TripAdvisor's Top 10 Winter Value Vacations

Las Vegas ranks as the most popular getaway for winter travels, according to TripAdvisor’s Winter Vacation Value Report released this week. The report analyzes the top 10 destinations for US travelers from January 1 through March 31, 2016 and provides the average cost for a hotel room, meal, tour, domestic US roundtrip airfare, plus the average cost for a one-week winter trip.

With average hotel rates at $163, Las Vegas offers the least expensive hotel rooms. TripAdvisor calculates $2,302 to be the price of an average week in Las Vegas, gambling and alcohol costs not included.

New York City, the only non-warm-weather destination on the list, ranks sixth in popularity and has an average hotel rate of $264 per night and a week-long vacation total of $2,942.

Orlando, FL, number three in popularity has an average hotel rate of $185 per night. TripAdvisor lists a week-long vacation as costing $2,229, a price that factors in $67 for the average tour, a fee less than the admission to some parks.

The most expensive week-long getaway is fourth-ranked Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, with a weekly cost of $4,312. Punta Cana, known for its abundance of all-inclusive resorts, has an average rate of $431 per night. At an all-inclusive property, however, that fee would cover alcohol, entertainment, and snacks. Adding prices for those items to the week-long calculations could make Punta Cana come in close to Las Vegas in cost.

At $4,308 for a week, Key West, FL, is nearly tied with Punta Cana for the most expensive popular winter getaway.

In calculating costs, TripAdvisor includes three meals a day, exclusive of tax and tip, and factors in two activities or tours for one person for the entire trip. Although the Value Survey provides a sense of comparative costs for popular destinations, it’s always wise to look at what’s included and what’s not in order to figure out what you should budget for your vacation.

What’s the least expensive time to travel in winter? “Travelers looking for the most favorable winter rates should book for January, as it’s the sweet spot for travel value between the busy December holidays and spring break,” says Brooke Ferencsik, director of communications for TripAdvisor.

TripAdvisor’s Top 10 Winter Destinations and Average Trip Costs

What's your favorite winter travel destination? Where have you found the best deals? Comment below or connect with me on Twitter, @familyitrips.