Travel Tips

Travel Tip: Tourist Discount Cards

Locations in this article:  Amsterdam, Netherlands San Diego, CA

You’ve probably seen those tourist cards that get you a discount to major attractions.

But are they worth it?

Let’s take a look at the numbers…

In San Diego, a three-day Go San Diego Card costs $174 for an adult. That includes some pretty big attractions, like Knott’s Berry Farm, the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, and Legoland.

Without the card? $255. Now the card is a pretty good deal IF you’ve got the time to see all those places.

At 39 euros, the one-day Amsterdam City Card is probably not worth it.

Even if you can get to the Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum, and Rijksmuseum in one day, those entrance fees total only about 35 euros.

Of course, the more places you cram in, the more the card is worth. But remember, it’s also about enjoying the experience.

Try planning a sample itinerary—a realistic one—and do a price comparison.

After all, if you’ve got small kids or you’re someone who likes to explore the lesser-known parts of a city, being forced to race from one attraction to another probably isn’t worth the cost.

Don’t miss our in-depth exploration of the cards in Tourist Discount Cards: Deal Or No Deal?

And don’t miss our Travel Deals section.

And check out the rest of our Daily Travel Tips here.