Saving money on a vacation to St. Augustine requires flexibility and a little bit of research. Last month we shared tips for free activities in St. Augustine—a great way to watch your budget while visiting the Oldest City. Of course, not everything in our great town is free, but here are some tips to help your dollar go further during your next trip, all while still enjoying everything our beautiful city has to offer.
Timing is Everything
Knowing the dates for the high season can save you hundreds to thousands of dollars—particularly on lodging. St. Augustine is fairly busy year-round, but two seasons are typically the busiest in our ancient city. March and April are widely considered to be the high season downtown and many of our guests come from the south to enjoy the cooler weather. At the same time, people visit from the north to enjoy our beautiful, warmer weather, the perfect escape no matter where you come from.
Spring break is part of that season as well: schools stagger their spring breaks throughout March and April. We don’t have a lot of college age partiers…but we do have a lot of families who come when their kids are on spring break.
The second busy season is the period associated with Christmas, or more specifically, during Nights of Lights. For those who haven’t experienced it, this event is a magical time in St. Augustine. All the businesses are lit up with white lights, especially on the bayfront for an unforgettable holiday sight. In 2025, Nights of Lights is beginning a bit earlier, with Light Up Night on November 15. Catch a trolley at the start of their nightly tours and see the tree in the Plaza lit up at 6:00 pm that night. All the businesses flip their switches then as well! Our prices go up during this time of year, and stay higher than average through New Year’s.
(Pro Tip: the week between Christmas and New Year’s is the busiest of the year, and the most expensive rates at our inn).
Best Times to Travel to St. Augustine
We recommend coming to St. Augustine at the end of February for the best prices on hotels. The weather is beautiful and peak season pricing will not have kicked in yet. At our inn, we raise our prices for March and April, then generally go back to normal operations in May. Visiting in February lets you enjoy high-season weather without the high-season prices! There’s a trick for enjoying Nights of Lights on a budget too! It goes through January 11 this year and the crowds really thin out at the beginning of the month. Though the Christmas trees are taken down, all the other lights and decorations stay up until January 11. It’s a fantastic time of year to enjoy the lights and extend your holiday spirit.
When are the lowest rates of the year? For downtown, it’s the slow season near the end of August and all of September. The kids are back in school, and travel slows down as families get into a routine. It’s a great time to take advantage of specials throughout the town! We often run a Sizzling Summer Savings special during the summer–for even more savings downtown and at some of our beach cottages. The lowest rates at our Vilano Beach cottages are in January. Have we mentioned that the cottages come with a parking pass for downtown, that way you can see the lights without worrying about parking!
Make Midweek Plans
If your travel plans are flexible, then we recommend looking for mid-week stays. Many hotels, including the Bayfront Marin House, offer mid-week discounts in the summer months. For non-peak seasons, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are generally the slowest nights of the week. Wednesday is always a reliable day for bookings. Some restaurants in town are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, but Wednesday means restaurants are open, crowds are light, and you might even catch a discount on your room.
Get the Best Deal at Bayfront Marin
When comparing properties for your stay in St. Augustine, make sure you’re comparing apples to apples. While almost all the hotels in town offer free wifi, many have high charges for parking which can be upwards of $20 per day plus tax and gratuity. The Bayfront Marin House offers free parking to all our guests. Two of our rooms–the Hacienda and the Casita–offer parking on a private drive directly in front of those respective rooms. Our premium rooms (King George, Marie Antoinette, Lyndsay Michelle, Josephina Suite, and Jose Simeon) park just behind the inn on our lot at the corner of Bridge and Aviles Street.
Our downtown rentals–including the Aviles Street Cottage and the Marine Street Apartment–park at the Bridge Street lot as well. Other downtown rooms park at the Oldest House parking lot, conveniently less than a 6-minute stroll to the inn. Not only does our inn offer free parking, but its central location also means that you can park your car with no need to move it again until you check out!
Rates at the Bayfront Marin House include free parking. Our inn does not have resort fees either–all services are included in our daily rate. We do have Florida sales tax and St. Johns County lodging tax (11.5% total). You know what they say about taxes being certain!
