Philadelphia Summer Fun Travel Guide Budget-style

Planning on heading to the "City of Brotherly Love" this summer but your budget has been busted? This is one town that won't try to put the squeeze on your already tight wadded wallet. There is plenty to see there for the coin concerned consumer. There are some tips and tricks that every temporary traveler from the suburbs to the city should try to take. Things like using an Entertainment Book if you have one, or AAA membership card, or AARP card can all help save money. If you bought that AAA membership for road safety, it is good for so much more. Make a bee-line for the local office; grab the map PA and a book on PA and browse through their hotel sections. They also have listings of things to do along with a listing of the prices. Take your card with you. Be bold be brazen with your cards. Lay all your cards on the table. Flash your AAA card, the AARP card, and Entertainment Book card if you have them. You'd be surprised at how many places including retail stores will give you a discount just for flashing the cards. Entertainment Books are often half price after Christmas. They are available for most cities including Philly. They can cut that restaurant tab in half if you are eating alone or provide other discounts off your meals and things to do in the area. Their website is www.entertainmentbook.com

Travel Accommodations:

As I previously stated, AAA cards can be used to secure discounts on hotels. In the back, of the Entertainment Book you can find discounts hotels and rental cars and how to book them. If you are flying in you can often get a package deal on your flight and your accommodations when you book through a travel agent. If you are flying into Philadelphia, many of the most of the inexpensive hotels are located around the airport. However, remember to figure in the added cost of transportation into your budget. The website Lodging-World provides a site where you can find hotels, B&B's, ans rentals in and around Philadelphia www.lodgingworld.com/cheapsearch.us.pennsylvania._.philadelphia . Another great source for finding reasonable accommodations is www.priceline.com

A Guide to Getting Around the City: .

You can easily rent a car when you fly into the city. However, I grew up on the outskirts of the city and I still found it hard to find my way around the city. I never went anywhere without my trusty Rand McNally Street Map of Philadelphia. Most Barnes and Nobles Stores, Borders, of Amazon Books stores can order this precious lifesaver for you before you hit the bricks.

The city has a good transit system. The South East Transit Authority (SEPTA) is the name for the transit system in the city. Please call it SEPTA for if you call it The South East Transit Authority for if you do, most of the locals will look at you like you sprouted antennae from your head. The one price for a one day pass which will provide you with a limited number of trips on the bus, subway, or trolley. The train is not included. Or you can purchase a week pass. Prices and number of trips are subject to change in these economic times to I'm not going to quote anything here. There are also bikes to be rented throughout the city. As with any large city, there are some areas that are safe and some areas...well, not so much... especially after dark. So you may want to avoid public transit or stay in well lighted areas after dark. Don't let the City of Brotherly Love become the city where you get a not so friendly brotherly mugging or someone really puts the squeeze on you.

Travel Guide on What to Do:

Philly has what is known as the Philadelphia City Pass. If you want the most bang for your buck this is the way to go. If you are only going to one or two places available on the list, this will not save you money. If you are going to more than that this is pass is a steal of a deal. Even though I grew up on the outskirts of Philadelphia, it is my favorite way to be able to see various attractions in Philadelphia. The pass claims to provide over $350 worth of entrance fees for the $40 some odd dollars for the pass. My favorite haunt that you can take advantage of on the pass is Longwood Gardens. The Gardens feature ever changing displays and a great chance to enjoy nature, get exercise and see beauty all at the same time. Talk about a steal of a deal. Recently the Gardens had a "make over" and they are even more breathtaking than they were before. The Orchid Room is a perennial favorite and if you get there for the July 4th celebration you'll be in for a real treat. If you like museums there is the Atwater Kent Museum, National Liberty Museum and the African American. For science buffs or budding nurses/doctors there is The Academy of Natural Sciences and The Franklin Institute Science Museum. I still think it is the huge walk through heart at the Franklin Institute that originally convinced me to be a nurse. The pass has many other places to see, discounts and benefits to be had with its purchase so be sure to check it out.

Close by to the city is Valley Forge Park. I have fond memories of commuting through the park to and from work. I would often take a picnic dinner with me and pull over for some me time prior to heading home. If you are in Philly, don't miss the park or you may regret this historic landmark.

A Philadelphia Travelers' Guide to Got Eats:

Philadelphia is known for its push-cart vendors. It is the home of the soft pretzel, with or without mustard. There are hot dog stands every where. And in Philly, they will look at you strange if you are over the age of five and attempt to put ketchup on your hot dog instead of mustard, so beware! There are also vendors with Italian Water Ice to cool you on a hot summer day. You'll even find industrious teens with red wagons and a blue igloo strapped to it with ice cold sodas.

As far as more traditional places to eat for my money I wouldn't go any place else other than Blarney South for great Philly Cheese Steak. Termini Brothers is terrific and the Hard Rock Cafe has not failed me yet. Menu Pages at www.philadelphia.menupages.com can help you plan out other places to eat. If you don't save room in your budget for a meal at Bookbinders you will be sorry and probably regret it the rest of your life. This is where I had my first taste of seafood as a child. I've been a seafood lover since then.

Well I think I have given you plenty to see and do in my old stomping grounds. I hope I was helpful to you and able to help guide you through your summer plans in planning a vacation to my beloved city. Sometime I'll have to tell you more about University City, which was Philadelphia's first suburb. But for now, I've made myself homesick so I'm going to make my favorite thing for dinner. What's that you ask? I'm making a phone call for a Philly Cheese Steak or perhaps a hoagie. But if you aren't a Philadelphian at heart you'd probably call my hoagie a sub.

Source:

Philadelphia Pass http://www.philadelphiapass.com/?AID=10564077&PID=2441889