Lots of people travel around the holidays to visit family and friends for festive celebrations, but these trips are often familiar destinations you visit year after year. However, winter is also a great season to take a trip to a brand-new place because travel deals are plentiful.
Whether you’re dreaming of warmth and sunshine or just looking to beat the winter blues with a change in routine, there are lots of exciting places to travel over the next few months on a budget. Here are some of our favorite budget-friendly travel destinations for winter.
Placencia, Belize
Belize is an ideal place to visit during the winter holiday season for outdoor lovers because there’s plenty of sunshine and opportunities for adventure. Once you arrive, take advantage of the 80-degree temperatures and try scuba diving in the Great Blue Hole. The Laughing Bird Caye National Park and Bunches of Fun Banana Farm Tours are also popular here. You can learn about Garifuna and Creole culture through food, music, and art during your stay, especially if you visit the Monkey River Village, a traditional fishing community that has family-run restaurants serving up authentic meals.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a fun destination for food, partying, history, and culture at any time of the year. As long as you don’t visit the Big Easy during the Mardi Gras festivities in February, you’ll likely find cheaper prices on the city’s top hotels in the winter than in other seasons. The winter temperatures in this southern city are mild, which means you can still stroll down Bourbon Street with your favorite cocktail in hand all season. New Orleans is also a fun place to celebrate New Year’s Eve, but that’s another time when hotel rates will be higher than other times in the winter.
San Diego, California
San Diego is one of those magical places that enjoys wonderful weather all throughout the year. Even if you can’t comfortably lounge around in a bikini at the beach here in the winter, the weather is still very pleasant. This is an ideal trip for animal lovers because the whales migrate through this area during the winter, so you’ll likely see a few around the bay. Hotels in San Diego tend to be considerably lower in the winter than during other times of the year. Los Angeles is also less expensive and less packed with tourists in the winter, so if you have a little more time to spend in sunny Southern California, you can travel between the two cities on a road trip.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan is also a nice place to take a trip in the winter because it’s affordable, you don’t need a passport, and there’s no currency exchange to deal with. You can also find direct flights at affordable prices from American cities to San Juan, and Old San Juan has lots of affordable dining and accommodation options. There are also great beaches here, and unlike many other places in the Caribbean region, there’s not as much in the way of all-inclusive resorts, so you can just pay for what you consume. Boutique shopping and fresh seafood are great reasons to visit Puerto Rico. Keep in mind, though, that the winter season can be busy in Puerto Rico in general, so book your trip early for the best deals. Early to mid-December are particularly good times to visit the island.
Tulum, Mexico
Tulum, Mexico, is another city that frequently makes lists of top winter destinations on a budget. You can visit lots of archaeological sites and beaches for free to save money on activity costs. The spring season here is very busy, but December is typically less so. Popular things to do in Tulum include seeing the Mayan ruins, scuba diving and snorkeling, Playa Paraiso for a beach day, and the LabnaHa Cenotes & Eco Park for an unexpected adventure.
Cartagena, Colombia
Traveling to Colombia is typically more affordable than other countries in the region all throughout the year. But it’s especially great to visit in late-January and February because that’s after the high tourist season ends. Early December is also a great time to visit Cartagena. You’ll find great hotel rates at this time, warm weather, and lots of local culture to learn about. But you should know that this destination has been gaining popularity as a budget-friendly winter destination, so visit now before the prices start going up!
Austin, Texas
The busiest season to visit Austin is the springtime, so get a jump start on seeing this Texas city by visiting in the winter. You’ll avoid the music festival crowds of spring and the scorching heat of summer, but there are still plenty of live music acts and attractions to check out here during the winter months. Winter temperatures here are often in the 60s, which makes it very pleasant to wander around town. This is also a great winter getaway for golfers because the golf courses are less crowded around this time of year. Families and groups of friends with diverse interests love visiting Austin because it has both city events and outdoor adventures all in one place.
Panama City, Panama
The Central American country of Panama doesn’t draw the beach crowds of other destinations in the region, but it’s an affordable place that offers a lot to travelers in the winter. The main obstacle here is catching a cheap and convenient flight because the lower demand sometimes means fewer flights at higher costs. But once you arrive, Panama City and the surrounding areas are very budget-friendly. Accommodation rates and food prices are quite reasonable, and there are beaches to make you forget that the traditional winter season of colder climates really exists at all.
Barcelona, Spain
Unlike much of Europe, many parts of Spain still enjoy lovely weather during the winter season. You’ll often find temperatures in the 60s here in the winter, and Barcelona is a must-visit city that should be on every traveler’s list. Seville and the Canary Islands are certainly worth a visit in winter as well if you have a little extra time and money to spend.
Phoenix, Arizona
Warm and sunny Arizona has always been a favorite U.S. destination for “snowbirds” seeking warm weather at an affordable price. Phoenix is a great place to visit in the winter because the weather is actually more pleasant now than in the heat of summer. Prices here tend to be much more manageable than in nearby California, and there are some great campgrounds to stay at if you have an RV. You can also head a bit south to Tucson, another favorite snowbird destination, for a vibrant arts scene and great hiking among the towering cacti all winter long.
Mexico City, Mexico
In addition to Tulum, Mexico City is another great place to visit south of the border in the winter. Mexico City has a rainy season, but that’s pretty much over by December. There are lots of beach resorts here to get in a little relaxation before the holiday craziness. Travelers who love to shop will really enjoy all the authentic goods and fun souvenirs in town during a winter stay in Mexico City.
Tampa, Florida
Compared to the popular destinations of Orlando and Miami, Tampa is an affordable Florida destination if you plan your trip before the end of the year. Traditionally, the months between September and December are the most affordable, and then prices start to go up in January. This is a great place to come before Christmas to get your arts and culture fix. Just east of downtown, don’t miss the historic Ybor City for a fun nightlife scene and great food.
