchased through GoldStar, the prices are often up to half off.
If you are addicted to plays, you can find a lot of off-the-beaten-path plays for as little as $10. Are you interested in a play at the Shakespeare Theater at Navy Pier? Do you want to find a new or unusual event, but don’t want to spend a lot of money? Occasionally, a larger event will be listed, such as Cirque Shanghai or the Billy Joel/Elton John concert at Wrigley, but they are the rarity, not the norm. Other times there are even spa days at half-price (a little too pricey for me, but if you are going to some of these salons anyway, don’t pay full price!). If you are diligent, you can find a lot of really good events at reasonable prices.
Just so you know what to expect, purchase the tickets online and they will be available for pickup at the box office. There is a transaction fee, but it isn’t as exorbitant as some ticket sellers (do I need to say who?). In addition, they do send email at least once a week, so if you create an account, it will add some email to your account.
Finally, keep in mind that GoldStar offers tickets for events in other cities too. If you aren’t too picky about what you want to see, you can buy tickets for an event before you even leave Chicago.
[LisaG note: I've heard that museums also offer closing programs at a discount so check it out - we're waiting on Harry Potter at the Museum of Science and Industry!]
Eating out is a necessary part of traveling, and it ends up being a larger expense than one anticipates. Since this expense can’t be avoided, here are a few ideas on how to lessen the pain of this expense:
Hotel breakfasts: If the hotel breakfast is part of your room, take advantage of it. It is at a convenient location and you have already paid for it.
Share: Is there any part of the snack or meal that can be shared? From desert to that last beer, sharing with your traveling companion can allow you to have everything you want to taste without spending too much money.
Follow the locals: Find out where the people who live or work near your hotel or the tourist site eat. Most likely, it will be less expensive than the typical tourist spots and you may even be served more quickly. If you are too shy to ask, see if you can spot someone who looks like a native and follow (at least for a short distance). This may also be a great tourist opportunity to find out what “locals” really are like.
Local grocers: If there is a grocer near your hotel, consider popping in each day before you leave and buying some fruit or snacks to bring with you. If you have a few healthy snacks, it will likely be less expensive than eating lunch at a tourist spot or you won’t be too hungry at lunchtime, so you can split a sandwich with your traveling companion.
Convenience stores: This idea depends on the city. Some cities have lots of conveience stores, so take advantage and buy a cheap sandwich and fruit for lunch.
If you can find ways to save some money at breakfast or lunch, then you won’t feel guilty when you splurge for dinner.
Eating tips vary from city to city. If you have a tip for a particular city, please leave a comment!
Travel books are not cheap. Some may be as cheap as $10, but most cost closer to $30. On a trip, that could be a meal, entrance to a tourist site, or printing most of your photos. But if you need a book to help you plan and navigate your trip, what do you do?
If it is a short trip, a week or less, then consider visiting the library to see if they have the book(s) you need. As long as it is returned on time and in good condition, the library won’t care if you took it on your trip. Keep the due date in mind when deciding if you should bring it with you. If you only need it to plan the trip—such as selecting a hotel—then you may even be able to return it before you leave on your trip.
If it is a longer trip, you may want to borrow a copy or buy one on the cheap. Even if the book is a few years old, it will be useful. The main information should be the same. Street maps will likely be unchanged. The main tourist sites will still be at the same location. Even the hours the site is open will likely be the same. The main factor to change will be prices. Remember, even “new” books could be out of date by the time they hit the shelves since it takes time to compile the information and publish it. Also, Some travel books are only issued every few years, so there is no need to spend top dollar on a new book if you have access to one that is one a few years old.
(See “Books on a Budget” under “Shopping” to find ways to obtain books on the cheap.)
