Best Winter Holiday Destinations on a Budget

Gift giving can be expensive, meaning smaller travel budgets in the winter. With this in mind, personal finance website WalletHub released a list of the best winter holiday destinations where you’ll get the most for your money.

WalletHub compared more than 60 of the largest U.S. metro areas grouped by warm and cold weather, then analyzed the destinations based on metrics including expense, travel hassles, weather forecasts and winter activities.

For warm-weather lovers, the top overall destinations include Orlando, Las Vegas, San Diego, Austin and Los Angeles. If lower temperatures are more your scene, Chicago, Portland, Pittsburgh, New York and Washington, D.C. top the list.

According to the study, the average flight to a popular cold-weather destination costs $277, while the average flight to a popular warm-weather destination costs $407.

In the cold weather category, Chicago boasts the lowest travel costs and fewest hassles, followed by Atlanta and Washington, D.C, whereas Salt Lake City, Providence and Albany have some of the highest travel costs. Despite higher prices, New York has the most winter holiday attractions and activities, followed by Chicago, Seattle and Philadelphia.

If you’re flying south for the winter, Houston, Dallas and Austin boast the lowest travel costs, and several cities throughout Texas offer low local costs. The most expensive warm-weather destinations include San Francisco, San Jose and Miami. For the best entertainment and attractions, head to Orlando, San Francisco, Los Angeles or Las Vegas.