Best Winter Holiday Destinations

When the mercury drops, some Americans welcome the chill while others follow the sun. This year, the winter promises to be an intense one. The Old Farmer’s Almanac forecasts below-average temperatures across most of the U.S., along with strong storms bringing heavy rain, sleet and snow. Some regions will experience milder than average weather, though, particularly on the West Coast.

To help Americans plan their travels over the colder months, WalletHub developed a ranking of the cheapest U.S. destinations that are also the easiest to reach. In total we analyzed nearly 70 of the largest metro areas — grouped as “warm” or “cold” — based on 37 key metrics, including two weeks of flight data, safety indicators and weather predictions.

Compared with other rankings that focus on each destination’s scenic quality, this report focuses primarily on the cost and convenience of traveling to each location as well as its affordability. It also ensures that the number of attractions and variety of activities in each destination will keep everyone busy and entertained throughout the trip.

Top Cold-Weather Destinations

Best Winter Vacation Destinations for Cold-Weather Lovers

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that MSA, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

Travel Costs & Hassles

Lowest Travel Costs & Fewest Hassles

• 1. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
• 2. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
• 3. Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
• 4. Kansas City, MO-KS
• 5. Columbus, OH

Highest Travel Costs & Most Hassles

• 28. Salt Lake City, UT
• 29. Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
• 30. Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT
• 31. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
• 32. Worcester, MA-CT

Local Costs

Lowest

• 1. Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
• 2. Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
• 3. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
• 4. Kansas City, MO-KS
• 5. Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN

Highest

• 28. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
• 29. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
• 30. Rochester, NY
• 31. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
• 32. Worcester, MA-CT

Attractions

Most

• 1. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
• 2. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
• 3. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
• 4. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
• 5. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

Fewest

• 28. Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI
• 29. Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
• 30. Worcester, MA-CT
• 31. Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT
• 32. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT

Cold-Weather Activities

Most

• 1. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA
• 2. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
• 3. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
• 4. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
• 5. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Fewest

• 28. Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
• 29. Worcester, MA-CT
• 30. Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT
• 31. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
• 32. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT

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Top Warm-Weather Destinations

Best Winter Vacation Destinations for Warm-Weather Lovers

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that MSA, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

Travel Costs & Hassles

Lowest Travel Costs & Fewest Hassles

• 1. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
• 2. Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX
• 3. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
• 4. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
• 5. New Orleans-Metairie, LA

Highest Travel Costs & Most Hassles

• 33. Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL
• 34. Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL
• 35. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
• 36. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
• 37. Urban Honolulu, HI

Local Costs

Lowest

• 1. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
• 2. Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
• 3. San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX
• 4. Lafayette, LA
• 5. Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL

Highest

• 33. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL
• 34. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
• 35. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
• 36. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
• 37. Urban Honolulu, HI

Attractions

Most

• 1. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
• 2. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV
• 3. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
• 4. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
• 5. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL

Fewest

• 33. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
• 34. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
• 35. Killeen-Temple, TX
• 36. Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL
• 37. Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL

Warm-Weather Activities

Most

• 1. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV
• 2. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
• 3. Urban Honolulu, HI
• 4. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
• 5. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA

Fewest

• 33. North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL
• 34. Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
• 35. Killeen-Temple, TX
• 36. Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL
• 37. Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL

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Ask the Experts

Many Americans travel far during winter either to escape or enjoy the cold, which can be a costly ordeal depending on multiple factors. With budget-conscious and group travelers in mind, we asked a panel of experts to provide guidance on planning cost-effective trips without sacrificing pleasure. Click on the experts’ profiles below to read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions:

1. What is the outlook for the upcoming winter travel season?
2. What are the best ways for travelers to save money?
3. What are some logistical do’s and don’ts for winter travel?
4. In evaluating the best cities for winter holiday travel, what are the top five indicators?
5. Given the current economic climate, will Americans’ winter holidays be affected in any way this year?

Ask the Experts

John H. Thomas
J.D. – Clinical Professor, Hospitality Law, Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management – Florida International University
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Sotiris Hji-Avgoustis
Ph.D., CHIA, CAHTA – Professor of Hospitality Innovation and Leadership, Miller College of Business – Ball State University
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Philip F. Xie
Ph.D. – Professor, Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management – Bowling Green State University
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Rod Warnick
Ph.D. – Professor, Faculty Advisor, UMass Student Chapter CMAA; Hospitality & Tourism Management Department, Isenberg School of Management – University of Massachusetts at Amherst
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Stephen Pratt
Department Chair – Tourism, Events and Attractions, Rosen College of Hospitality Management – University of Central Florida
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Leora Halpern Lanz
ISHC – Assistant Dean, Academic Affairs; Faculty Chair, Master of Management in Hospitality; Associate Professor of the Practice – Boston University School of Hospitality Administration
Read More

More Experts

Methodology

In order to determine the best winter holiday destinations, WalletHub compared 69 of the most populated U.S. metropolitan statistical areas, or MSAs, across six key dimensions: 1) Travel Costs & Hassles, 2) Local Costs, 3) Attractions, 4) Weather, 5) Activities and 6) Safety.

