2 Real-Life Examples of Amazing Yet Affordable Winter Trips

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Affordable winter trips don’t have to be complicated. Here are two top picks for surprising places to go for fun, family-friendly, lower-cost winter vacations. 

They say that writers should write what they know. So in this article, I am only writing about affordable winter trips to places that I have personally visited! You will only get the best, from-the-heart travel advice from The Ascent! We would never lead you astray.

Let’s look at a few real-life examples of affordable winter trips, and how to book cheap flights and lodging.

Affordable winter beach vacation: Galveston, Texas

Many people love to go to the beach in the winter. But if you’re trying to save money, you should steer clear of the most popular high-season beach destinations.

Instead, book an affordable winter trip to a place that’s near and dear to my heart: Galveston, Texas. Galveston is a popular spring break destination on the Gulf of Mexico, and it’s the closest beach town to Houston. In winter, Galveston is less crowded and life is more laid-back — but it offers mild weather (temperatures from upper 40s to 60 degrees Fahrenheit) and fun stuff to do.

A few years ago when my children were small, ages 6 and 4, our family booked an oceanfront Airbnb condo for a few nights in Galveston. It was a great place to give my children their first visit to the beach. We rented a four-seater bike and pedaled along the Galveston Seawall while we watched cargo ships and oil tankers and shrimping boats out on the water. The kids played in the sand while the waves lapped up against the shore. We ate delicious crab cakes and Tex-Mex food, and had breakfast at the iconic and rightly beloved Waffle House.

In case the winter weather is not good for sunbathing, you can still enjoy fun indoor activities like local museums, great Gulf seafood restaurants, coffee shops, the Moody Gardens events center (featuring an aquarium, indoor rainforest, and IMAX theater), and spooky local history like Haunted Mayfield Manor. Galveston also offers fun antique shopping and gorgeous Victorian architecture that’s reminiscent of New Orleans.

If you want pristine white-sand beaches and turquoise ocean water, that’s not quite what Galveston offers; the beaches are grittier, the water is muddier. But Galveston is the first place I ever saw the ocean, and it has a special place in my heart. If you live in a colder climate and you’re longing to get away to somewhere warmer, even if it’s not absolutely perfect “beach weather,” Galveston, Texas, can be an easy, affordable winter trip.

How much it costs: Galveston lodging is cheaper in the winter. I used Google to find 4-star (and above) hotels and vacation rentals for $80 to $100 per night in mid-January. Get close to the Gulf and fall asleep to the sound of the sea.

How to get there: Fly into Houston Hobby Airport (HOU) because it’s closer to Galveston than Houston’s “big” airport (George Bush International), which is on the north side of the metroplex. I found mid-January flights from my home city of Des Moines to Houston Hobby for as little as $147 (which includes a checked bag).

Affordable winter mountain vacation: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Want to take an outdoorsy winter vacation in the mountains? The big-name ski destinations are expensive and get booked fast. What if you could zig where others zag, and be far from the madding crowds? Take a winter vacation in Albuquerque, New Mexico (elevation: 5,312 feet — higher than Denver).

Albuquerque (“ABQ”) is beloved by fans of the TV shows Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. The enchanting blue skies and unique local culture made this city into a supporting character in these acclaimed series. But Albuquerque is not just a filming location for Hollywood shows about morally flawed lawyers; it’s an underrated destination for affordable winter trips.

Albuquerque is close enough for day trips to some of New Mexico’s best ski resorts. But you can likely find much more affordable lodging, food, and attractions in ABQ than you’d get in higher-priced places like Taos and Santa Fe. Winter weather is mild in ABQ, with temperatures ranging from 26 to 54 degrees Fahrenheit December through February.

If you’re not a skier or snowboarder, Albuquerque offers mountain activities like hiking and biking in the Sandia Mountains. It’s also close enough for day trips to White Sands National Park and indigenous heritage sites like the Chaco Culture National Historical Park in the scenic four corners region, where you can see archaeological artifacts from the Ancestral Puebloan native people.

ABQ also has great museums, art galleries, indigenous culture, and lots of places to buy artisanal crafts like New Mexico’s famous turquoise jewelry. Albuquerque’s restaurant scene features excellent brewpubs, breakfast spots like the Range Café (where I had some of the best coconut cream pie ever), and the distinctive New Mexican cuisine with lots of green chile.

New Mexico is truly the Land of Enchantment. It’s one of the most mystical, memorable places I’ve ever visited. Go there!

How much it costs: A quick Google search revealed ABQ hotels and vacation rentals with 4 star or better ratings available in mid-January for $100 to $125 per night.

How to get there: Fly into Albuquerque International Sunport. I used Google Flights to find cheap airfares from my home city (Des Moines) to ABQ in mid-January for as little as $327.

Bottom line

Affordable winter trips are within your reach, especially if you have a travel rewards credit card or airline frequent flyer miles. But before you reach for your credit card, think about what must-have experiences you want from your winter vacation, and where you can compromise. Vacations at the most in-demand beach or ski resorts might cost a lot. But you can have happy winter vacations in less-traveled beach towns like Galveston, and smaller cities like Albuquerque — at prices that fit your budget.

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