Whether you dream of escaping to a far-flung beach, adventuring up a mountain, wandering a new city’s streets, discovering ancient ruins, or simply relaxing lakeside, MONEY’s Best in Travel guide can help you make it happen.
For the third year, MONEY has found destinations both in the U.S. and internationally that deliver the highest value for your dollar. Each spot is packed with must-do experiences and amenities but at a price that, relatively speaking, makes it a steal. To identify these 20 places we rely on the numbers: more than 32,000 data points in total from dozens of sources, covering cost, year-over-year trends, and customer satisfaction. We got destination information from travel publisher Lonely Planet. (See full methodology.)
We’ve also estimated the weekly cost to visit each of these places—a tab that covers average airfare, a week’s worth of hotel rooms, plus local transportation, meals, and activities for two. MONEY’s winners aren’t necessarily the cheapest, nor are they always the most luxe; they’re where quality, cost, and value come together to provide a terrific travel experience.
1. Alexandria, Virginia
Average airfare: $303
Average hotel night: $140
Cost to spend a week for two: $2,540
When you hit the cobblestone streets of Alexandria, you may feel like you’re a world away from the hubbub of the nation’s capital—but you’re actually less than 10 miles from national landmarks like the White House and the Lincoln Memorial. Alexandria’s red-brick homes and a historic waterfront promenade make it a surprisingly charming, inexpensive outpost for travelers to the D.C.-area. At $140 per night on average, Alexandria hotels run almost half the cost of their downtown counterparts, according to Hotels.com.
To truly experience the Old Town neighborhood, grab an outdoor table at Hank’s Oyster Bar during happy hour on a Friday night. Hank’s is one of dozens of cafes, boutique shops and galleries that line the walkable mile of King Street that ends at the historic wharf. Art lovers should check out the nearby Torpedo Factory Art Center, a space housing 82 artist studios and seven galleries, featuring everything from pottery to stained glass. On the other end of town stands the legendary Birchmere Music Hall, where greats like Johnny Cash and Dave Matthews once played.
Alexandria is also the perfect jumping off point to explore George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate ($20 for adults), says Evan Godt, a Lonely Planet destination editor for the Americas. Tour the colonial mansion and its four formal gardens, which have been restored to their 18th century appearance. Or rent a car (roughly $40 a day, reports Hipmunk) and explore Virginia’s burgeoning wine country. A little over an hour away, you’ll find RdV Vineyards (tours, $65 per person), which is known for its cult-status red blends.
2. Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Average airfare: $301
Average hotel night: $119
Cost to spend a week for two: $2,219
Framed by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the waters of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, Harpers Ferry’s historic streets can feel like a living diorama. The lower part of the town, in the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, acts as an open-air museum, showcasing 19th-century life. Here you can tour the town’s most well known site, John Brown’s Fort—the armory held by the abolitionist and his army for three days in 1859 as they attempted to initiate a slave uprising.
Yet the town offers more than history. Just steps from these landmarks lies the entrance to the footbridge that will take you across the Potomac River and along the scenic 184.5 mile-long Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath. You can find more challenging hikes nearby: Harpers Ferry sits in the middle of the 2,178-mile Appalachian Trail, which rewards ambitious trekkers with panoramas of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the river valleys below. In warmer weather, enjoy the rivers up close with either a paddleboard adventure or a ride on raging, class-III rapids. Fishing enthusiasts will find lots of smallmouth bass here as well.
When you’re done for the day, head to the upper section of town, where shops, cafes and bed and breakfasts dot the streets. A room for the night will only cost you about $120 on average, Booking.com found.
3. Stateline, Nevada
Average airfare: $398
Average hotel night: $151
Cost to spend a week for two: $2,467
When the snows come, the southern rim of Lake Tahoe becomes a winter wonderland. There are more than a dozen ski resorts within 50 miles of Stateline, which offers easy access to the area’s scenic wonders at cheaper rates than the California towns across the border. To check out one of the area’s most famous attractions, ride the Heavenly Ski Resort gondola(starting at $58 for adults) to its 10,040-foot peak, where skiers and snowboarders get access to 4,630 acres of trails ($146 for a lift pass, though that includes the gondola trip).
