Posted by: Adam McCann

School’s out, the mercury’s rising, and some people have yet to spend their tax refunds. In short, it’s time to plan the perfect summer getaway. The only question is: Where should you go? You might have a few destinations already in mind, but your travel budget might not agree. Regardless, it’s ideal to have fun while keeping your spending in check.

So which places offer the most bang for the buck? To find out, WalletHub developed a ranking of the cheapest U.S. destinations that are also the easiest to reach. In total, we analyzed 100 of the largest metro areas across 40 key indicators. Our data set ranges from cost of the cheapest flight to number of attractions to weather. Read on for the full ranking, money-saving travel advice and our methodology.

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. However, it does take into account the number of attractions and variety of activities in each destination to ensure visitors will stay busy and entertained throughout the trip. As you plan your trip, make sure to check out WalletHub’s Best Travel Credit Cards and Currency Exchange reports.

1. Main Findings
2. Ask the Experts: Tips for Saving on Summer Travel
3. Methodology

Main Findings

Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/3792/geochart-summertravel.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="https://ift.tt/2rJXD95>  

Best Places to Visit in Summer

Rank (1=Best)	Destination (Metro Area)	Total Score	‘Travel Costs & Hassles’ Rank	‘Local Costs’ Rank	‘Attractions’ Rank	‘Weather’ Rank	‘Activities’ Rank	‘Safety’ Rank
1	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metro Area	67.34	9	84	8	19	14	6
2	Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL Metro Area	67.25	23	14	9	62	2	67
3	Austin-Round Rock, TX Metro Area	66.37	19	36	13	21	18	32
4	Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area	66.18	8	86	4	55	3	38
5	Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Metro Area	65.93	10	55	16	15	10	58
6	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN Metro Area	64.85	1	34	36	48	16	25
7	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metro Area	64.56	3	15	31	41	34	37
8	Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area	62.80	11	1	48	17	79	69
9	Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV Metro Area	62.63	20	19	7	77	7	91
10	Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area	62.36	7	9	23	50	29	77
11	New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA Metro Area	62.26	33	93	2	66	1	10
12	Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Metro Area	62.17	46	82	1	49	9	51
13	Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metro Area	62.12	28	43	28	40	15	29
14	St. Louis, MO-IL Metro Area	62.06	21	50	25	12	24	57
15	Salt Lake City, UT Metro Area	61.21	12	64	27	11	25	83
16	Richmond, VA Metro Area	60.93	66	21	35	32	23	18
17	San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX Metro Area	60.57	26	6	18	38	45	89
18	Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metro Area	60.26	35	83	12	42	12	40
19	Knoxville, TN Metro Area	59.66	64	2	50	36	50	62
20	Pittsburgh, PA Metro Area	59.47	16	54	47	71	20	8
21	Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area	59.42	6	67	20	70	19	53
22	Columbus, OH Metro Area	59.30	22	25	74	20	56	31
23	Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA Metro Area	59.27	25	7	77	44	39	41
24	Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Metro Area	59.25	2	20	66	56	51	61
25	Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area	58.86	38	72	53	3	36	56
26	Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metro Area	58.82	4	74	34	75	17	27
27	Chattanooga, TN-GA Metro Area	58.58	56	18	38	14	77	76
28	San Diego-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area	58.56	27	92	10	80	4	20
29	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Metro Area	58.56	60	13	32	16	53	66
30	Raleigh, NC Metro Area	58.42	29	45	46	22	52	59
31	El Paso, TX Metro Area	58.33	43	10	86	10	86	23
32	Jacksonville, FL Metro Area	57.95	48	16	26	61	27	65
33	Boise City, ID Metro Area	57.85	75	24	39	30	62	5
34	Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL Metro Area	57.81	39	77	14	67	5	71
35	Albuquerque, NM Metro Area	57.71	40	3	24	5	54	99
36	Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area	56.99	5	56	51	37	67	70
37	Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metro Area	56.93	15	53	30	43	41	84
38	Cleveland-Elyria, OH Metro Area	56.91	14	81	41	51	37	35
39	Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN Metro Area	56.50	49	76	21	6	42	73
40	Tulsa, OK Metro Area	56.41	42	12	60	18	60	86
