There’s a (slight) chill in the air, pumpkin has found its way into just about everything and that carefree summer spirit is slowly slipping away. To help you figure out when and where your next escape should be, we’re breaking down the best places to go by month. Travel Problem Solved.
We matched each of the twelve months of the year with the perfect domestic and international destinations to visit from our Travel Hacker Guide. We even included median hotel rate to help you better understand how much another break from reality will cost you. This monthly travel guide will leave you feeling #blessed with a full year of travel.
October
Domestic: Nantucket
Median Hotel Rate: $215
Avoid the summer crowds and enjoy a fall weekend in Nantucket. Sample dishes throughout Fall Restaurant Week, unleash your inner hipster at the Nantucket Arts Festival, and then head home with a hearty helping of “Nantucket Red”- after a yummy day at the Cranberry Festival, your clothing will speak for itself but it was worth it, right?
International: Milan
Median Hotel Rate: $162
Avoid the sweltering Italian summer and the smothering tourist peak seasons by visiting this chic city when it is least expected. With temperatures in the crisp sixties, you can stroll the streets without breaking a sweat. Take a walk to soak in the Italian history, indulge in some outdoor shopping through Italy’s finest fashion mecca, and grab the tail end of the 2015 Milan Expo.
November
Domestic: Portland
Median Hotel Rate: $191
Black Friday sales are so mainstream. Find local goods, indie treasures and boutique-born gems from the cozy outdoor markets that frequent the city – did we mention it’s all tax free? And while you’re out there, embrace that Thanksgiving gluttony at the Northwest Food and Wine Festival.
International: Bangkok
Median Hotel Rate: $71
Soothe the stress of holiday gift-giving with a spontaneous trip out east. Bangkok boasts some of the world’s chicest shopping, granting you the perfect opportunity to think outside of the (gift)box. Get in on some non-generic goodies to bring home to your friends and fam.
December
Domestic: Las Vegas
Median Hotel Rate: $177
Las Vegas is always lively, and with relatively low airfare (and temps) this month you’ll save money and save yourself a sweat. Take a tour of the themed hotels and bounce from the Grand Canal to the pyramids with just a couple of blocks. Put that extra holiday budget towards making memories instead of buying mediocre gifts. Just be careful not to spend it all in the casinos!
International: Vancouver
Median Hotel Rate: $159
Unlike most of Canada, this wildlife mecca is a toasty cousin to its Canadian relatives. Hosting a season full of festivals and festivities (think: winter markets, ice skating, and glowing nighttime boat parades), Vancouver’s vibe rivals that of a fictional winter wonderland. Jump on a week-long train excursion offering stops for dog-sledding, hiking and skiing, helicopter rides, and sleigh rides – all throughout the ever-gorgeous Canadian wilderness.
January
Domestic: Orlando
Median Hotel Rate: $184
The kids are back to school, the holiday break is over, and you may actually find that the lines are a little shorter at some of the country’s best amusement parks. Better yet, Orlando boasts its lowest airfare of the year. The warmer weather also happens to be the perfect remedy for post- holiday season blues.
International: Cancun
Median Hotel Rate: $213
Outside of hurricane season, Cancun’s lowest airfare rates live throughout the month of January, when tourism slows as winter holidays trickle to an end. So if you’re dying for an escape from the cold with a taste of tropical paradise, hang tight until after New Year’s – your wallet will thank you. Even better? You’ll soak up the sun before Spring Breakers roll into town.
February
Domestic: Savannah
Median Hotel Rate: $259
Sophisticated and leisurely, Savannah is unexpectedly romantic. Grab a loved one for a V-Day dinner cruise, complete with that deliciously rich southern comfort cuisine, and indulge in some classic southern charm.
International: Hong Kong
Median Hotel Rate: $134
With sparkling harbors, dare-we-say-sensual eats, and excellent wine and dine opportunities, you can test your love with a trip across the world. Or, if you’re all for escaping the lovey-dovey nonsense back home, choose Hong Kong for its wild nightlife.
March
Domestic: Nashville
Median Hotel Rate: $328
While the rest of the world heads to the Caribbean for an EDM-filled Spring Break, get your country music fix in Nashville. Boasting springtime temperatures that range from cool to balmy, you can escape the chill and just chill out.
