October 1, 2003 -- Wise road trippers are well aware of the advantages offered by the free Travel Coupons books. There are 20 books covering 17 eastern, Midwestern and southern states and the District of Columbia; and each contains hundreds of coupons, offering discounts mostly for motels and hotels, but also the occasional meal, entrance fees to attractions and more along your driving route. All you need to get them before you head out on the highway is a little time, a computer with an Internet connection and access to a printer.
It's true that some of the coupons offer no better a discount than you would get as a walk-in, but the greatest value of these bits of paper is simply that they direct you to some of the best bargains in the area. Think of them as a compass to savings. With them in hand, you at least know where to head and what to expect when you approach one of the advertisers in the books. And it bears repeating: the books are free.
In addition to printing these out at home, you can also pick these guides up at many convenience stores, gas stations, welcome centers and rest areas along major highways, (such as Interstates 4, 10, 64, 75, 81, 95, 275 and 295). In most instances, but not always, the booklets are updated quarterly, so be sure to read the expiration date to make sure it's still valid.
The complete list of titles includes:
- Alabama
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia (except I-95)
- Georgia (I-95 only)
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia (I-81 & Shenandoah Valley Area)
- Virginia (I-95 and I-64 East)
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
A recent Florida book showed hotel rooms as low as $21.99 (Red Carpet Inn, Daytona Beach), 10% off on St. Augustine's Alligator Farm, and $1 off at either the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum or Potter's Wax Museum, both also in St. Augustine.
To get started, click over to www.travelcoupons.com. The publishers, Market America, also offer an online form that you'll have to print, fill out and mail in to request the booklets be mailed to your home address, but be warned they'll no longer be free since you'll have to pay $2 shipping and handling per guide (plus the cost of the stamp to mail in the form).