Looking for the most awesome, best-value vacation you can find? Problem solved: These 12 blissful getaways have been road-tested by travel experts as well as travelers like you and are outrageously affordable.
* Hiking in the Swiss Alps
My great affordable trip was hiking in the Swiss Alps, but staying in Swiss Alpine Club huts , which are very affordable, even for Switzerland. These huts are comfortable, clean, and located in beautiful locations along well-marked hiking paths. They provide cheap meals too. There are 152 of them throughout the Alps. You hike between huts, sleep overnight, and hike onward. A lot of fun, and a very cheap way to vacation.
—George Hobica, founder, AirfareWatchdog
* Biking amid cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C.
A three-day road trip to Washington, D.C., during the Cherry Blossom Festival last spring cost us less than $400. Using rewards points, we got a hotel suite in Arlington that was walking distance from the National Mall. We rented city bikes, caught the parade, and visited every monument along the Mall. They’re part of the National Park Service, so the kids earned Junior Ranger Badges at each, including a special Cherry Blossom badge. It felt like a weekend scavenger hunt! Also, since the Smithsonian museums are all free, we popped in and out of them as well.
—Lissa Poirot, editor in chief, Family Vacation Critic
* Renting a house in Hawaii
I spent a great and ultra-affordable week on Kauai by renting a car, shopping at local markets (and buying local beef from the Chevron station in Princeville), and sharing a vacation rental with my sisters. Because so much of the best of Kauai is completely free, we spent very little money but never felt like we were scrimping, especially because we splurged on loaded-up Hawaiian shave ice every day.
—Christine Sarkis, senior editor, Smarter Travel
* Wine tasting in Long Island, New York
I took a road trip to the North Fork of Long Island and, thanks to TripAdvisor, found the Fordham House B&B in Greenport. I loved exploring this charming town, eating great meals, and tasting wonderful local wines. There were farmstands, lavender fields, and great shopping, plus it was an easy ferry ride to Shelter Island and Sag Harbor. It was so much nicer and cheaper than staying in the Hamptons—and without the horrible traffic.
—Bob Glaze, curator, Globalphile
* Hitting the spa in Utah
Red Mountain Resort is definitely not your mother’s spa retreat. It’s the best value wellness vacation package for Americans, especially if you’re traveling solo. I went last year with a girlfriend and we had adjacent solo rooms for $290 per person per night, which included three delicious healthy meals per day, all fitness classes, daily guided hikes, a full-day hike in Zion National Park, and all extracurricular activities—think stargazing, watercolor painting, working with crystals, etc.
—Kimberley Liao, editor, Stewards of Abundance
* Relaxing on the Italian Riviera
A friend and I once found ourselves just south of Portofino with no plans. I found a listing for Monte Pu’ in a guidebook but had no idea what we were in for as we drove up the increasingly remote hills. What we found was a slice of heaven, a former Benedictine monastery from the 12th century with open fields, pine forests, and views out to Elba. There were kittens, there were delicious smells wafting from the kitchen, there was total peace and quiet and nothing to do but ponder the beauty. Rooms are only $110 to $140 per night. And I am still dreaming about it.
—Pavia Rosati, founder and CEO, Fathom
* Family camping in Maine
We went to an all-inclusive camp, Kingsley Pines Family Camp , and had good old-fashioned family fun for one whole week: lake activities, hiking, sports, board games, campfires, etc. Very primitive accommodations, but delicious food. It was the best week of our collective lives.
—Michelle Gutierrez
* Hitting the beach in the Cayman Islands
Literally 75 steps from Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman is a Comfort Suites that is a bargain. It’s a great deal for families, with a kitchenette and breakfast/Wi-Fi included in a one-bedroom suite that sleeps four. Prices are usually less than $300.
—Cacinda Maloney, founder, Points And Travel
* Snorkeling and caving in Belize
On a nine-day trip to Belize, we stayed in affordable guesthouses (rather than pricey jungle lodges or beach resorts), rode public buses instead of renting a car (leading to fun conversations with locals!), and filled up on beans and rice, a cheap and tasty option on just about every restaurant menu. But we didn’t scrimp on our daily adventures, which included snorkeling, caving, hiking through the jungle and a memorable side trip to the Mayan ruins of Tikal. Our vacation cost us less than $2,500.
—Sarah Schlichter, senior editor, Independent Traveler
* Temple-hopping in Thailand
I recently took eight friends to Bangkok. Airfare was $568 (including taxes) roundtrip on EVA Air from the West Coast and $740 roundtrip from New York City (JFK) on Air China. We stayed at the Rose Hotel Bangkok —which is walkable to so much and has a nice pool and an amazing breakfast—for less than $50 a night, and we hired drivers for side trips for about $50 a day. The best was a trip up to the ancient city of Ayutthaya . Thailand is far away but, honestly, a few books and movies and boom…. The “Land of Smiles” is all around you!
—Steven Howell
* Lazing in the Maldives and dune bashing around Dubai
I just spent 5 nights in a villa in the middle of the Indian Ocean (at the Park Hyatt Maldives, for 125,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points) and 3 nights in the desert outside Dubai (at Al Maha Desert Resort, an all-inclusive that includes all meals and activities, for 117,000 Starwood Starpoints). Round-trip first-class airfare for two, in an Etihad First Class Apartment between New York (JFK) and Abu Dhabi, was 360,000 American AAdvantage miles. I rode a camel into the sunset, went dune bashing, held a falcon on my arm, had spa treatments in the Maldives…all for less than $3,000 cash out of pocket.
—Gary Leff, founder, View From The Wing
* Thanksgiving in Belgium
I travel cheaply A LOT. But one of my best cheap trips, before the kids came along, was a Thanksgiving weekend package deal to Brussels (fly out Wednesday morning, fly back Sunday evening). For the flights, the Mövenpick Hotel, airport transfers, and a massive daily breakfast, the entire thing was something crazy like $399 per person. We managed to run all around Brussels, plus visit Antwerp and Bruges, during those 3.5 days. We gorged on chocolate and all the great sights and museums…and got to skip Thanksgiving for once!
—Pauline Frommer, editorial director, Frommer’s
* Christmas in Quebec City
All of Canada is 30% off because of the exchange rate, and flying from the U.S. is easy and affordable. So for Christmas we went to Quebec City and stayed at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac , on the concierge floor. Gorgeous city, beautiful hotel, friendly staff, delicious food, afternoon tea, toboggan rides and carriage rides right outside the hotel….Both the adults and the kids loved it.
—Brittany Honeycutt Sale
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