Even during warmer months, Stateline offers a full slate of outdoor activities. It costs nothing to visit one of the lake’s crown jewels, the glacier-carved Emerald Bay State Park, although you may want to budget in a paddleboard or kayak rental (about $25) to check out Fannette Island, Lake Tahoe’s only island. Or tour the 1920s mansion of Vikingsholm ($10 for adults), one of the best examples of Scandinavian architecture in the United States.
With airfares and hotels down about 5% from a year ago, now is the time to visit. In fact, travelers can find good deals on flights for around $286 roundtrip from other U.S. cities, according to airfare prediction app Hopper.
If the weather isn’t cooperating, test your luck at the tables. Stateline is home to five major casinos, including top-rated Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Hotel and Casino and Harveys Lake Tahoe.
4. Glen Arbor, Michigan
Average airfare: $515
Average hotel night: $150
Cost to spend a week for two: $2,689
Perfectly positioned on a small strip of land running between Glen Lake and Sleeping Bear Bay, Glen Arbor offers visitors the best of Northern Michigan. Water laps at a shore of white sand, inviting quiet sunbathers, hikers and water-sport enthusiasts.
Glen Arbor is situated in the middle of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, a federally protected park, delivering easy access to 65 miles of shoreline, forested islands, walking trails (including the paved Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail), and the park’s most prominent feature: mammoth sand dunes. Climb to the overlooks at the Sleeping Bear, Empire, or Pyramid Point bluffs and you’ll be a treated to lake views from more than 400 feet up.
Located on the M-22, Michigan’s most scenic highway, Glen Arbor also makes an ideal stop for those looking to do a little autumn leaf-peeping, while wine lovers come to taste the region’s bracing Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. Visit the lakefront dining room at Blu to watch the sunset and sample local wines alongside upscale American dishes, such as the venison chop with walnut wild rice. If you need a more kid-friendly food destination, try Cherry Republic for a cherry Boomchunka cookie—or one of 200 other cherry-based products. Year-over-year prices for a hotel room in Glen Arbor have dropped 21%, according to Hipmunk, making this the year you should have a Michigan summer.
5. Pompano Beach, Florida
Average airfare: $278
Average hotel night: $124
Cost to spend a week for two: $2,125
Enjoy all that Florida beaches are known for—warm ocean waters, long stretches of golden sand, and tons of sunshine—at a fraction of the cost with a stay in Pompano Beach, otherwise known as “the Heart of the Gold Coast.” Sitting on the Atlantic Ocean just north of Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach is an “affordable and family-friendly alternative to other South Florida hotspots,” says Lonely Planet‘s Evan Godt. Average rates for hotel rooms run only $124 a night, according to Hotels.com. That’s less than what you’d pay to stay in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, or West Palm Beach.
Don’t think you’ll be sacrificing any beach fun. Pompano still offers more than enough to satisfy every kind of water lover. From the shore, you can access natural coral reefs. Scuba divers can swim around 18 shipwrecks in the area’s water. The Okinawa, sunk just off the 1,000-foot-long Pompano Beach Pier, makes for a great beginners dive, with the top of the wreck sited just 40 feet below the surface.
Named for a type of fish, Pompano Beach attracts plenty of sport fishers too. Every May, the town hosts a fishing rodeo; some catches can earn more than $18,000. Families will love the beachside playgrounds, complete with grills and picnic tables, as well as the shoreline itself—at more than 100 yards wide, it gives kids more than enough space to bury their siblings and build castles.
