Fall is a Great Time to Visit America’s National Parks… and Save!October 5, 2020 Right as the fall shoulder season arrived, we hit the road for Yellowstone National Park to seek out its Best Photo Spots while also testing out Leica’s SL2, a completely badass full-frame mirrorless camera. 📷 If you love photography, check out this piece we did reviewing Lensrentals gear rental, which is a fantastic way to try out any photography gear before pulling the trigger. One of the most visited national parks in the US, Yellowstone saw 4 million visitors in 2019 with the bulk of those visitors arriving in the summer months between June and August. Fall is a great time to visit these amazing nature destinations as park attendance plummets due to school being back in session. But there are other great reasons to visit too, and money-savings is a key factor. Demand for hotel rooms, Airbnbs, and other vacation rentals in and around national parks are dramatically less during these off-peak times, which makes it a perfect opportunity to search for great deals, score upgrades, or even ask for your own unique discount. Travel during the week for even deeper steals. If you’re not into the idea of staying at a hotel during the COVID-19 pandemic, we fully understand. We’re obsessed with unique Airbnbs, which can be a perfect option for social distancing. One highly effective way to save on an Airbnb is to find an available rental just a few days in advance of your trip. Then simply send the host a message and ask them if this is their best price. You can also be more specific and ask if they’ll reduce the rate by a certain percentage, such as 10%. This might not seem like it’s worth doing, but it can greatly help offset some of the extra fees that Airbnb loves to tack on, such as the $50+ cleaning fees. One note: Sending an Airbnb host a message requires you to plug in the dates you’re interested in, but you won’t be charged unless you hit the button that says “request to book.” Another really great way to save at National Parks is by buying the America Beautiful Annual Pass for $80. If you plan to visit more than three times within one year, the pass basically pays for itself as most parks charge a $20 entry fee, and some have even raised it to $30. National Parks also offer five fee-free days throughout the year, which is another option if you simply don’t want to invest in the annual pass. Cut your spending even further by camping, packing your own food, and avoiding the gift shop altogether. 🤓
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