Affordable destinations for this winter that you will love to visit

Stef Zisovska

Traveling in winter can be complicated if you don’t know how to organize your trip and where to go. There are budget-friendly destinations that you can visit this winter season and you can choose anything from a sandy beach to a ski center. Here are some of the coolest and most affordable suggestions on where you can go this winter without emptying your bank account. If you are a real adventurer, check out this list and choose the place you want to visit this winter season.

Sun Valley, Idaho

Bald Mountain from Sun Valley Lake, Idaho – Author: Greg L. Wright – CC BY-SA 3.0
Bald Mountain from Sun Valley Lake, Idaho – Author: Greg L. Wright – CC BY-SA 3.0

If you like skiing but want to avoid the expensive ski centers in Colorado and Utah, then visit Idaho. Sun Valley’s airport is only a 14-mile drive from the main ski area. Round trip flights from Los Angeles cost $189, and $312 from the airports in the New York City area. Sun Valley is known for getting a lot of sunshine over the winter season, so if you like to ski or snowboard, you will have a great time in this mountain region. For those who aren’t particularly skiing fans, there are a lot of galleries to visit, movies, live music, and sleigh rides.

Stockholm, Sweden

Amazing Stockholm
Amazing Stockholm

If you want to see the Northern Lights in Sweden, the best time to do it is between November and February. The good thing this year is that there are many affordable transatlantic flights. The average round trip flight price from Los Angeles to Stockholm via Reykjavik is $335. The price for a 4-star hotel this season is $120 per night. To see the Northern Lights you would need to go to the northern part of the country, although sometimes they are visible from Stockholm, too.

Cambodia

Angkor Wat – Author: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen – GFDL
Angkor Wat – Author: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen – GFDL

If you are looking for an exotic vacation in the middle of winter, then Cambodia is where you need to go this season. A round trip ticket from New York City or Los Angeles will cost you about $600. A 4-star hotel per night is only $40 this season. It’s cheaper to visit Cambodia in winter than in fall. The weather is the best in December and January, so plan your trip in these months.

Hawaii

Hawaii from above
Hawaii from above

The cheapest time to visit Hawaii will be in February. The flight deals from any part of the States vary between $500 and $700 round trip. Also, to save money on accommodation, avoid resorts and look for small private hotels. January and February are whale watching months on the islands, so if you’re into whales, plan your trip for these months. Other activities across the islands include surfing, golfing, and waterfall viewing.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Ober Gatlinburg aerial tramway – Author: Chris Hagerman – CC BY-SA 3.0
Ober Gatlinburg aerial tramway – Author: Chris Hagerman – CC BY-SA 3.0

This national park area is surrounded by cities like Gatlinburg and Knoxville. Round trip flights from New York City to Knoxville are expected to be under $200. The prices at the Gatlinburg Hilton Garden Inn are just under $100 per night, which is really affordable. Gatlinburg has nine ski runs that you can visit, and the Great Smoky Mountains are a beautiful sight in winter, and they’re usually uncrowded. You can go snowfall hiking, wildlife spotting or even see a frozen waterfall and take cool pictures.

Costa Rica

If you’re looking for a tropical winter destination, then San Jose in Costa Rica is where you need to be heading for at only $500 from both Los Angeles and New York. The flights at this time of the year are cheaper to Costa Rica than to the Caribbean. Check for beach bungalows if you want to save some extra money for extreme outdoor adventures.

Winter is the perfect time to see baby turtles in Costa Rica, also for whale and bird watching, surfing and other water sports. Make the most of your winter holidays and visit a place that suits you the most. Good luck!

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stef-zisovska

stef-zisovska is one of the authors writing for Outdoor Revival