As travel prices continue to soar, sticking to a budget is important.
With that in mind, choosing off-the-beaten-path destinations can help your dollars go further, while jetting off to famous luxury resorts is obviously going to weigh on your wallet. New research from FloridaPanhandle.com shows that ski vacations and remote tropical destinations are especially likely to break the bank.
According to the site, its staff analyzed pricing data from more than 100 popular vacation destinations. The study looked at four- and five-star ratings of top-reviewed properties during the most expensive times of the year to travel based on the destination Dec. 21-27 or May 19-25 for all locations (taxes not included) in categories including lodging, ground transportation, flights, food and attraction admissions.
Here’s what the study found on the average cost per day, per person.
Most expensive places to visit
- Gustavia, St. Barth. Average cost: $1,852 per person per day, not including flights
- Gstaad, Switzerland. Average cost: $1,544 per person per day, not including flights
- Aspen, Colorado. Average cost: $1,487 per person per day, not including flights
- Park City, Utah. Average cost: $1,257 per person per day, not including flights
- Maui, Hawaii. Average cost: $1,082 per person per day, not including flights
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Least expensive places to visit
- Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Average cost: $122 per person per day, not including flights, which can exceed $1,000 per person.
- Kandy, Sri Lanka. Average cost: $140 per person per day, not including flights.
- Warsaw, Poland. Average cost: $155 per person per day, not including flights.
- Granada, Nicaragua. Average cost: $157 per person per day, not including flights.
- La Antigua, Guatemala. Average cost: $167 per person per day, not including flights.
Cheap U.S. destinations include Oklahoma City, Little Rock and Albuquerque.
Eurotrip tip:Next year will bring more (digital) paperwork for travel to the continent. Here’s what to know.
Tips for cheaper travel
If you’re looking to travel on a budget, it’s a good idea to shop around. Experts have previously told USA TODAY that the more flexible you can be with your travel dates, the easier it will be to find deals. Going places at off-peak times, especially when school is in session, can help make tickets and accommodations more affordable and are likely to attract fewer crowds, too.
With the dollar still strong, it’s also a good time for U.S. citizens to consider traveling abroad. Favorable exchange rates mean your budget could stretch even further overseas.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.
