I met a fellow South Jersey blogger, Jen Miller, who has written a New Jersey vacation guide called “The Jersey Shore: Atlantic City to Cape May”.
The book is filled with some great stuff to do in south Jersey. Jen gave us a copy of her money saving tips press release to share…
8 Ways to Save on Your Jersey Shore Vacation
According to AAA, the average family spends $261 per day on food and lodging while on vacation. As anyone who visits the Jersey shore knows, the cost of hotels, beach tags, souvenirs, boardwalk rides, pizza and all those ice cream cones can quickly add up.
“The Jersey shore offers so much to see, do and eat that it’s easy to blow your budget,” says Jen A. Miller, author of The Jersey Shore, Atlantic City through Cape May: Great Destinations. “But if you know where to look, you can shave hundreds of dollars off the cost of your vacation through discounts and freebies.”
Miller offers the following tips on how to save cash while down the shore:
Coupon Clipper. Find the town’s chamber of commerce or tourism office. Not only do they give out free maps, but most shore towns create coupon books that offer discounts on everything from food to amusement parks.
Go Off Peak. This doesn’t mean you have to walk the beach in December. Most hotels and B&Bs charge more in July and August. Try a June vacation, or September if the kids aren’t in school. It’s a lot cheaper, and less crowded.
Or Book Late. If you must go in August, and haven’t thought about where you’ll stay until then, ask hotels and B&Bs if they offer any “procrastinator’s specials.” That late in the season, many places are trying to fill rooms any way they can, so they’ll drop the price to get you in rather than leave a room empty.
Special Events = Special Savings. If the town is running any special events, check with restaurants, retailers, hotels and B&Bs to see if they’re offering any promotional tie ins. For example, Dixie Picnic in Ocean City knocks 10 percent off the bill of anyone participating in the annual MS 150 bike ride.
Travel in Packs. Some B&Bs offer special discounts, or extras, if your group rents out the entire building. If you can’t get the gang together, ask for recommendations. For example, the Inn at the Park in Cape May offers a 5 percent discount if you’re recommended by a family or friend who has stayed there before.
Souvenir Savings. You don’t have to pay through the nose for souvenirs. Check local grocery stores, which usually carry town-branded items, like t-shirts and mugs, at lower prices.
BYOB. BYOBs are hot at Jersey shore, so look for restaurants where you can bring your own. You’ll save on the alcohol mark up, and the food is usually a few bucks less because the establishment doesn’t have to pay for a liquor license. You can also save by buying alcohol at home instead of down the shore (though crossing state lines with alcohol is illegal).
Free Beach. Most Jersey shore towns require beach tags, but you can save by visiting Atlantic City or Wildwood – their beaches are free.