Cheapest place to vacation in mainland United States ?
 

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a cheap vacation spot for about 4 weeks in the November/December timeframe. I have some free time coming up at work, and would like to get out of central Wisconsin, where I reside. This probably sounds ambiguous, so let me try and explain what I am looking for.
I am not looking for any great activities or adventure, just a place to relax quietly by myself for a few days. I am looking for some sort of hotel/motel/dorm (safety and privacy being the main requirements), close to some eating joints and libraries. I enjoy walking, so would like facilities for the same - say some sort of sidewalks in reasonably clean air, rather than full fledged hiking trails.
And the cost: the lower the better, but a ballpark estimate would be about $50 a day after reaching there. I am assuming I would have to fly there, this cost is not included, but I would prefer to not have to rent a car.

Thanks,
Mahan

It's going to take some research to get the daily cost that low, if that is lodging AND food. However, I would suggest look at the following:

- casino towns such as Las Vegas, Reno, Laughlin. If you can avoid gambling, Nov/Dec are mostly low times so you can get good rates - and, depending on what you are looking for, food can be plentiful and cheap

- mountain/ski towns. Ski season has not ramped up yet, so some of the towns may still have cheap lodging, and many are quaint, walkable, and would have full 'town' amenities (such as libraries). Check out places such as Durango, CO; any of the Summit Co., CO towns; Park City, UT; Bozeman or Kalispell, MT (little bigger than ski towns, might have more options)

- possibly some towns in FL; the snowbirds aren't all moved down at that point, so you might find some good rates. Some towns are more walkable than others, but I bet the larger ones have decent public transportation

If you are staying someplace for a full month, you also may have some leverage to negotiate a lower lodging rate.

Chamber of commerce sites for specific towns tend to be useful for ferreting out the cheaper mom-n-pop motels or unique loding that don't show up on expedia, etc. Try vrbo.com for condo rentals - maybe you could get a good rate on a studio for a month and save $ by cooking some of your meals in...

Good luck - sounds like an adventure waiting to happen! But, I think you need to focus in on a few likely locations, then start some aggressive research.

GoTravel is suggesting that you rent a house, apartment, condo, etc at a monthly rate instead of stay in a hotel. This will save on your $$$s.

I'm thinking this sounds like a trip to a reasonably sized college town in a southern climate. Maybe something like San Diego, Phoenix, possibly Florida - wherever the poster can get good airfare and the weather is good in Nov/Dec. I would check into what types of facilities and communities host medium sized universities. It seems those places might provide the safety and the libraries and possibly other cultural events the poster is looking for. I'm a northerner so I don't have any specifics, but that's where I'd start.

I think you could find what you are looking for, and more, in Williamsburg VA.

Prices are low at that time. You have both the city library, the library at College of William & Mary, AND you have all of Colonial Williamsburg to occupy your time. There is a local transit authority, but you possible get around on foot, or bicycle.

Good luck, sounds like a great time to unwind, no matter where you choose.

I'd suggest going about this from the other direction: $50/day is so very low, you should look around online for hostels, universities/colleges that rent dorm rooms over student breaks, safe YMCA's, and the like. Then, you can choose your final destination based on the availability of a cheap room combined with as many of your toher requirements as you can fulfill. (There must be directories of hostels online, right?) Best of luck!

Not close to a library but between San Francisco and Santa Cruz. We drove past and were impressed. A hostel going for 15-20 per night and the scenery is great. Check it out at:http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=533

Hi Mahan, I suggest you investigate smaller towns on the Gulf or in Florida to select a few places that appeal to you. Then, shop around on the internet for a furnished place with kitchen facilities that you can rent by the week. After you've accumulated some possibilities, have them evaluated here. If Amtrak is convenient for you, there may be bargain coach fares available to you. Jim

Mahan - First of all is there a particular area you are looking at? As some mentioned in Nov/Dec a warmer climate would be better. To do $50 a day is tough, probably would have to go the hostel route. Some hostels have private rooms and they run up to $40 a night. If you can find a weekly or monthly rate that would probably be cheaper. Not having a car does limit you somewhat and some hostels have a lockout period during the day.

I looked in my daughters hostel book and found a couple that have private rooms or montly rate. One is in Tucson www.roadrunnerhostel.com. Has a monthly rate for private room.

I just looked at the website for the other one I was going to suggest and it looks so great, I want to go visit. I was thinking about Portland Oregon after reading Scarlett's trip report. It sounded like a wonderful place. Plenty to do there or just enjoy the scenery and seems easy to get around. These hostels are in private houses and three of them are in Portland. One seems to be for International Students but all have private rooms, will give you a monthly rate and Nov/Dec would definitely be a quiet time for them. The website is
www.2oregonhostels.com
Judging by the montly rate they charge for the International student hostel, it would come out to be around $20 a day for private room, the other hostels might be a little more but it would be worth an e-mail.

Let us know what you think. Scarlett, I am definitely planning a trip to Portland, will have to add it to my list.

First off, let me thank everyone for your incredibly detailed and helpful responses: thank you.

Unfortunately, in the past few days, I have been offered a new contract (in Chandler, AZ of all places), so I will have to put off that long vacation for now.

FWIW, I was leaning towards Williamsburg (thanks for the tip, rb) or Chapel Hill or Naples, FL.

On the positive side, I will not miss the Wisconsin winters (I grew up in good ole SoFla).

Thanks again,
Mahan

Mahan, Sorry you will not get to take that vacation. However, if you want to get out of Wisconsin, Arizona is a good place to go. You mentioned a contract, are you in the high tech business?

Although I now live in California, I grew up in Chandler, when it was a very small town (farms, orange groves, cowboys). Now it has a 185,000 people. I always tell people, "when I grew up in Chandler we didn't even have a McDonalds, now they have a beautiful mall with a Nordstroms". I certainly never thought that day would come!!

This time of year is a good time for moving to Arizona. The winters are wonderful and you won't be hit by that hot desert heat right away. Enjoy your move. I will actually be over for Thanksgiving at my parents house who still live in Chandler in the same house I grew up in. I am sure if you have questions about Chandler and the surrounding "Valley of the Sun" many people on this forum can help you.

Actually I think Chandler now has closer to 200,00O people. My brother-in-law grew up in nearby Queen Creek, 30 years ago there was nothing there but a few farms, now they are building homes everywhere. Sometimes it's sad to see all development taking place.

I NEVER thought I would recommend this, but we spent stayed at the Best Western Innsuites in Yuma, Arizona last summer for $59 per night - for that we got an enormous suite with 2 queen beds, full kitchen, large LR with cable TV with a zillion channels. Hotel had a pool and included was free wine/beer appetizers in PM (including things like chicken wings, cheese sticks - not just chips) and hot breakfast buffet in AM. Hotel was clean, safe, seemed well run.

That said, there is absolutely nothing to do in Yuma. This hotel would easily cost 3 times as much if it were in a place where there was anything but desert. Also, rates might be higher in non-summer months.