Does spring fever have you thinking about vacation? While it’s fun to dream about a trip to the Grand Canyon or a wild week in Vegas, it’s not so fun to think about the costs. So, if you’re looking for a getaway that won’t break the bank, consider going to a lesser-known (though equally fabulous) destination this year. Not only can you snag lower hotel rates and ticket prices, you also won’t have to battle the crowds at every step.
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 | Tybee Island, Georgia Southern-style Cape Cod |
If you prefer a laid-back beach experience over the bustle of huge developments, try Tybee Island. The whole island measures just 2.7 square miles, making it easily accessible by foot or bike. Prepare to go crabbing in salt marshes, jet skiing, kayaking, and even fossil hunting. Tybee is also a nesting ground for Loggerhead sea turtles who come ashore to lay their eggs in the summer months. When you’ve had enough beach bumming, head 25 minutes west to Savannah where you can stroll the cobblestone streets and admire Gothic and Greek Revival mansions in the town’s historic district. Rent a two-bedroom penthouse with ocean views for less than $2,000 a week. Similar digs in Cape Cod, Massachusetts or the Hamptons in New York can often set you back more than twice that amount. Fun fact:The Mercer House, one of the homes you can visit in Savannah’s Historic Center, was the setting for the book and film, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. | DID YOU KNOW?  |
| | Montreal L’autre Paris |
Want to feel like you’re strolling the café-lined streets of Paris without leaving North America? Try a visit to this Canadian charmer, an affordable alternative to many big city destinations. You’ll find all the urban attractions you’d expect from a city of six million: world-class museums, four-star dining, even a celebrated bike-sharing program, but at a much reduced cost, thanks to the favorable exchange rate for Americans.
Montreal’s winters are severe, so residents take full advantage of the warm summer months with outdoor festival and fairs almost every weekend. Put these two must-dos on your list: the International Jazz Festival and the International Fireworks Competition.
Fun fact: Montreal is the second largest French-speaking city in the world (after Paris).
| | Jackson Hole, Wyoming The Grand Canyon’s Northern Neighbor |
After the last ski pole is put away, Jackson Hole opens for warm weather. It offers a bounty of summer activities, including hiking, whitewater rafting, and fly fishing in the Snake River. Miles of hiking trails are easily accessible from the Town Square. If you fancy something a little more rugged, use Jackson Hole as a base to explore the majestic Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. And don’t miss the National Elk Refuge, home of the largest elk herd in the world.
Accommodations range from luxury chalets to dude ranches. For the most affordable lodging, try one of the numerous campgrounds that accommodate RVs or tents.
Fun fact: Only 3% of the land in the Jackson Hole area is privately owned; the remainder is federal or state land.
WAYS TO SAVE
Let your fingers do the planning
- Let the science of “farecasting” lead you to the best-priced airline tickets. Some sites help you decide whether to buy your ticket now or hold on in anticipation of better prices later. Others analyze how adjusting your dates or airport can yield savings.
- A few weeks before your trip, sign up for daily deal sites for your vacation destination so you can start looking for bargains on local attractions.
- Start following airlines, hotels, and restaurants on their social media sites to find out about any promotions they’re running.
| | Huntsville, Alabama An out-of-this world Disney alternative |
Home of “Space Camp” for both adults and kids, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center lets you experience space travel without leaving Earth. Plan ahead and put the Space and Rocket Center’s yearly Black Friday sale on your calendar. You’ll be able to shave up to $200 off the price of Space Camp to make this adventure even more affordable.
When you’re back in gravity, try Huntsville’s great hiking trails, botanical gardens, and dizzying number of breweries.
Fun fact: Huntsville was the capital of Alabama when the state was admitted to the union in 1819; it was later changed to Montgomery.
| | Biloxi, Mississippi A great alternative to Las Vegas |
Instead of going elbow-to-elbow with fellow travelers on the Strip, head to Biloxi, Mississippi, home to a dozen casinos including MGM and Hard Rock. Like Las Vegas, Biloxi can get hot in the summer (humid rather than desert dry), but with 30 miles of sand and surf, this Gulf Coast town lets you keep cool with jet skiing, deep sea fishing, and parasailing.
Be sure to book a tour on a shrimping boat for an up-close view of the town’s second biggest industry (after casinos). And enjoy a bonus for your pocketbook — hotel rates here are generally much more reasonable than they can be in Las Vegas.
Fun fact: Biloxi was once home to Jefferson Davis, the last president of the Confederacy. His former home, Beauvoir, is now a presidential library and is open for tours.
| | St. Augustine, Florida Miami “Lite” |
If you’re dying to go to Florida this summer, but can’t stomach the crowds, try St. Augustine, which is located in the Northeast corner of the state. Not as well known as Orlando or Miami, St. Augustine has plenty of great attractions: walled forts, cobblestone streets, carriage rides, art galleries, and of course, beaches.
Ditch your car and see the historic parts of the town by trolley with a hop on/hop off service. Be sure to make a stop at the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum to check out the world’s largest collection of pirate artifacts.
Fun fact: St. Augustine is the oldest city in the United States, founded in 1565 by Spanish admiral and Florida governor Pedro Menéndez de Avilés.
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