Which Attraction Pass should I get for Chicago?
Attraction Passes are a great way to save money seeing the sights and attractions in a growing number of cities and destinations around the world. This article is designed to help you understand what an Attraction Pass is, how it works, and which one should you choose.
What is an Attraction Pass?
Attraction Passes are multi-attraction tickets. For one pre-paid price, an Attraction Pass serves as your entrance ticket to multiple museums, tours, sights, parks, etc. Most Attraction Passes are priced to save you money compared to buying individual tickets at the included attractions.
Attractions Passes come in multiple forms, but three types are the most common:
· Pre-Set Bundle – Includes a specific set of attractions and works as a ticket to any and all of the included attractions (e.g., the Paris Musee Pass, the New Orleans Audubon Experience Ticket)
· Prix Fixe – Customer selects a fixed number of admissions, then chooses how to spend those admissions from a list of included attractions (e.g., the Explorer Pass in multiple U.S. destinations)
· “All-You-Can-Eat” – Purchased for your chosen number of days, they act as a ticket to as many of the included attractions as you want for the duration of the pass. Examples include Go City Cards across North America, the London Pass, and the Sydney Pass.
In addition to their primary benefit as a money saving way to get into multiple attractions, some come with secondary benefits like line skipping privileges, shopping discounts, and restaurant deals.
How Do Attraction Passes Work?
The attraction pass works as any other ticket, except for the fact it is valid for entry at more than one location. You simply hand your pass over at the relevant attraction, they validate it, and in you go. In some specifics cases it can be slightly more complicated (e.g., where an advance reservation is required), but in general using an attraction pass is as easy or easier than using a standard ticket.
Which Attraction Pass Should I Choose?
It all depends on what kind of traveler you are. Going back to the three most common types:
· Pre-Set Bundle – If you know what you want to see is covered by this type of Pass, then this can be a great option. The primary drawback of a pre-set bundle is that in many cases it fails to cover the travelers full itinerary, thereby limiting the savings. Also, these passes often exclude the more expensive tours and attractions, thereby limiting their saving benefits.
· Prix Fixe – As with the pre-set bundle, check if what you want to see is included in the attraction choices offered. One advantage these passes have over pre-set bundles is choice and flexibility. In addition to having more attraction options, you don’t have to decide in advance which ones you are actually going to visit. Also these Passes usually get you into one or more of the more expensive “must-see’s” in a given destinations.
· “All-You-Can-Eat” – By far the most comprehensive and flexible, these passes are optimal for many travelers. As with the Prix Fixe type passes, you do not have to decide anything in advance. They also tend to include the full breadth of a destination’s museums, tours, and attractions, including expensive options like trolley tours, cruises, and the like. One word of caution: if you only plan to see 1 or 2 things a day, it may be tough to get savings from the Pass.
No matter which type of Pass you need, Smart Destinations has you covered in the City of Chicago. We offer and all-you-can-eat Go Chicago Card, a Prix Fixe Chicago Explorer Pass. And if you want a pre-set bundle, we’ll let you build your own – try our Custom Explorer Pass to build a ticket with just what you want and at a savings vs. buying individual tickets. This custom option lets you avoid the most common shortcoming of pre-builts, since you are the one deciding what is included.
Have a wonderful time doing all the great things to do visiting the City of Chicago!
Planning a trip to Chicago? Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the Go Chicago Card.
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