Free museums in May

There's a 95 percent chance Senior Editor Christine Sarkis is thinking about travel right now. Follow her on Instagram @postcartography and Twitter @ChristineSarkis.

Christine Sarkis is an SATW-award-winning journalist and executive editor at SmarterTravel. Her stories have also appeared on USA Today, Conde Nast Traveler, Huffington Post, and Business Insider. Her advice has been featured in dozens of print and online publications including The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, and People magazine. She has also shared travel tips on television and radio shows including Good Morning America, Marketplace, and Here & Now. Her work has been published in the anthologies Spain from a Backpack and The Best Women's Travel Writing 2008. She is currently working on a travel memoir.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: The Trtl Pillow. It's easy to pack and comfortable, and makes it so I can actually sleep on flights.

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: Seeing the Aurora Borealis from the comfort of somewhere warm, like a glass igloo or hot spring.

Travel Motto: Curiosity is an amazing compass.

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Email Christine Sarkis at editor@smartertravel.com.

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The other night I drove by a billboard that seemed to suggest Bank of America customers could go to museums for free during May. I checked it out when I got home, and lo and behold, it’s true.

The deal is that you and a guest can get into any of 95 museums in the Northeast, California, or Florida by flashing your Bank of America ATM, check, or credit card, or MBNA credit card. This deal is only available during May.

The variety of participating museums means there’s a little something for everyone. For instance, in New York City, you can go to the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the Bronx Zoo (among others). Some Hudson Valley historic sites are also included in the list.

Not only is this a great way to save money while on vacation (adult tickets to the MOMA are $20, for example), but it’s also a perfect chance to take a bit of time to enjoy museums in your own city if you live nearby, all while earning back some of those checking fees and interest charges.

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