6. Chicago, Illinois
Average airfare: $249
Average hotel night: $208
Cost to spend a week for two: $2,713
Stunning architecture, top chefs, rabid sport fans, and impressive museums: The Windy City delivers it all, and at a discount this year, with both airfare and hotel rates down since 2016. Get your bearings by taking in views from atop the famous glass-floored Willis Tower Skydeck or on one of the city’s guided architecture river cruises. In the heart ofdowntown, you’ll find Millennium Park, home to Frank Gehry’s stainless steel ribbon formation, the Pritzker Pavilion, and the 110-ton Cloud Gate sculpture, affectionately known as “The Bean.” Just south sits the Art Institute where you can view impressionist masterpieces. Art lovers should also check out the 10,000-piece collection at the Museum of Mexican Art. Finally, no visit would be complete without a slice of deep-dish pizza and a ball game at Wrigley Field. Should it inspire you to get active, Chicago offers plenty of places along its city-spanning shoreline: 26 beaches and 580 parks, says Lonely Planet editor Alicia Johnson.
7. Anaheim, California
Average airfare: $302
Average hotel night: $159
Cost to spend a week for two: $2,361
Top-notch theme parks, nearby California beaches, and sunshine-filled days make Anaheim perfect for families who want to make lasting memories—at Disneyland and elsewhere. “Home to a major league baseball team and professional hockey teams and positioned with access to some of the best SoCal beaches, Anaheim has a little something for everyone in the family,” says Sarah Stocking, a Lonely Planet destination editor. So you can spend a day or two at Disneyland (one-day Park Hopper passes start at $147), and still have Los Angeles at your doorstep. Plus, hotel rates in Anaheim are roughly $50 less per night than LA, according to Hotels.com.
8. Lake George, New York
Average airfare: $439
Average hotel night: $151
Cost to spend a week for two: $2,587
Known as the southern gateway to the Adirondacks, this upstate New York haven really comes alive during the summer months, when it draws visitors seeking greener surroundings and a small-town vibe. Situated on a 32-mile-long lake of the same name, Lake George’s activities include steamboat excursions and ghost tours at the historic Fort William Henry Museum (adults, $18). Or you can tackle the 6-mile round trip “railbike” tour (starting at $80), pedaling your way through the dense Adirondack forest and across a trestle bridge. Treat yourself afterward with a visit to Adirondack Brewery, where you can pick up an IPA or seasonal specialties like hefeweizens and cucumber beers.
9. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Average airfare: $405
Average hotel night: $99
Cost to spend a week for two: $2,034
Don’t write this city off as a Western throwback. “Oklahoma City has worked hard over the years to become more than just a cow town,” says Ben Buckner, Lonely Planet’s editor for the Western U.S. A sample itinerary: Check out the fine collection of 19th and 20th century art at theOklahoma City Museum of Art, watch the Thunder play in theChesapeake Energy Arena, and end up drinking and dancing in the Bricktown District.
Yet cross the Oklahoma River and you’ll find more of the typical cowboy flair you might expect in Stockyards City. Local shops have everything you’d need to outfit an entire ranch—including the cattle, which you can buy at the Oklahoma National Stock Yards. For more, check out the Adventure District’s National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
10. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Average airfare: $310
Average hotel night: $190
Cost to spend a week for two: $2,749
Philadelphia delivers a choose-your-own-adventure type of trip—its patchwork of neighborhoods giving you the chance to seize vastly different experiences within the same modest boundaries. Walk the brick streets of Old City, home to Independence Hall (free admission), to experience Philadelphia during the days of the Founding Fathers. Wander the former working-class neighborhood of Fishtown to sample Philly’s growing number of chef-driven eateries, recommends Trisha Ping, a Lonely Planet destination editor. Or spend the day along the diagonal Benjamin Franklin Parkway exploring art museums (like the Barnes Foundation, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, or the Rodin Museum) and shows; the Franklin Institute’s Game Masters ($30 for adults) exhibition, running through September, offers an interactive look behind classic and modern video games.
