Philadelphia CityPass News

I've learned of a new entrant in Philly called the Philadelphia Pass. It may have been around for a while but it's new to me. Instead of a few top attractions and 9 days to visit them, you get admission to over 30 attractions. You purchase a set number of days and then you go to as many attractions as you like. You can skip lines at the more important attractions. You also get a nice guidebook.

I have not a financial analysis but it looks like it is a better deal if you are the type of person who wants to really soak in the city. Buy it here

For the last few years, Philadelphia has been working hard to increase its profile as a fun and affordable destination. The effort is paying off with a noteworthy combination of deals, perks and activities to help visitors welcome spring, including the two-week Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival.

The Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs exhibition is in town this spring, and King Tut hotel packages combine a hotel stay and special tickets that don't have time restrictions (regular tickets require you to enter the exhibition at a certain time). There's also the Philly Overnight hotel package, with two nights' accommodations, free parking and a coupon savings book. However, it's possible that more limited-time offers will pop up as spring progresses.

Beyond hotels, there are more ways to make a Philadelphia stay affordable. The city's tourism bureau has city audio tours available for free online, and the Philadelphia CityPass can cut costs on visiting multiple attractions. The FunSavers weekly email that lists half-price tickets to shows and an interactive map of BYOB (bring your own bottle, usually wine or beer) restaurants give bargain hunters cheaper access to nightlife.

Purchase your Philadelphia CityPass Here

Philadelphia has cross-generational appeal. Whether you zip through a place or linger to read every caption, Philadelphia’s American history and lively contemporary city vibe is fun to separate or blend. Philadelphia is full of great adult reminders of our founding fathers' passion for freedom, and kids will anchor the names and ideas to classroom conversation. For the young or not-so-young, the selection of CityPass attractions, half-off savings, and unique urban revelations make this a pleasure for every age visitor. Philadelphia CityPass is valid for nine days and includes:

* National Constitution Center
* Adventure Aquarium
* Philadelphia Trolley Works
* The Franklin Institute Science Museum
* Philadelphia Zoo
* The Academy of Natural Sciences
OR
* Independence Seaport Museum

Adults $49.00 (a savings of $45.50), Youth 3-12 $34.00 (a savings of $30.75)

CityPass® invented itself in San Francisco ten years ago, and since then has been the reigning champ for North America’s big city vacations. The CityPass concept is simple: A sleek easy-to-purchase ticket booklet containing admission to the most-visited attractions and sightseeing at up to 50% savings -- with information, tips and maps -- that speeds a visitor past most entrance lines and straight to the exhibits, views and thrill rides that make the trip.

CityPass features 64 marquee-name museums, harbor cruises, aquariums, theme parks, entertainment, historical locations, sky-high observation decks, cable cars, trolleys, buses, trains, and sightseeing plus other signature values in New York, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Boston, Toronto, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Hollywood, and Southern California. The ticket booklet fits in a pocket, each includes five or six major attractions, is designed to accommodate a fast-paced long weekend, yet, typically, packs a nine-day vacation wallop. It can be purchased online at citypass.com, or at any participating attraction in each city. More than 14 million CityPass tickets have been redeemed at museums and attractions since the launch of CityPass in 1997. Customer satisfaction surveys indicate that 99% of CityPass users would recommend them to friends. CityPass. It’s the ticket that makes the trip.