Two of my friends are going to Madrid for the holidays. I gave them suggestions because I’ve been to Spain more than 20 times to visit my daughter and her family.
Since the economy is challenging for many people these days, I thought I’d take a look at the best places to travel for the holidays this year.
WalletHub, a personal finance website, has suggestions for winter vacations where it’s cold and it’s warm.
“Whether you love to have a chill in your bones during the winter travel season or prefer to escape to somewhere sunny, the top travel destinations can cost as little as $200-$300 to reach by plane from major U.S. cities, with no connections,” said Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst. “In addition to being affordable, the top cities also have an abundance of attractions that fit their weather patterns, along with high-quality restaurants and relatively low crime rates.”
Here are WalletHub’s recommendations for winter vacations where it’s cold and warm:
Cold
- Chicago
- Atlanta
- Washington, D.C.
- St. Louis, Mo.
- Cincinnati
- New York-Newark
- Denver
- Albuquerque
- Kansas City
- Boston
Warm
- Las Vegas
- San Diego
- Austin
- Dallas
- Phoenix
- Houston
- Tampa
- San Francisco
- San Antonio
- Los Angeles
“Travelers looking to save money should consider booking early or last-minute, traveling midweek, using flight alerts, and leveraging credit card rewards or package deals,” said Rosane K. Gertner, professor of marketing at the College of Staten Island, The City University of New York.
When evaluating the best cities for winter holiday travel, top indicators include affordability, weather conditions, seasonal activities, safety, and accessibility, Gertner said.
“Whether chasing snowflakes or sunshine, planning ahead and staying flexible are key to a successful winter getaway,” she said.