41	Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN Metro Area	56.03	13	31	44	52	57	81
42	Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA Metro Area	56.03	37	85	6	90	11	30
43	Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL Metro Area	55.82	51	40	75	64	44	16
44	Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA Metro Area	55.78	58	79	33	31	28	42
45	Tucson, AZ Metro Area	55.70	70	17	17	57	30	88
46	Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI Metro Area	55.65	36	35	59	76	69	12
47	Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR Metro Area	55.45	62	5	49	9	88	98
48	Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area	55.35	31	96	11	73	26	7
49	Madison, WI Metro Area	54.84	34	65	57	87	22	4
50	Dayton, OH Metro Area	54.75	30	26	89	65	83	39
51	Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metro Area	54.61	24	37	40	23	58	96
52	Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ Metro Area	54.41	17	8	21	92	47	60
53	Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area	54.25	45	11	45	13	87	97
54	Birmingham-Hoover, AL Metro Area	53.58	41	27	76	24	80	90
55	Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC Metro Area	53.19	57	87	55	26	31	44
56	Jackson, MS Metro Area	52.74	82	38	92	8	96	25
57	Columbia, SC Metro Area	52.66	72	28	64	28	73	85
58	Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI Metro Area	52.26	18	59	58	79	38	79
59	Greensboro-High Point, NC Metro Area	52.05	61	42	83	35	65	55
60	Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area	51.77	55	32	95	53	94	33
61	Springfield, MO Metro Area	51.76	59	60	61	27	82	94
62	Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC Metro Area	51.54	81	29	88	29	95	48
63	Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO Metro Area	51.44	54	30	91	25	78	93
64	Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL Metro Area	51.29	50	61	62	N/A	32	54
65	Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metro Area	50.91	73	47	72	60	66	63
66	Lexington-Fayette, KY Metro Area	50.63	74	41	52	54	84	47
67	Rochester, NY Metro Area	50.18	63	73	56	85	46	14
68	New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area	50.16	78	91	15	39	21	74
69	Lafayette, LA Metro Area	50.12	80	33	73	47	97	50
70	Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA Metro Area	49.90	83	71	80	7	76	45
71	Akron, OH Metro Area	49.30	68	22	93	74	100	24
72	Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY Metro Area	49.28	65	70	42	82	43	43
73	Syracuse, NY Metro Area	49.18	71	69	67	84	75	11
74	Colorado Springs, CO Metro Area	48.51	69	68	37	78	72	52
75	Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT Metro Area	48.19	84	62	85	68	92	13
76	Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC Metro Area	47.94	47	57	54	N/A	35	95
77	Fresno, CA Metro Area	47.81	92	52	71	2	93	80
78	Wichita, KS Metro Area	47.74	52	23	79	33	90	100
79	Providence-Warwick, RI-MA Metro Area	47.61	67	89	63	72	55	17
80	Urban Honolulu, HI Metro Area	47.31	98	100	19	1	6	46
81	Baton Rouge, LA Metro Area	47.17	94	51	69	46	48	78
82	San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA Metro Area	47.03	44	94	43	88	49	21
83	Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL Metro Area	46.97	76	80	94	45	40	64
84	San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA Metro Area	46.70	32	99	3	95	8	72
85	Corpus Christi, TX Metro Area	46.36	87	66	68	34	64	92
86	Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area	45.45	53	97	5	94	13	68
87	McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX Metro Area	45.10	96	4	96	58	98	34
88	Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL Metro Area	44.83	79	58	100	59	59	49
89	Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA Metro Area	44.77	91	48	97	81	63	22
90	Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA Metro Area	44.70	93	75	70	N/A	70	3
91	Toledo, OH Metro Area	44.49	89	44	84	63	89	75
92	Lansing-East Lansing, MI Metro Area	44.39	85	46	90	82	99	36
93	Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area	44.30	77	95	29	93	33	1
94	Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY Metro Area	44.15	90	78	78	86	81	15
95	Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA Metro Area	43.14	86	39	65	89	74	82
96	Bakersfield, CA Metro Area	41.51	99	63	87	4	91	87
97	Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT Metro Area	39.14	100	90	81	69	71	2
98	North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL Metro Area	37.63	88	49	99	N/A	61	28
99	Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA Metro Area	33.84	95	88	82	95	85	9
100	Santa Rosa, CA Metro Area	28.01	97	98	98	91	68	19

