Travel
Looking to Travel This Winter? Here are 6 Budget-Friendly Winter Vacations You’ll Actually Enjoy
Winter is here, but you don’t have to stay bundled up inside. In fact, it’s the perfect time to plan a winter vacation. Airfare and hotel rates in many cities across the country drop drastically during winter, which makes this season one of the cheapest times to plan a vacation. Below, I’ve included some of my favorite winter vacation destinations and included sample prices for each using Rakuten Travel & Vacations.
Las Vegas, NV
When temperatures fall in Nevada, the deals heat up, which is why it’s an incredible option for a cheap family vacation. I ran some winter dates through Expedia and found flights from New York City to Las Vegas as low as $165. That’s a steal for a cross-country trip. It may be chilly outside, but Vegas has plenty to do indoors, and there’s a little something for everyone.
San Diego, CA
San Diego weather is mild in winter with temperatures hovering in the high 60s. That’s considered T-shirt weather for most of the United States when snow is falling outside. A quick search on Hotels.com shows lodging on the water for as low as $145 in January and February. With flights hovering under $250 on Priceline during that time frame as well, it’s no surprise why San Diego is one of the best budget winter destinations.
Chicago, IL
Chicago is perceived as no-man’s land in the winter months. so many people don’t even think to visit during the offseason. The truth is, winter is one of the best times to go. Tourists will be long gone, so you won’t have to fight the crowds at popular attractions, and there’s plenty to do both indoors and out. A quick Rakuten Travel & Vacations search shows rates as low as $65, and activities are also cheap during this time. Maggie Daley Park has an ice skating track called the Skating Ribbon that’s free to the public if you have your own skates. If not, rentals start at $13. It’s one of the cheapest winter vacations that money can buy.
Niagara Falls
The falls are beautiful year-round and a changing of the seasons shouldn’t stop you from taking in their beauty. It’ll be much quieter around the seventh natural wonder of the world, which means big discounts for you. Niagara has a Canadian side and a U.S. side and both have plenty to do for the whole family, making Niagara one of the best family vacation destinations. Rates are as low as $70 on Hotwire for hotels overlooking the falls during the winter months.
Cancun, MX
According to a quick search on Orbitz, you can spend four days, three nights in Cancun at an all-inclusive resort (with airfare) for as low as $600 per person in January after Cash Back from Rakuten. That’s $150 a day for an all-in trip. When it comes to cheap winter vacations, it doesn’t get much better than that.
Toronto, ON
Toronto is a winter wonderland the whole family can enjoy with lots of indoor and outdoor activities. It’s just as lively in winter as it is in the summer, but it’ll cost a lot less for you to visit when the seasons change. Marriott.com is showing rates as low as $93 a night, which is an incredible deal if you’re looking to get away this winter and save. Flights are equally affordable on Rakuten’s flight finder tool at $180 from the East Coast and middle of the country.
All of the prices I mentioned above were included at the time of writing and are subject to change, but you can find great deals using Rakuten and its travel partners. If you’re not a member of Rakuten, join now and start earning Cash Back on things like travel in the form of a Big Fat Check. You’ll get $10 after your first purchase of $25 in any participating store, and you can earn an additional $25 for every friend you refer.
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