However, that doesn’t mean that winter travel is off-limits entirely. On the contrary, there are plenty of exciting and cheap places to travel in December—one of which might be a hop, a skip, and a road trip away from your hometown. So, drop a pin in one of these affordable winter destinations and prepare those family road trip games!
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Stay at Atlanta’s Kimpton Sylvan in the Buckhead neighborhood so you can rest your weary feet and happy wallet beside the gorgeous lobby fireplace for the hotel’s complimentary wine hour. At downtown Charleston’s glamorous Hotel Bennett, rates hit nearly $1,000 per night during the spring high season. Those same luxurious rooms plummet to $320 per night in January—so you can decompress in style (i.e., in the hotel’s iconic deep-soaking pedestal bathtubs) once you’ve filled up on mollusks. For one thing, skip the ever-expensive Key West as well as the second-most popular key, Islamorada, or “Purple Island”—the latter is just a 1.5-hour drive from Miami and consistently crowded. Instead, head to the middle keys such as Knights, where local luxury resort Isla Bella drops as low as $311 for weeknights in early December (before skyrocketing back up to per-night pricing close to $3,000 around New Year’s). “The Middle Keys is one of the best-kept secrets in the Florida Keys yet so easy to reach by plane or car and more affordable than a trip to the Caribbean,” says Justin Nels, area managing director of Isla Bella Beach Resort, noting that Isla Bella’s “daily programming and complimentary amenities like kayaks and bikes” make the stay extra worthwhile (and within budget). While the Los Angeles area is a popular tourist destination year-round, “they do still have their own version of winter, when the weather may not be ideal for pool or beach time,” notes travel advisor Kristin Luz. This is precisely why “this is the perfect time for budget travelers—especially those from colder climates—to enjoy exploring the area with mild winter weather and a fraction of the crowds of high-season summer travel.” Book a super-chic room at Hotel Figueroa for just $169 in early December—before prices hop up towards $700 later in January. While you’re there, try the hotel’s restaurant La Casita for Latin-inspired dishes that will make you feel like you’re somewhere even warmer than Los Angeles. “During the winter season, rates at many hotels typically drop about 20 percent, with some local favorites, such as h2hotel and The Duchamp Healdsburg, offering rates about $100-$200 lower than previous months,” explains Circe Sher, member of the Healdsburg Tourism Improvement District (HTID) and Co-Founder of Piazza Hospitality. “With 350-plus days of sunshine and winter temperatures in the mid-60s, the ‘City of Sunshine’ is a perfect escape from the snow and cold winter weather,” says Dan Gibson, senior director of communications for Visit Tucson. Plus, Tuscon is the astronomy capital of the world (who knew?) which means your nighttimes there will be even more spectacular than your sunny days. “January is my favorite time to visit NYC,” insists Porter Kristiansen. “It still has many of the iconic festive holiday elements going on but at 50 percent of the hotel costs of December. While you’re there, eat lunch in Korea Town. The perfect way to warm up after walking in the cold is by grabbing a hot pot for lunch at the exceptional restaurant Her Name is Han. Their $18 lunch hot pot can feed two people.” Luz concurs and advocates for early-December Big Apple adventures as well. “Manhattan lit up for Christmas is a quintessential holiday image we have all grown up with from the movies,” she admits, but “traveling in early December will get you all the holiday feels without spending your holiday budget. The lights are up, special events have started, and the holiday atmosphere is in full effect.” Portland also has a stellar and ever-growing brewery scene that’s perfect for a winter warm-up. “Check it out at cozy spots like Novare Res Bier Café, located down an alleyway off Exchange Street, with its 400-plus bottled beers and 33 taps,” Porter Kristiansen adds. “Also, flights are cheap then, and there are plenty of points options for hotels.” If you prefer vacation rentals over hotels, Portland Airbnb prices plummet in winter as well; a well-appointed Airbnb rental runs $150 per night then, compared to $600 in summer. Early December room rates at Nashville’s award-winning Thompson Hotel fall as low as $230 (compare that to, say, $799 per night for a suite in May), and the rooftop bar, L.A. Jackson, is not to be missed. Prices do a similar dive at Hutton Hotel near Music Row, where a June stay can hit $500 a night, but you can book for $163-187 in early December and January. The hotel has its own music venue, Analog at Hutton Hotel, which boasts plenty of free-admission live shows. Catch some indie darlings at East Nashville’s The Five Spot, varied artists from folk to soul at City Winery, and bluegrass/classic country greats at the iconic Station Inn—where tickets are usually a very reasonable $15-20. “The Big Island and Maui are the driest islands during the rainier months of December and January, and travelers visiting outside of the two-week holiday vacation time for schools will enjoy lower flight and lodging costs as well as lower crowds,” explains Luz. “With its tropical location, even in its wetter months, Hawaii’s warm weather invites visitors to break up their winter with the promise of relaxing on a beach in the sun.”