 

Ask the Experts: Tips for Saving on Summer Travel

You shouldn’t have to wipe out your savings just to enjoy a nice summer vacation. For budget-friendly advice and other useful travel insight, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

1. What are your predictions for the 2018 summer travel season in terms of, for instance, the percentage of Americans traveling, the most popular destinations and the busiest travel times?
2. Do you think the federal government should block airlines from overbooking flights?
3. What are the best travel strategies for families with young children on a budget?
4. What are the costliest travel mistakes?
5. What money-saving tips do you have for travelers staying in the U.S. and those traveling abroad?
6. In evaluating the best summer travel destinations, what are the top five indicators?

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• Diego Bufquin Assistant Professor, Rosen College of Hospitality Management, University of Central Florida
• Wei Wei Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Rosen College of Hospitality Management, University of Central Florida
• Liping A. Cai Associate Dean, Ph.D., College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University
• Tracy Michaud Lecturer in Tourism & Hospitality, University of Southern Maine

Diego Bufquin Assistant Professor, Rosen College of Hospitality Management, University of Central Florida

What are your predictions for the 2018 summer travel season (percent of Americans traveling; most popular destinations; busiest travel times)?

According to MMGY Global, a leading marketing communications agency, 60 million U.S. households will be traveling in 2018. Domestic travel represents 85% of American vacations, up 7 points from 2016-2017. Interestingly, travelers anticipate that 40% of their domestic travel this year will be to a new destination!

The most popular destinations for the 2018 summer travel season, according to US News & World Report, include cities like Orlando, Boston, Nashville, Portland, and Seattle. Moreover, the following destinations will also be extremely popular: Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming; Sonoma in California; Bar Harbor in Maine; Seaside in Oregon; and Steamboat Springs in Colorado.

The busiest travel times in 2018, as always, will be during academic schedules and holidays.

Do you think the Federal government should block airlines from overbooking flights?

About 7-8% of passengers are no-shows (for a lot of different reasons), and this is why airlines overbook their flights in order to make up for such no-shows. I do not think that the Federal government should intervene and block airlines, or any other business (e.g., hotels...), from overbooking, as these governmental regulations would impose significant financial distresses on these companies.

What are the best travel strategies for families with young children on a budget?

Food and accommodation are two of the largest costs that families can easily control while traveling. For instance, instead of staying in a hotel, families can rent houses or apartments (e.g., with Airbnb and other rental companies) at a much more affordable rate. Another way to save lots of money is for families to prepare their own food instead of spending their money in restaurants.

What are the most costly travel mistakes?

Not booking your flight tickets or accommodation with antecedence could cost you a significant amount of money. Moreover, not investigating well-enough on the internet about different packages/options (regarding such things as accommodation, transportation, food venues, or attractions) could cost families some additional dollars, which could have easily been saved or spent otherwise.

Wei Wei Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Rosen College of Hospitality Management, University of Central Florida

What are your predictions for the 2018 summer travel season (percent of Americans traveling; most popular destinations; busiest travel times)?

Visit Orlando just released the Official Visitation Number for Calendar Year 2017, and Central Florida destinations have hosted over 70 million visitors, exceeding the record of 68 Million visitors set in 2016. For 2018 summer travel season, Central Florida will continue to be one of the most popular destinations for both domestic and international tourists with a number of drawcards such as weather, beach, Disney-themed entertainment, and many others.

It is worth noting that, summer means differently for people who have the traditional summer break (e.g., students, school teachers, university professors) and who don't (e.g., administrators, hotel employees). With Chinese tourists becoming a fast emerging world market, we can anticipate to see a large number of Chinese travelers everywhere in form of students and their parents/friends. While packaged tours are still popular considering the language barrier and unfamiliarity, I expect there will be more independent Chinese travelers due to their increasing maturity of international travel experience as well as the assistance of emergent information technologies (e.g., social media apps, online platforms for peer-to-peer businesses, OTAs - Online Travel Agency).

What are the best travel strategies for families with young children on a budget?

Always check out flight options from airlines such as Spirit and Frontier if the families don't have lots of luggage to bring. If they do, check out Southwest official website as they from time to time offer very economy price. Stay tuned to those commercial emails promoting "get-away deals" by different airlines. These deals are usually specific to certain travel routes and limited period of time. So plan earlier.

