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Ways to Save Money at Atlanta Black Pride 2010
Labor Day weekend in Atlanta has grown to become the largest black gay pride celebration in the world. Hundreds of thousands of brothers come from across the country, carribean and europe to experience what many know as the best display of black gay culture. Aside from the world class nightlife provided by WassupNATL and Tracks, there are a host of smaller
events that give the weekend that added special touch. Diesel Life, the Big Men's and Black Leather communities also showcase dynamic events that offer something for everyone. There are also a number of great house parties and socials put on by brothers that give the personal touch and leave you wanting to ditch your small town. The result of this mix of diversity is an experience that you would never find in any city.
As you could imagine, this weekend would take a toll on your pocket. Staying in higher end hotels, buying drinks and dining could put your weekend travel expenses upwards of $1,000. But as we have proven in the past, you can have an amazing weekend if you utilize some simple techniques that save money while maximizing the fun. The following tips
have proven themselves year after year.
Make Your Reservations Early
The majority of brothers would save at least 50% off the cost of their pride weekend if they reserved hotel accomodations, rental cars and party passes in the winter. Hotels always have discounted rates for those that book early. When you book your room during the slow season, you can get those rates for later in the year. Not wanting to search for discount
hotel rates ? Then use the Diesel Life Magazine Group Rate at the SpringHill Suites Atlanta Buckhead. We have negotiated $74 per night. The amenities are many and the hotel is MARTA accessible. You must make your reservation by August 13, 2010.
Click Here to Book Your Room !
The Buddy System
Sharing the cost with
a friend can cut your expenses by 50%. If you have a few buddies that will be
coming to the festivities, then you could see savings of more than 70% when you
use your funds to split the cost of hotel and travel. These standard costs are
the real drains of your pride budget. If you don’t know of anyone, this is the time
to sharpen your social skills.
My mother taught me
that you should always make a few buddies in other cities that are on a non
sexual basis. Her thinking was that if you wanted a cheap vacation, they would
be more than happy to have you. This wisdom has paid dividends for me. You may
want to re-evaluate the chat request from the guy who you are not romantically
interested in. He could be an travel ally in the future. He doesn't have to live in your area. If he is coming to pride, then you could room together and split the costs.
You can also post a
message to a social network or chat site you frequent to find cool brothers that want to come but may be feeling the pinch of the economy. With our $74 discount split among two people, you would pay $37 per night !
Now who wouldn't want to enjoy those savings.
The Party Pass
For those not familiar, party passes are all inclusive tickets that allow you to enjoy many parties for one low price. The theory behind it is that if you were to pay seperately, you would wind up spending more money. Party passes usually allow you to bypass the line at the venues ans
some even offer complimentary drinks. We recommend these passes for anyone that loves the club scene. I know you will be trying to dance your ass off every chance you get. Make it more affordable by getting a pass. WassupNATL will offer a club hopper pass. We will keep you updated on other passes from various promoters as they become available. On the otherhand, a party pass can get stale if you attend all of the events. You will begin to see the same faces. To keep from getting bored, make sure you go to some
of the other cultural events thrown by InTheLifeAtl .
BYOB
Alcohol can add
hundreds of dollars to your pride budget and when the drinks are flowing you
may not even realize how much you are spending. In my experience, you pay more
money at the bars and restaurants. Keeping this in mind before you start traveling
will enable you to take some steps to ensure the drinks don’t stop flowing.
Atlanta has many discount packaged good
stores. These places sell everything. And during the Labor Day Weekend, you
will find lots of specials on popular drinks. Last year, there were cases of
Bacardi Bottles for $15. I purchased several and enough to share with people that I met.
You can also check
around with others at your hotel to find out who would like to spilt a case of
alcohol. I doubt you will find anyone that will refuse. By having a drink
before you arrive to the club or dine, can save you more money than you would
realize.
It Doesn’t Cost Much
A few simple tips and
strategies can save you big money this Labor Day weekend. Remember there will
be bills when you get back so make sure that you don’t break the bank but have
a great time without having to pinch pennies. In this next article we will show you how to do it yourself parties, socials and free events can give a major bang for your buck !
Juan Diego, Founder
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