Travel Guide: Tips for Visiting Illinois on a Budget

The state of Illinois and the city of Chicago aren’t known as being incredibly expensive travel destinations but just like any vacation or trip, the more money that you can save while you visit, the less stress you’ll have once you return home and look at the bills.

Here are a few tips to help you hold onto a few more of your dollars while visiting the Windy City.

Plan Ahead

Just like any trip, it’s always best to plan ahead in advance to ensure that you’re getting the best deal on air travel. Chicago can be a brutal place to visit in the winter because of the punishing winds, ice, and snow, so we’d often recommend you avoid visiting during the colder months.

For the best experience and the most affordable air travel, you should try visiting in early fall. This is after the peak seasons of spring and summer, and before the weather turns bad in the winter.

Look Into Discount Passes

Just like pretty much every major city. Chicago offers discount passes that will bundle the prices of admission for many museums and other attractions into one price. With a discount travel pass, you’ll ensure that you hit all of the sights on your list without having to pay full price for each one individually.

Look for Restaurant Discounts

While you could easily spend a few hundred dollars on dining alone while you visit, if you’re diligent and do your research, you can find tons of great restaurants offering exclusive discounts to help you save money.

Look into apps like Open Table to place your reservations and find discounts for some of the best restaurants in Chicago.

Sight See for Free

Some of the best things to do and see in Chicago and Illinois are free. All you need to do is get to the site and you’re ready for a few hours of fun without spending a thing! Check out Lake Michigan’s shoreline and the iconic buildings in the Chicago skyline.