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With many people seemingly happy to pretend the COVID-19 pandemic is over (at least in the US), travel is returning to pre-pandemic levels. If you plan to travel this year, you might as well pay less for it. There are many tools out there that promise to help you with that. One of them is a paid membership to Tripadvisor. At $99, you’ll usually need to do some research to determine if the annual membership will be worth it—but you won’t have to when Target is offering it for free starting March 5th.
What is Tripadvisor Plus?
Tripadvisor is an online travel agency and, as the name suggests, provides travel advice using user-generated content. Tripadvisor Plus is their paid membership, usually priced at $99 annually, and is basically the same app, but with some nice perks—including special discounts and savings at hotels “all over the world” (about 100,000 hotels, according to their website).
Tripadvisor Plus members also receive a 10% discount on “Tripadvisor Experiences,” which are typically package deals including guided tours, local activities, and products or services unique to the destination you’re visiting. (Check out their most popular activities in 2022 here to give you an idea of what is on offer.)
Membership also gives you access to “expert travel advice” via text message. According to Tripadvisor’s website, a “travel concierge” can help you with travel planning and reservations. You can also receive discounts on flights, rental cars and other travel-related purchases made through their partners (such as Hertz and One Dollar Flight Club).
How to get a free year of Tripadvisor for free
Starting March 5, you can get a free year of Tripadvisor Plus as part of Target’s Circle Week event, which takes place from 5–11 March. It’s one of many free benefits that Target promises to give Target Circle members. It sounds like a catch, but Target Circle is also free to join by following these steps. On March 5th, check the Circle Week event page for instructions on how to get your free Tripadvisor membership.
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The fine writing
You’ll need a credit card to sign up for the free year membership, as Tripadvisor will automatically charge you the regular $99 annual fee if you don’t cancel by the end of the free year. You can learn more about Tripadvisor’s membership program by reading their FAQ.
The $99 per year Tripadvisor membership is definitely not for everyone, especially if you don’t travel a lot. But if it’s free, you don’t have to worry about getting your money’s worth—just remember to cancel before renewing if you find it’s not useful for you.
