As a follow up to our article on Getting the Best Hotel for Your Travel Dollar which focused on International destinations, today we’re going to look at the best value destinations in the United States. Trivago.com is once again providing us with their newly published US Best Value Destinations for 2014. Destinations were selected based on average hotel rates, paired with the quality of the destination as determined by millions of reviews, bookings, and photos on Trivago.com.
1. Port Charlotte, FL. Situated along southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast, Port Charlotte tops the US Best Value Destinations Index. The town and the surrounding Gulf Islands were named by SAIL magazine one of the “10 Greatest Places to Sail.” There are more than 165 miles of waterways in the area and many more miles of natural shorelines along the harbor and rivers. The port city is off the beaten tourist path, but offers world-class fishing, birding, hiking, boating, shopping, and dining. An overnight stay in a standard double room in Port Charlotte costs an average $93 per night.
2. Manitou Springs, CO comes in second for one of the best value U.S. destinations. Its bountiful offerings of natural mineral springs have made it a popular tourist destination for wealthy east coasters since the 1870s. Manitou Springs also serves as the gateway to Colorado’s most popular free park and stunning geological wonder, Garden of the Gods. This beloved red rock valley has meaningful historical ties to several Native American tribes. Travelers to Manitou Springs will pay an average $116 for an overnight stay.
3. Logan, UT. The website for the city of Logan, Utah describes Logan as “Nestled at the foot of the nearly 10,000-foot high Bear River Range, Logan’s setting is beautiful in any season. Residents consider Logan Canyon a 40-mile community park leading to 23-mile long Bear Lake, called the Rocky Mountain Caribbean for its azure blue waters. Outstanding fishing, biking, hiking, skiing, and golfing: all are minutes away from your front door. Even with the natural beauty, Logan has an excellent park system, boasting one of Utah’s two zoos and a challenging municipal golf course.” An average hotel room in this naturally beautiful area will set you back $99.
4. Brunkswick, GA. Historical Brunswick, #4 on the value list, offers access to dozens of fishing charters and if golf is your game you’ll be pleased with extensive world class course selection. Brunswick is located between Savannah, GA, and Jacksonville, FL and is known for its four beautiful barrier islands: St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island. Bask in the sands of the beaches, throw a line in the water, or play a round of golf. You’ll be able to afford it all with the average hotel room in Brunswick running $82 per night.
5. Burlington, VT. Although the #5 city, Burlington is the largest city in the state, its population is only around 40,000. That small city atmosphere lends itself to a quality vacation with all the available activities, friendly locals, and affordable amenities. A very walkable city, Burlington is located on beautiful Lake Champlain. Visit in the fall for the spectacular fall foliage, try your hand at fly fishing, cruise on the lake, go hiking, or visit one of the nearby parks. Outdoor recreation options are many, including world class skiing at nearby (45 minutes) ski resorts. Hotel rooms average $103 per night.
Finishing out the top ten cities on the U.S. Best Value Destination Index include Eureka Springs, AR, Sioux Falls, SD, Branson, MO, Ashland, OR, and Boise, ID. You can view the entire report online.
Editor’s Note: The cities on this list can be a great value if you’re paying out of pocket, but they can also help you stretch your points further. For example, the sign-up bonus from the Barclay Arrival Card can be worth upwards of $440 towards hotel accommodations. That will certainly go further in a city like Burlington, versus New York.
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