Nine reasons to travel with a CityPass in '09

Cheap is the new chic, but for American-based CityPass, it’s business as usual. For 12 years, CityPass has built its fame on bundling the most famous attractions in San Francisco and ten other big city destinations in a pocket-size booklet of actual tickets – at about half the price of regular admissions. Its collections of the most popular attractions remain an ideal solution for cost-conscious travellers to a major North American destination.

Here are nine reasons to consider travel to a CityPass city in 2009:

1. See the best of North America
Now may be the best time ever to travel to the continent, with deals on air/land packages and hotel offerings. Once here, dip into the art and collections of far-away lands, fantastic achievements, amazing animals, sky-high views, gorgeous gardens or thrilling rides with a CityPass.

2. Organize your trip
It wouldn’t be a new year without views to be organized. CityPass offers the ultimate collection of museums, sightseeing and iconic experiences. No research required. Transportation routes recommended. Tips on dining and nightlife shared. Map included.

3. Save money, live large
CityPass costs about half the price of combined regular best-attraction admissions in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, Atlanta, Toronto, Philadelphia, Boston, Seattle, Hollywood, and Southern California. Avoid shipping costs to hotels or accommodations with a printable voucher, redeemable at the first attraction visited.

4. Save time
Buying CityPass online saves time, but the hidden beauty of CityPass is revealed when the first ticket is used. Rather than waiting in entrance queues, CityPass guests zip past most lines and avoid rain, heat, snow, humidity, and boredom. Each attraction ticket details the location to present the CityPass booklet for immediate entrance.

5. Venture past the border
Been to New York before? Take in Manhattan with a CityPass, then keep going – to Toronto’s cosmopolitan style, Philadelphia or Boston for American history lessons, to Atlanta for Southern hospitality, or California for sunny skies and thrill rides. CityPass bundles the best of each city for budget travel, to take in more than one city.

6. Pinch here – splurge there
Make a travel budget last longer with the purchase of a CityPass. Transportation is included in San Francisco CityPass, there are boat rides in the Seattle and New York booklet, a convenient trolley in Philadelphia, and public transportation options are noted on the back of every ticket. Check out famous restaurant menus for lunch instead of dinner. Have a nightcap in the hotel room instead of the bar.

7. Stay longer
In five CityPass cities each winter, visitors take advantage of the CityPass Winter Special. Booklets normally valid for nine days are valid for over 90 days—practically all winter. Plan a longer visit to Seattle, New York, Boston, Philadelphia or the Los Angeles/Hollywood area and spread CityPass tickets to major museum and attractions over months to enjoy the city’s best. Purchase tickets after December 15 and booklets are automatically valid through the following March.

8. Pass it on
Consider giving a CityPass when you know friends and family are headed to one of North America’s exciting cities. Milestone birthdays, school graduation, new grandbabies and other big events must be celebrated. Each CityPass ticket booklet delivers nearly twice its purchase price in admission values, and one size fits all imaginations. CityPass represents not just a single gift, but five or six celebrations, enjoyed at the recipient’s convenience. Send someone to North America armed with what could be their most memorable gift ever.

9. Share memories
Back home, visit Citypass.com to post valuable travel tips or chronicle a CityPass visit with recommendations, ideas, discoveries and photos. Others get the benefit of personal advice to get the most out of their CityPass holiday, while those to post comments can win CityPass tickets to explore another city.

CityPass saves money and time in 11 North American destinations: New York ($79 adult, $59 youth 13-17), Boston ($44 adult, $28 youth 3-11), Philadelphia ($58 adult, $38 youth 4-12), Chicago ($69 adult, $59 4-11), Seattle ($44 adult, $29 youth 4-12) San Francisco ($59 adult, $39 youth 5-12),Hollywood ($59 adult, $49 youth 4-11) Southern California ($259 adult, $219 youth 3-9) Atlanta ($69 adult, $49 youth 3-12),Houston ($39 adult, $29 youth 4-11) and Toronto, Canada ($59 adult, $39 youth 4-12). Prices are valid 4/1/09 – 3/31/10.

CityPass is sold at each city’s participating attractions or at Citypass.com. It’s the ticket that makes the trip.