With a staggering 82% of Americans planning summer trips, that begs a question: "Where is everyone going?"
WalletHub has some surprising insights for anyone planning that summer vacation, and looking to get the most bang for the buck.
To determine the best value destinations in the U.S., WalletHub created a ranking of the most affordable and accessible places. They analyzed 100 of the largest metro areas using 41 key indicators. They grouped the indicators into six key categories: travel cost and hassle, local cost, attractions, weather, activities, and safety. Based on these comprehensive evaluations, WalletHub came up with their list.
Surprisingly for some, Atlanta took the top spot in this year's rankings.
"Some of the things Atlanta had going very well for (it)...the cheapest flight for major cities to Atlanta don't require any connection, and they can cost as low as $178," Happe noted. The city's variety of attractions, from amusement parks to ice cream shops, made it a top pick.
Washington, DC, came in at number two on the list, and Happe highlights several reasons why it performed so well.
"The cheapest flight from other major cities to DC typically has zero connections," Happe said, adding that although flying might be a bit more expensive, it’s offset by the ease of travel. The capital also boasts affordable restaurants that are rated at least 4.5 to 5 stars on Yelp and a plethora of museums and parks.
Orlando and Honolulu ranked third and fourth, respectively, underscoring their perennial appeal to summer travelers.
Top 10 Summer Travel Destinations (plus Texas metros):
1. Atlanta, GA
2. Washington, DC
3. Orlando, FL
4. Honolulu, HI
5. Tampa, FL
6. Austin, TX
7. Philadelphia, PA
8. Chicago, IL
9. El Paso, TX
10. Cincinnati, OH
19. San Antonio, TX
29. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
41. Corpus Christi, TX
47. Houston, TX
95. McAllen, TX
How did North Texas do? Ranking at number 29, DFW demonstrated strong local cost benefits.
"When you consider things like the gas prices, they came in 8th overall in that particular metric. And affordable hotel rates, they came in 6th overall," Happe pointed out.
However, DFW didn’t score highly in all areas. Happe mentioned that DFW "struggled when it came to the overall travel cost and the hassle, particularly in the high cost of flight." In fact, the area was ranked 82nd out of 100 for flight expenses and 97th for long flight durations.
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