Does the winter weather have you dreaming of an escape to a warmer locale? Or maybe you live in the South and want to go somewhere that actually has snow on the ground -- and lots of it. If you’re longing for an affordable getaway, you’re in luck. I asked Anne Banas, executive editor of SmarterTravel.com, to share her picks for the best winter travel deals. Here are nine destinations in the U.S. and abroad that she recommends:
DOWNLOAD: The Kip Tips iPad App
Warm-weather spots
Disney World. You can save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney World resorts and discounted tickets to the park if you book travel through JetBlue Airways. Discounts are available for stays February 18 to March 23 and April 2 to June 14. Visit jetblue.com for more information.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Hawaii. Banas says that you can find great deals on Hawaii travel packages now. For example, Pleasant Holidays is offering rates from $549 per person for roundtrip airfare from West Coast cities, hotel accommodations for five nights and a rental car as part of its Hawaii Winter Sale.
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. You don’t need a passport to escape to this tropical island destination, which is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands. With the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism’s St. Croix Fantastic Flight Promotion, you can get a $300 airfare credit, your sixth night free at participating hotels and a $20 casino certificate if you book by January 31 for travel through March 24.
San Diego. You can find a variety of lodging deals in San Diego, which is warmer now than many places in the U.S. and is a great family destination. See San Diego Tourism Authority’s SUNsational travel deals promotion for more information.
Sanibel Island, Fla. This island in the Gulf of Mexico is one of Florida’s quieter vacation spots and is known for its great shelling beaches. With the Winter Escape promotion from Luxury Resorts, you can get credits for hotel activities, food and beverages at four Sanibel Island hotels and kids eat free all day. You get a $50 credit for a two-night stay; $75 credit for a three-night stay; and a $100 credit for a four-night stay for travel before April 30. Rates start at $149.
Bahamas. Deals abound now in the Bahamas, where temperatures are in the 70s. You can get up to $300 off airfare to several of the islands with promotional codes from the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. The Atlantis resort on Paradise Island is offering special rates from $65 a night per person and a $300 instant airfare credit for a six-night stay or $200 credit for four- and five-night stays if you book by January 14. You’ll also receive a Taste of Atlantis pass for food and drinks at select restaurants. Visit Atlantis.com for more information about this deal and others.
Azores. This archipelago of nine islands in the Atlantic Ocean is an autonomous region of Portugal and offers an old-world European experience. Average temperatures range from 60 degrees to 77 degrees. It’s only a four-hour flight from the East Coast, and Azores airline SATA has a deal on flights from Boston to Ponta Delgada. You can get a roundtrip flight starting at $499 (taxes included) if you book by January 15 for travel between March 21 and April 18.
Cold-weather destinations
Iceland. IcelandAir has several vacation package deals, including a Northern Lights Escape that includes round-trip airfare Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., Denver or Seattle, a two-night hotel stay in Reykjavik and two-night stay in Akureyri, buffet breakfasts, Northern Lights tour and more for $953 per person.
Montreal, Canada. You can find a great deal on accommodations now through May 31 thanks to the Tourisme Montreal Winter Sweat Deal promotion. When you book a room at a participating hotel (with rates starting at $112 Canadian dollars), you can get a second night at half price. Plus, you can get a coupon booklet with offers valued at $500. Banas recommends low-cost Canadian airline Porter, which usually has roundtrips to Montreal for less than $300 from major Northeast cities.
-
Six Missteps to Avoid as You Transition to RetirementDon't lose sight of your finances when you finally reach retirement. These six classic missteps can chip away at the nest egg you’ve worked so hard to build.
-
Why Does One Claim Jack Up My Insurance After Years of No Claims?Even loyal customers can be hit with an insurance premium hike after a claim, despite going many years without any claims. There's a reason for that.
-
Five Ways to a Cheap Last-Minute VacationTravel It is possible to pull off a cheap last-minute vacation. Here are some tips to make it happen.
-
Best Places to Visit Where the Dollar Is StrongFrom the Americas and Europe to Africa and Asia, we list the 10 best places to travel to where the U.S. dollar is the strongest.
-
24 Best Travel Websites and Apps to Find Deals and Save You MoneyTravel Use Kiplinger's guide to the best travel websites and find discounts and deals so you can vacation without breaking the bank.
-
Five Ways to Save on Vacation Rental PropertiesTravel Use these strategies to pay less for an apartment, condo or house when you travel.
-
How to Avoid Annoying Hotel Fees: Per Person, Parking and MoreTravel Here's how to avoid extra charges and make sure you don't get stuck paying for amenities that you don't use.
-
Frequent Flyer Tax Could Raise Billions for ClimateCould taxing frequent flyers help combat global pollution? Some climate scientists say yes.
-
How to Make The Most of a Travel Insurance ClaimMore travelers are buying insurance. If your trip is canceled, take these steps to increase your chances of recovery.
-
Despite Cancelled Flights and Short-Staffed Hotels, Americans Are (Sort of) Traveling AgainBusiness Travel Thanks to high gas prices, cancelled flights and labor shortages across the sector, the post-COVID travel recovery looks uneven.
