Travel should be accessible to people of all ages and financial backgrounds, and ALLMYNE is a big supporter of that. Thus, this series, Smart Travel, will explore budget-friendly experiences, a way to see the world without breaking the bank. Our destination is …

Nashville, Tennessee is a city that any country music lover is well aware of, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t something to offer for those who aren’t a fan of that iconic Dolly Parton twang. In the span of three days, you can get a plateful of Nashville with a bite-sized budget using these exclusive tips and tricks, all curated through the ALLMYNE AI+ feature that allows you to tailor your travel to what you want for a stay away from home, putting the “myne” in ALLMYNE. 

Day 1: Take Me To The Honky Tonk Highway

Tip: When booking accommodations and flights for your weekend, consider looking at both Airbnb and hotel options. Winter months — January and February — as well as late summer (August) are the cheapest when it comes to flight costs, and Airbnbs can be cheaper than most hotel options, while giving you more of that local feeling. Nevertheless, prices will vary for both of these, so be sure to price hunt well in advance of your trip to find the best cost for you.

Once you’ve arrived in Nashville, you’ll need to find a way to leave the airport (if you’re flying), and you’ll have three options available to you:

• Priciest: Take a taxi from the BNA airport to Vanderbilt for a flat fee of $30 by following the “Taxis/Limo” sign in the airport. If you have a guest with you, it will be an extra $2 per added passenger. Tipping of 15-20% is customary.
• Middle of the Road: Get a Lyft or Uber for about $25 by heading to the airport’s “Ride App Pickup” area.
• Cheapest: Public transportation in Nashville is not only incredibly budget-friendly but also convenient for those who will be seeing the well-known sights of Music City. For $2, you can get a bus ride through WeGo from the airport to the Elizabeth Duff Transit Center, which is less than a 10-minute walk from the hub of hotels on Broadway. You’ll find the location for the bus at the “Shuttles/Buses” section of the airport.

Once your bags are tucked away in your room, head over to The Stage for your first taste of Nashville’s music scene. Locals recommend The Stage not only for its good cocktails but also its modern country music. Pricing for beer is $7-10, basic cocktails $12-15, and premium mixed drinks $15-20. After a drink—or two or three—your first dinner in Nashville will be at Robert’s Western World. Noah G. Fowler, a Nashville local musician, told ALLMYNE that Robert’s has “the best deal in Nashville.” For just $6, the “Recession Special” gives you an ice cold PBR (Pabst Blue Ribbon), moon pie, and fried bologna sandwich. “It’s the best place to get an American-style light lager for under $13,” Fowler says, echoing the sentiments of locals all over the Nashville area. Besides their “Recession Special,” Robert’s Western World’s cheapest item on the menu is a grilled cheese sandwich, ringing up at only $4. In the middle of the road, we have baskets of fried sides for $8; and the most expensive item, a cheeseburger, is only $13.

Tip: Following your meal, journey down Broadway and take advantage of bars not having cover charges—which means you get access to free music on the entirety of Honky Tonk Highway!

Day 2: Tours, Sights, and Good Food

No morning is truly complete without a stop to a local café when you’re visiting somewhere new. Luckily, Nashville is chock full of coffee and pastry shops, perfect for a light breakfast. Elixr Coffee Roasters is another local favorite with affordable pricing. You can get a cup of drip coffee for $2.50, an espresso drink for under $5, or a produce shake for $7.75 (the most expensive item on the menu). Elixr also has seasonal pastries and breakfast foods for you to enjoy.

From Elixr, waltz over to the Ryman Auditorium and experience Nashville’s music history with one of their three tour packages:

• A one hour, self-guided tour for $36.39
• A one-and-a-half hour guided backstage tour for $46.85
• A VIP tour for $68.35

The self-guided tours are available at any time while the Ryman is open (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), while the other two offers must be scheduled in advance.

The next leg of your Nashville experience involves some travel, from Ryman to your next destination: Centennial Park and the Parthenon. With the bus still being your cheapest option at $2, you can also choose Lyft, Uber, or a taxi for $10-15. Admission to Centennial Park, home to Lake Watauga and the Musicians Corner, is free, but the Parthenon tickets cost $15 per adult. The Parthenon is currently closed for its scheduled HVAC Capital Improvement Project but will reopen for July of this year. 

Tip: If you participate in SNAP/EBT/WIC benefits, you can present your card and enter for free through their Museums for All program!

Once you’ve absorbed what the 132-acre park and Greek temple replica have to offer, head back to Broadway for some lunch at Acme Feed & Seed. Another favorite of the locals, Acme has two floors and a rooftop available for eating, drinking, or both! Bring the food you order on the first floor to the rooftop for some drinks, or check out the lounge bar on the second floor with craft cocktails. The most expensive items on the Acme Feed & Seed come to $26, which are the Creole Shrimp and Grits and the Chicken Fried Chicken. Middle of the road pricing can get you a Broadway BLT for $15 or some catfish for $18. The cheapest menu item is the Classic Hot Dog for $4, which you can add chili and cheese to for only $6. 

To let your belly settle, journey over to East Nashville for some souvenir and window shopping via your choice of transportation. After some meandering through the local shops—like Freshie & Zero for some handmade jewelry or Olive & Sinclair Chocolate Co.—make your way back to Broadway by walking the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge. 

Tip: The skyline views from this bridge are the best during “golden hour.”

To cap off your final evening in Nashville, you’re in for a treat: a dinner experience at the Twelve Thirty Supper Club. You might be worried that an excursion like this would burn a hole in your wallet; but due to ALLMYNE’s AI+, you have more than enough left in your budget to cover even the most expensive item on the menu, which is their $155 Wagyu Ribeye. Fans of the restaurant say the best dishes are the prime rib ($50 or $65) and Sweet Cream Cornbread ($16). Along with an array of steaks, Twelve Thirty offers sushi, salads, and seafood galore. Relax and enjoy some music through into the evening before settling back in your room for a well-earned rest.

Day 3: Goodbye, Dolly!

Just because it’s the last day of a trip, doesn’t mean that you still can’t fit in an experience or two before you head back to the airport. You could do more window shopping, stop in at the bars you missed the first go around, and/or grab brunch. Luckily for you, we have two recommendations. 

The first, Crema Coffee Roasters, has a menu that’s entirely under $10 and includes avocado toast, seasonal quiches, and parfaits with homemade granola, along with coffees and teas. The second option is Herban Underground. Its menu is under $12 with the most expensive item being their bacon breakfast burrito. They also have muffins, potato chips, beef jerky, danishes, and cakes, and all of their specialty lattes are cheaper than $7.

With souvenirs in your carry-on and luggage in tow, you’d return to the airport for your flight home.

Show Me The Numbers

Below is the table outlining the budget for this itinerary*:

*This budget does not include accommodations or flights, as we cannot account for those prices based on varying locations and times of the year. Also, we’ve taken the highest end of each range to account for the maximum cost of all items listed.

This is just one of the many options that ALLMYNE AI+ can provide for you, allowing you to tailor your experience to exactly what you’re looking for. Whether you want to find a shop that sells the best Nashville hot chicken sandwich—we recommend Hattie B’s or 400 Degrees—or see who is performing at the bars near your hotel on the evening you arrive, ALLMYNE AI+ is the best travel buddy to point you to the best adventure made just for you.