Note: While our parking is a few steps away, we do have a loading zone right in front of the inn, making it easy to get everything to and from your room.
Compare the Extras
We like to say that the extras are standard at the Bayfront Marin House. You’ll enjoy free breakfast in bed each day for the ultimate luxury, plus a complimentary happy hour each evening at our main inn. Beach cottages receive a breakfast basket delivered to their door–each room at the beach has a microwave that can be used to heat the main entree.
We offer complimentary bicycles, beach chairs, beach umbrellas, and filtered water for all your beachcombing needs. Coffee and tea are available all day as well in case you need a pick-me-up. At other places, these would all be small charges, and they can really add up! Saving money on breakfast each day is another great way to have a better, more affordable stay in St. Augustine.
Use Coupons to Enhance Your Stay
You may use coupons at the grocery store, but did you know there could be coupons available for your St. Augustine getaway? We’ve done the work for you, and we’ll actually deliver them to your room! The magazines and flyers put out by Visit St Augustine and The Restaurant Times are full of great information and, most importantly, full of coupons!
We make it easy for you and put copies of the Free Discount Coupon Book, Restaurant Times, and the St. Augustine Sightseeing Map & Guide right in your room! Look through them for maps, menus, history, and area information. All the publications include ads for local attractions and restaurants, so you can plan out the perfect evening. Many of them also include coupons in their ad, so keep an eye out for that 10% off dinner, free desserts, or big deals on things to do. Planning ahead? Ask us to send you copies of the publications before your stay.
Note: Coupons change throughout the year, so if you are looking at coupons prior to your stay, there could be changes in availability when you arrive. We provide the coupons as a service; coupon specifics are the responsibility of each individual business.
Give the Gift of Seasonal Cheer
Coupons aren’t the only way to save money on restaurants. Many of our local eateries offer special gift card promotions during the holidays. For instance, Harry’s sells a $100 gift certificate and gives a $25 gift certificate for “free”. They run the same special during the summer for early Christmas in July savings! Buying gift certificates for dinners out can really stretch your restaurant dollars—so check restaurant websites in December to see if any of your favorites are participating! Don’t forget to add a couple of gift certificates to your holiday wish list!
Have a Delicious Homecooked Meal
St. Augustine is a true foodie paradise, and our restaurants are on many “Best of” lists throughout the country. However, we know that dining out can be expensive, so our complimentary breakfast and happy hour are here to help!
Staying in a room with a full kitchen can have its own extra costs, but what if you could have the best of both worlds? All the rooms at Vilano Beach have at least a small kitchenette with a mini fridge, microwave, and coffee maker for your convenience. In addition, many of them also have full kitchens—including the Atlantic Suite, the Royal Palm, Oceanview Cottage, and Lagoon Cottage. Full kitchens at our Downtown location are in our Marine Street Apartment, Jose Simeon suite, Hacienda, and Aviles Street cottage. Our full kitchens are outfitted with a microwave, oven, full-size refrigerator/freezer, coffee maker, toaster, silverware, dishes, and several pots and pans. We also stock the rooms with creamer, sugar, and coffee pods.
Finally, let us know if you’re planning something special. For instance, if you want to make cookies or other baked treats during your stay, tell us in advance! We’ll make sure there is a cookie tray or muffin tin available when you check-in.
No Doggie Daycare Needed
Wouldn’t your pup love to come on vacation with you? We are one of St. Augustine’s only pet-friendly boutique hotels with several dog-friendly rooms, both downtown and at the beach. Our $35/night/pet fee is likely cheaper than hiring a dog sitter or boarding your little buddy. You can find pet-friendly rooms in the following locations:
- Downtown: King George, Hopkins Cottage, Robinson Lewis, Burgess Cottage, Coquina Suite, Napoleon Suite, and Francisco Marin. Also, the Aviles Street Cottage, and the first floor of the Sanchez House, the Jose Simeon Suite.
- At the beach: the Oceanview Cottage is dog-friendly.
We never want you to “skimp” on vacation, but we do want you to enjoy your stay without breaking the bank. Hopefully, you can use some of the suggestions above to plan a wonderful, budget-friendly vacation to St. Augustine! Start now by choosing your favorite room!
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