Check Groupon for deals related to destination attractions/activities. They can be much cheaper than what you need to pay on site. This usually needs to be done as soon as you know where and when you are traveling.

Airbnb can be another good option if travelers are on a budget. When traveling with young children, parents often want to have the flexibility to stay together, enjoy more space, and be close to major transportation and attractions. If you do your homework and conduct some research, you will be surprised by the great deals provided by some Airbnb hosts. But, do not only look at price and the beautiful pictures people posted on line. Before booking, always, always, always make sure to check many (not only the first few) recent (not those from a few years ago) online customer reviews and watch out any comments regarding issues related to security, service quality, and the condition of facilities.

What are the most costly travel mistakes?

I would say the most costly travel mistakes would be booking a wrong flight and/or accommodation. Especially when you need to change or cancel a flight/hotel reservation, please be mindful that the policy likely varies based on whether you made the purchase through OTAs - Online Travel Agency, or at the airline official website. Always check this before you decide where to book your trip. In addition, even though sometimes an airline provides you with some travel credits when you have to change a flight, make sure to find out the expiration date of those travel credits (usually one year) before they are gone forever. Plan ahead and plan smartly.

In evaluating the best summer travel destinations, what are the top five indicators?

The top five indicators in my mind would be weather, destination safety perception (this is becoming increasingly important in recent years), unique destinations attractions & activities, cost, and accessibility (e.g., transportation, easiness to get to the destination).

Liping A. Cai Associate Dean, Ph.D., College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University

Do you think the Federal government should block airlines from overbooking flights?

Instead of blocking airlines from overbooking flights, the Federal government should provide comprehensive regulations that aims at protecting travelers who are often hopeless when in the hands of airlines that are more often than necessary to evoke security as justifications to treat travelers. Such regulations should consider the overall wellbeing of travelers, such as legroom and special needs for families and other special need population. Gone are the days when air travel was luxurious and something one looked forward to, but it should become a norm that punctuates an otherwise pleasurable experience which travelers have invested a significant amount of resources for.

What are the most costly travel mistakes?

Companies in the travel supply chain are in general harvesting the technology of big data for their bottom lines, sometimes at the expense of travelers. Although the increasing list of booking tiers are presented to the market as more flexibility and choices, the non-refundable air tickets and hotel rooms are costly to travelers who make even a slight alteration to their itinerary. Some hotel companies do not allow the same day cancellations anymore. As companies increasingly use automation to communicate with travelers, the cost is beyond monetary terms. The emotional frustration can spoil your trip even before you leave home. Be thorough in reviewing the terms when making bookings.

What money saving tips do you have for travelers staying in the USA? How about for those going abroad?

Nature is the best destination in the USA when it comes to summer travel. National Parks remain the most affordable leisure places for families. Rural communities, even in non-traditional scenic regions, can offer unique experiences of leisure and pleasure for urban families. Indiana, for example, has been innovative in developing its agricultural and natural assets to attract tourists on the budget. For those going abroad, consider destinations in Asia-Pacific regions. If you are willing to fly non-USA carriers and do not mind one or two extra stops, other international carriers can offer surprising cheap fares. Costs at destinations compatible to their European counterparts are less expense as well, even when booking through a third party.

Tracy Michaud Lecturer in Tourism & Hospitality, University of Southern Maine

What are the best travel strategies for families with young children on a budget?

My advice is to look beyond the travel websites and check out the websites of the local chamber of commerce or community you are going to visit to see what they have for amenities in their neighborhoods. When promoting their community (and trying to entice people to move there) many will highlight free local family friendly assets that tourists might not be aware of such as a cool playground, park, a fishing derby, or fun kids event at the library! This is a great way to get immersed in the community in a real way for not a lot of money.

Methodology

In order to determine the best summer vacation spots, WalletHub compared 100 of the most populated metro areas (or Metropolitan Statistical Areas, as identified by the U.S. Census Bureau) across six key categories: 1) Travel Costs & Hassles, 2) Local Costs, 3) Attractions, 4) Weather, 5) Activities and 6) Safety.

We evaluated those categories using 40 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 favorable conditions for summer travel. Metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were measured by the square root of the population.