We evaluated those dimensions using 37 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most ideal winter travel conditions. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), we calculated the population size using the square root of the population in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

Of the 130 MSAs in our initial sample, we eliminated those for which data limitations existed. We then classified each of the remaining MSAs as either a “cold” or “warm” destination according to the following temperature guidelines:

• Cold: ≤ 46 degrees F (50-year average December temperature)
• Warm: ≥ 57 degrees F (50-year average December temperature)

Next, we eliminated the MSAs with average winter temperatures of 47 to 56 degrees F, a range we designated as a “dead zone,” with the exception of the top 10 MSAs, which were assigned to the climate group with the nearest average winter temperature if they fell within this dead zone. We chose to include the top 10 MSAs on account of their popularity as travel destinations regardless of the season. In total, 69 MSAs were included in our final sample.

For the flight analysis, we collected data on Oct. 3 and used Dec. 24 as the departure date and Jan. 2 as the return date based on the following assumptions inspired by the findings of an American Express travel survey:

• December is the most popular month for winter-holiday travel; and
• The average American considers 10 days the ideal length for a vacation.

Finally, we determined each MSA’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

Travel Costs & Hassles - Total Points = 18

• Cost of Cheapest Flight: 30% (~5.40 Points)
• Duration of Cheapest Flight: 10% (~1.80 Points)
• Number of Connections on Cheapest Flight: 5% (~0.90 Points)
• Cost of Shortest Flight: 30% (~5.40 Points)
• Duration of Shortest Flight: 10% (~1.80 Points)
• Number of Connections on Shortest Flight: 5% (~0.90 Points)
• Share of Delayed Flights: 10% (~1.80 Points)

Note: For simplicity, we recorded only the longest leg of each flight. Given the often stark disparities in flight costs and travel times, we also chose the best deals for each metric within a $30 range or one-hour window.

For example, if the cheapest round-trip flight between Washington and Los Angeles would cost $700 but it only cost $25 more for the second-cheapest fight and would reduce the total travel time by two hours, we chose the latter.

Similarly, if the shortest round-trip flight between Washington and Los Angeles would take six hours each way but it was only 25 minutes longer for the second-shortest and would save the traveler $200, we again chose the latter.

Local Costs - Total Points = 18

• Cost of Three-Star Hotel Room: 25% (~4.50 Points)
• Average Price for Two-Person Meal: 25% (~4.50 Points)
• Taxi-Fare Cost: 25% (~4.50 Points)
• Cost of Living: 25% (~4.50 Points)

Attractions - Total Points = 18

• Number of Attractions: 60% (~10.80 Points)
• Diversity of Attractions: 40% (~7.20 Points)
  Note: This metric was calculated using the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index, a commonly accepted measure of market concentration that also serves effectively as a general-purpose measure of diversity.

Weather - Total Points = 18

Note: The metrics below are based on WalletHub’s “Cities with the Best & Worst Weather” ranking.

1. Winter Weather: Total Points 18
2. Warm Weather: Total Points 18

Activities - Total Points = 18

1. Cold-Weather Activities
   • Proximity of Ski Slopes: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)
   • Ice-Skating Rinks per Capita*: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)
   • Coffee & Tea Shops per Capita*: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)
   • Music Venues per Capita*: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)
   • Food Festivals per Capita*: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)
   • Restaurants per Capita*: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)
   • Availability of Affordable, High-Quality Restaurants: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)
     Note: “High Quality” refers to a star rating of at least 4.5.
   • Wellness Centers & Spas per Capita*: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)
   • Shopping Centers per Capita*: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)

 

2. Warm-Weather Activities
   • Restaurants per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Availability of Affordable, High-Quality Restaurants: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
     Note: “High Quality” refers to a star rating of at least 4.5.
   • Amusement Parks per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Number of Amusement Parks on TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Amusement Parks” List: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Wellness Centers & Spas per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Shopping Centers per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Music Venues per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Coffee & Tea Shops per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Shops per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Tennis Courts per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Public & Municipal Golf Courses per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Baseball Diamonds per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Basketball Hoops per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Bike-Rental Facilities per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Food Festivals per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Quality of Parks: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
     Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Cities for Recreation” ranking.

Safety - Total Points: 10

• Violent-Crime Rate: 28.57% (~2.86 Points)
• Property-Crime Rate: 28.57% (~2.86 Points)
• Perception of Safety (Safety walking alone during daylight/night): 14.29% (~1.43 Points)
  Note: These data are based on perceptions of visitors of this website in the past 3 years. If the value is 0, it means it is perceived as very low, and if the value is 100, it means it is perceived as very high.
• DUI-Related Fatal Incidents per Capita: 14.29% (~1.43 Points)
• Motor Vehicle Crash Deaths: 14.29% (~1.43 Points)

 
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Numbeo, White Book of Ski Areas, GolfLink.com, Council for Community and Economic Research, Kayak.com, TripAdvisor, The Trust for Public Land, Yelp, County Health Rankings, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and WalletHub research.

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