International: Montreal
Median Hotel Rate: $176
Have lofty Spring Break goals without the cash to back them up? Get a taste of Europe without actually going there. Maybe you’ll even pick up some French – oui oui!
April
Domestic: Los Angeles
Median Hotel Rate: $231
Little known fact: April is smack dab in the middle of LA’s best weather. With low rainfall and pre-summer smog-lessness, you can really embrace beach weather. So head out west to get an early start to summer – it’s like striking gold before the gold rush.
International: Fiji
Median Hotel Rate: $66
Thought a trip across the world was out of your budget? Thanks to April offering the lowest airfare, your trip to Fiji may not be out of reach. Be warned that April sits on the blurry boarder of wet (okay, typhoon) season. But if you’re willing to risk the possibility of sacrificing some sun for the trip of a lifetime, now’s the budget-friendly time to go.
May
Domestic: New York City
Median Hotel Rate: $300
Okay, so there’s never a bad time to head to the Big Apple. That said, May is definitely a good time. Free of holidays bringing in boatloads of tourists and the summer rush not quite in gear, this may just be your chance at some less crowded streets. Added bonus – the Highline will be in full bloom.
International: Turks and Caicos
Median Hotel Rate: $382
With peak season existing over the winter and summer breaks, you can pretend you’re sunbathing in your own private paradise. Better to experience the 3rd largest barrier reef in the world without the crowds.
June
Domestic: Chicago
Median Hotel Rate: $272
If you’re looking to try something new, Chicago is the perfect urban-vacation. With some great fests and parades in June, there will be tons to supplement your shopping, site-seeing and Lake Michigan sunbathing. Relax poolside, lakeside or pierside by day and delve into the city’s bar, club and food scene by night to get the best of both worlds.
International: Saint Martin
Median Hotel Rate: $299
Soak in the luxury without paying a luxury cost. Saint Martin boasts a slower season in June, as winter hosts its largest crowds. And with Saint Martin’s threateningly rainy summer season approaching, many forget that June is a good time to go and still stay dry.
July
Domestic: Boston
Median Hotel Rate: $371
Boston is a great place to visit in the summer months – especially if you love being outdoors. Between duckboat tours, baseball games, and Boston’s Harborfest, you’ll be so immersed you may even pick up one of those Bostonian accents.
International: Saint Lucia
Median Hotel Rate: $113
Even when temperatures peak, Saint Lucia offers refreshingly warm waters and gorgeous beaches. As long as you’re wary of any weather advisories, you’ll be good to go
August
Domestic: San Francisco
Median Hotel Rate: $363
As one of San Fran’s warmest and driest months, August is the perfect time to set your eyes on the Golden Gate. With some of the freshest food, parks, museums and music festivals, you will never be at a loss for what to do. Add in the fact that the city offers incredible Olympic viewing opportunities (think: bars, pubs and live-broadcast blow-up screens) and it’s an end of summer trip you’ll have a hard time passing up.
International: Rio de Janeiro
Median Hotel Rate: $212
We love Rio de Janeiro for its beaches, flourishing culture and vibrant city life. You’ll love Rio de Janeiro in August for its mild climate, and if you can brave the crowds, the 2016 Summer Olympics.
September
Domestic: Seattle
Median Hotel Rate: $269
New England doesn’t have a monopoly on fall foliage. Give the Pacific Coast some love with a trip to Seattle, where you can go leaf-peeping with a Pumpkin Spice Latte from the original Starbucks in hand. How’s that for autumn spirit?
International: Toronto
Median Hotel Rate: $216
September in Toronto is an autumn-lover’s haven. Step out into the Greater Toronto Area for festive corn mazes and apple picking, or stay right in-city to celebrate Oktoberfest without crossing the pond. Just don’t forget to get a glimpse of the season’s golden glow. Toronto’s parks and trails provide the perfect view for nature lovers, and the mid-sixties temperatures will keep you chilled and charmed all vacation long.
If you find yourself wondering whether you should book your flight now or wait while in the throws of trip planning, check out our new Travel Hacks Videos and learn about our Price Forecast tool. Travel Problem Solved.
Methodology: Median Hotel Rate based on travel between 8/1/14 and 7/31/15 with a minimum 3 night stay and only 4 star properties, for the month indicated.