For our flight analysis, we collected data on April 19 and selected July 5 as the departure date and July 15 as the return date for the following reasons: 1) July is the most popular month for summer travel, according to an AYTM vacations survey, and 2) the average American considers 10 days to be the perfect length for a vacation, according to American Express data.

Finally, we determined each metro area’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)

To determine the cheapest flight, we compared the cost of a round-trip flight between each of the 100 destinations and the six largest U.S. airport hubs in the following cities:

• Atlanta
• Chicago
• Dallas
• Denver
• Los Angeles
• New York

To determine the shortest flight, we compared the departure and return flights and chose the longer of the two. For instance, if a departure flight from Washington to Los Angeles took five hours, whereas the return flight from Los Angeles to Washington lasted six, we chose the latter.

Considering the 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 from Washington to Los Angeles cost $700, whereas the second-cheapest flight cost $25 more but reduced the total travel time by two hours, we chose the latter. Similarly, if the shortest round-trip flight from Washington to Los Angeles took six hours each way, whereas the second-shortest took 25 minutes longer but saved the traveler $200, we again chose the latter.

Local Costs - Total Points: 18

• Cost of Living: 40% (~6.00 Points)
• Lowest Nightly Rate for Three-Star Hotel Room: 40% (~6.00 Points)
• Average Price of Two-Person Meal: 20% (~6.00 Points)

Attractions - Total Points: 18

• Number of Attractions: 50% (~10.80 Points)
• Diversity of Attractions: 50% (~7.20 Points)

Weather - Total Points: 18 Activities - Total Points: 18

• Restaurants per Capita*: 4.08% (~0.73 Points)
• Prevalence of Affordable Restaurants with Ratings of 4.5+ Stars: 4.08% (~0.73 Points)
• Amusement Parks per Capita*: 4.08% (~0.73 Points)
• Presence on TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Amusement Parks” List: 4.08% (~0.73 Points)
• Wellness & Spa Centers per Capita*: 4.08% (~0.73 Points)
• Retail Shopping Centers per Capita*: 4.08% (~0.73 Points)
• Music Venues per Capita*: 4.08% (~0.73 Points)
• Coffee & Tea Shops per Capita*: 4.08% (~0.73 Points)
• Ice-Cream & Frozen-Yogurt Shops per Capita*: 4.08% (~ 0.73 Points)
• Tennis Courts per Capita*: 4.08% (~0.73 Points)
• Golf Courses and Country Clubs per Capita*: 4.08% (~0.73 Points)
• Baseball & Softball Diamonds per Capita*: 4.08% (~0.73 Points)
• Basketball Hoops per Capita*: 4.08% (~0.73 Points)
• Bike-Rental Facilities per Capita*: 4.08% (~0.73 Points)
• Food Festivals per Capita*: 4.08% (~0.73 Points)
• Quality of Parks: 4.08% (~0.73 Points)Note: Based on WalletHub’s Best & Worst Cities for Recreation ranking.
• Public Beaches per Capita*: 4.08% (~0.73 Points)
• Presence on TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Beaches” or “Top 25 Water Parks” List: 2.04% (~0.36 Points)Notes: Binary metric:
  • 1 – City is present on Top 25 TripAdvisor Beaches or Water Parks
  • 0 – City is not present on Top 25 TripAdvisor Beaches or Water Parks
• Water Temperature: 4.08% (~0.73 Points)Note: This metric was used as a proxy for cities located along a sea, ocean or lake.
• Swimming Pools per Capita*: 4.08% (~0.73 Points)
• Water Parks per Capita*: 4.08% (~0.73 Points)
• Boat Tours & Water Sports per Capita*: 4.08% (~0.73 Points)
• Hiking Trails per Capita*: 4.08% (~0.73 Points)
• Beer Gardens per Capita*: 4.08% (~0.73 Points)
• Time of Last Call: 4.08% (~0.73 Points)

Safety - Total Points: 10

• Violent-Crime Rate: 50% (~5.00 Points)
• Property-Crime Rate: 50% (~5.00 Points)

 

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Council for Community and Economic Research, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Numbeo.com, Kayak.com, TripAdvisor, Yelp, The Trust for Public Land, World Sea Temperature and WalletHub research.

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