Key West Discount

Where in the world is Dry Tortugas National Park, and how did such a beautiful place get such an odd name? Nestled about 70 miles off the coast of Key West, Florida, Dry Tortugas National Park is a group of islands (actually more like islets, they are so small) known for its sea turtles. Since tortugas is Spanish for turtles, that explains a portion of its unique name.

But what makes it dry, given that Dry Tortugas is surrounded by the crystal clear blue Caribbean? It turns out that the name is a hand-me-down from when the Spaniards occupied the islands, and they quickly discovered there was no fresh water available. So the islands eventually became known as the Dry Tortugas, or “dry turtles.” To this day, as a major tourist attraction, boaters and tour operators must bring in their own water for visitors.

First named a National Monument in 1935 by FDR, Dry Tortugas was designated a national park in 1992 at the end of George H. W. Bush’s term just before Bill Clinton won the November election. The home of the previously unfinished Civil War era Fort Jefferson, a brick structure later used as a prison to house accused conspirators in President Lincoln’s assassination, the strip of sandy beaches and shallow, colorful reefs has become a destination for 80,000 tourists each year. All leave in amazement at the intriguing history of the former based originally conceived as a defense against – you guessed it – the (real) pirates of the Caribbean.

Now, visitors to Dry Tortugas Park can enjoy a host of fascinating and leisurely activities, from a historical tour of Fort Jefferson, to a lazy day on the beach, to an astounding snorkeling or scuba diving expedition to witness the spectacularly colorful sea life.

Of course, the only access to the island is by boat of sea plan. So if you want to book a trip, a Dry Tortugas charter will be necessary. There are some great discounts available on Dry Tortugas charters, Key West hotels, Key West snorkeling, and other recreation packages at Gold Card Key West.

Even during a recession, we all still want to take family vacations. In fact, spending during recessions often goes up for family entertainment budgets, probably because we all need an emotional break from the pressures of life.

Invariably, when the family’s entertainment budget gets squeezed, we all search long and hard for ways to tighten it up and get more fun out of the dollars (or Euros) we’re willing to spend. There are some great ways to stretch your vacation – whether that includes a Key West fishing trip or jet ski rentals – and have more fun with each dollar. But you do need to be willing to do some digging to search for bargains.

One of the best ways to find those deals and get far more sightseeing for less money is to buy a discount card in the area you want to go for your vacation. Discount cards can be a simple and inexpensive way to put more money in your pocket, often saving you hundreds of dollars and allowing you to spend more time in the sun. Most of us would rather have that couple hundred dollars back in our pockets to use for more entertainment?

The way a discount card works is a local company negotiates discounts with a lot of vendors in return for publication in an exclusive list of discounted services. The amount of each discount varies by vendor, but 10% to 20% is common. For instance, for one Key West discount card, Key West hotels and accommodations are discounted 10%. Whether you’re vacationing for a few days or a few weeks, the money you save can be substantial. On the same discount card, a fishing charter is discounted by 0 for a day trip that would normally be at least 0.

You can see that the amount of money you can save on travel arrangements is substantial if you look for a discount card program put together by knowledgeable professionals in the area. Basically, a discount card can give you up to 00 more to spend on your holiday if you plan on spending any serious amount of time and money sightseeing.

Thanks for checking out Key West Discount, the best place to get all sorts of discounts on Key West hotels, fishing charters, restaurants, gift shops, and more. You can save hundreds of dollars on your next Key West vacation here at Key West Discount.

Download our hepful report entitled How to Get Key West Discounts. It’s completely free, there is no obligation to buy anything whatsoever. But it’s packed with useful tips on how to get the most of your vacation in Key West by stretching your dollar further.

Thanks for joining us on your Key West adventure!