Each year we round up a list of fabulous freebies, valuable offers with few or no strings attached. This year's list is packed with more something-for-nothing deals than ever. Here are our favorite travel freebies, including free flight perks, free stuff on the road and free tour guides.
For our complete list, see Fabulous Freebies 2014.
Free Flight Perks
Domestic airlines are stingy with giveaways, but some airlines still offer a few freebies for fliers. Southwest lets you check two bags for free -- that can save you $120 per person round-trip when compared to Delta, for instance -- and JetBlue lets you check one bag free (plus gives you access to free TV, satellite radio and all-you-can-eat snacks.) American, Delta, United and US Air also allow the first and sometimes second bags to fly free to most international destinations.
Traveling with kids? You deserve even more freebies. Children under age 2 can fly domestically on most major airlines, or ride Amtrak, free of charge when they sit on a paying adult’s lap. Also, watch for kids-cruise-free and kids-ski-free promotions, and ask the cruise or resort in advance about free supervised kid programs so you can have some much-needed grown-up time.
Sponsored Content
Free Flights
If you have to fly, you may as well earn extra credit for it. Sign up for the airline’s frequent flier program to accumulate points toward free flights and other goodies.
See the “Program Guide” at WebFlyer.com for the lowdown on each airline’s rules. Or, use the Head2Head feature to compare both airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Sponsored Content
Free Passport Photos
You’ll pay about $15 at the post office to get your picture taken for your passport. Instead, take your photo with your own digital camera, then upload it to ePassportPhoto.com, which will help you size it properly before printing on your home printer. The best part: You can redo your picture as many times as you like. After all, who wants to get stuck with a bad photo for the next ten years?
Sponsored Content
Free Language Lessons
Prepare for your international getaway with the free foreign language lessons online at FSI-language-courses.org. Or go to Openculture.com for a list of lessons around the Web that you can download to your MP3 player. Your public library may also offer courses or software to help you prepare for your travels.
Sponsored Content
Free Stuff at Hotels
You can find free breakfasts at a number of hotel chains, and we aren't just talking coffee and bagels. Country Inns & Suites, Homewood Suites, SpringHill Suites and Holiday Inn Express are just a few chains that offer a hot morning meal. Some hotel chains, like Marriott’s Residence Inn or Embassy Suites by Hilton, hold nightly receptions with free heavy appetizers or light dinners.
Oh, and don’t forget to grab the famous free chocolate chip cookies when you check in at a Doubletree. Visit Priceline.com for a searchable list of hotel freebies, including free parking and Wi-Fi.
Parents can save even more on hotel costs by booking hotels where kids sleep and eat free. Choice Hotels allow children 18 and younger to stay free when sharing a room with their parents or grandparents. Kids 19 and younger stay free in their parents’ room at Holiday Inn Hotels, while up to four children aged 12 and younger eat free off the hotel restaurant’s kids’ menu.
Sponsored Content
Free Price Watcher
Don’t you hate it when you pay for a flight, and then the price drops? Enlist the help of Yapta.com, which tracks your flight’s price after you buy your ticket. If the fare drops, it will notify you and help you collect a refund or travel vouchers from the airline. (Note: Yapta only kicks in if the price drop exceeds the ticket-change fee you’d be obligated to pay.) Yapta does the same for hotels too. For rental cars, try AutoSlash.com.
Sponsored Content
Free Tour Guides
To get a real feel for a city when you’re traveling, team up with a local. The Global Greeter Network organizes volunteers in several cities worldwide to show you around, give you the inside scoop and answer your questions. Tours can last a couple hours, and there’s a strict no-tipping policy.
Prefer to explore at your own pace? Browse the free audio walking tours available for download at iTunes.com, Audisseyguides.com and iAudioguide.com. You can also search the Web for walking tours of your destination. In our simple search, we found free audio tour downloads from Boston and Chicago to Dublin and Jerusalem.
Sponsored Content
Free Credit-Card Perks
By simply carrying a credit card, you may be entitled to some cool travel freebies. Many airline, hotel and travel rewards cards offer no foreign transaction fees, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Capital one Venture Rewards. Some also offer free rental-car insurance, and some will cover the cost of your vacation if you have to cancel your trip. Call your card issuer to find out what perks you qualify for.
Some airline rewards cards offer one free checked bag, lounge access or both.
Sponsored Content
Free Activities
Anyone interested in visiting a U.S. national park should plan their trip around the system's free admission days. The National Park Service holds a number of these events throughout the year, like on Presidents Day Weekend and Veterans Day. Find the complete list here.
You can also have free fun in many cities by checking out free museums, or looking out for free museum days. Also, Smithsonian magazine's Museum Day Live partners with museums across the country to make them free for a day. Just visit the website to get your free ticket.
Sponsored Content
Free Lodging
Avoid hotel fees altogether by house swapping or house sitting, couchsurfing, or farming.
World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) allows travelers to stay and eat free on an organic farm in exchange for a few hours’ help each day. (The only cost is a small fee to join WWOOF.) Similarly, engaging in a house sit or exchange allows you to stay in homes all over the world for just the cost of a membership.
More adventurous types can arrange to sleep on a local’s couch (or guest bed) for free through Couchsurfing.com. Just create an online profile, and look for available crash pads in your destination.
Sponsored Content
-
Struggling with How to Plan a Trip? These Companies Will HelpTravel Plans Sit back, relax and let the professionals handle the logistics.
-
What to Do With Your Tax Refund: 6 Ways to Bring GrowthUse your 2024 tax refund to boost short-term or long-term financial goals by putting it in one of these six places.
-
What Does Medicare Not Cover? Eight Things You Should KnowHealthy Living on a Budget Medicare Part A and Part B leave gaps in your healthcare coverage. But Medicare Advantage has problems, too.
-
The New JetBlue Premier Card Is Packed With Perks – But Is It Worth the Annual Fee?Travelers can now apply for the JetBlue Premier Card, the airline’s new elite card packed with perks. Find out how it compares to other, more affordable JetBlue cards.
-
15 Reasons You'll Regret an RV in RetirementMaking Your Money Last Here's why you might regret an RV in retirement. RV-savvy retirees talk about the downsides of spending retirement in a motorhome, travel trailer, fifth wheel, or other recreational vehicle.
-
JetBlue Baggage Fees Changing: New Perks for Blue Basic FliersJetBlue baggage fees have changed a few times in the past year. Here are the updated fees for carry-on and checked baggage. Blue Basic fliers get a new perk.
-
Yes, JetBlue Has Transatlantic Flights — and They're Often a Good Deal
JetBlue is now operating a handful of flight itineraries from the East Coast to Europe, at relatively affordable prices.
-
The Six Best Places to Retire in New Englandplaces to live Thinking about a move to New England for retirement? Here are the best places to land for quality of life, affordability and other criteria.
