Travel Tips

Not-So-Free “Free” Activities

Locations in this article:  St. Louis, MO

Of course most of us are watching our budget these days, so free and low-cost activities are more attractive these days. But always remember to read the fine print or you may end up paying more than you expected in hidden costs.

Let’s take zoos for example.

An attraction like the St. Louis Zoo offers free admission. Great, right?

Well don’t forget that you have to pay $11 for parking, $3 to see certain animal exhibits, $5 to travel on the zoo train, and $4 to get into the petting zoo.

Suddenly you’re looking at about $35 per person for your so-called free activity.

And what about museums?

Many of them have free admission to the permanent collections, but any special short-term exhibits can cost up to $20 per person.

And of course you may have to pay for parking.

Then there are county fairs.

It might only cost a few dollars to get in, but every little extra might hit you in the wallet: the bouncy castles, the funnel cakes, and even the big-name concert act in the evening.

So if you’re content to just watch the pig races you’ll be OK. Otherwise, expect to bring some cash.

Bottom line: Call in advance to find out exactly what’s included in the price of admission and what’s not, then decide if your budget can handle it.

And remember, in today’s economy, everything is negotiable.

Get more tips on saving money in our Budget Travel section.

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