“Where would you go if the price wasn’t a problem?” That’s a popular question that can lead to plenty of daydreams, but let’s be real. Not everyone has money to burn, and even those who do have it would prefer to save as much of it as possible, while still enjoying the rest of this 2014-15 Winter season.
In the USA, we’re blessed by having access to not only hot, sandy beaches (Summertime, baby!) and humid, comforting and distinct seasons, a lot of this great country also gets to enjoy gorgeous, pristine snowfalls every Winter.
Let’s take a brief look at VroomVroomVroom‘s 5 favorite destinations, and while we do, maybe you’ll find yourself daydreaming about saving money on a cheap rental car next weekend and driving to one of them!
DENVER, COLORADO
Denver, as pointed out by our friends at USA Today, is one U.S. city that actually offers lower rates for ski trips during the peak winter season! According to the paper, a hotel room in June can cost up to $100 more per night than in January!
The cool thing (pun intended) about The Mile High City is that it has a rocking nightlife and great restaurants, but is also within an hour’s drive of Rocky Mountain National Park, Loveland Ski Area and Winter Park Resort.
BANFF NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA
Dust off your passport and get some use out of it by crossing the border to friendly Canada to drive your car rental into this affordable Winter destination near Calgary! Also recommended by USA Today, Banff has beautiful, snowy mountains and a breathtaking lake. But the great news is that prices fall by as much as 50% when booking at the nearby Fairmont resorts! There are also Winter-only deals available, including complimentary resort credits and even free nights if you stay awhile!
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
Philly is another great winter destination when you want to drive somewhere that you’ll enjoy, but you don’t want to empty your wallet. There’s a big selection of historic attractions like Independence Hall and the Benjamin Franklin Museum, of course, but the crowds are far thinner in Winter. And the hotels found polled by USA Today — like the amazing Rittenhouse 1715 — were discounted 10%-20% from their Spring and Summer peaks!
CALADESI ISLAND, FLORIDA
Just a short drive in your car rental from Tampa, this is one of America’s best-kept secrets (according to www.budgettravel.com). The island features a 3-mile stretch of beaches and stays warm year-round. There are no hotels on the island, but booking in nearby Clearwater is recommended for a short daily drive to this Winter getaway that you may have never heard of!
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, TEXAS
See the amazing Santa Elena Canyon in West Texas, right next to the Mexican border! Another recommendation from the wise folks at BudgetTravel.com, this park is known for a very moderate Winter climate, and you won’t have to worry about big crowds. A nearby hotel in Terlingua and a cheap rental car will let you experience calm, warm and dry weather and a ton of natural beauty, even right now as Winter weather seems to have an iron grip on the USA!
