8 Best Accommodations For Affordable Winter Vacations - Rates Below $250

Salt Lake City, in Utah, is famously home to the Greatest Snow on Earth, and downtown hotels are just 20 minutes from many Wasatch Front ski resorts. Stay downtown for affordable rates, and enjoy the city’s vibrant nightlife instead of staying in a sleepy ski village.

Located right acrossfrom the city light rail, Kimpton Hotel Monaco is a boutique option that’s within walking distance to bars, dinner, and local historic sites. Shop the stunning City Creek Center, see Temple Square bedecked in holiday lights, or sip cocktails at Whiskey Street and White Horse.

Make dinner reservations at the hotel’s Bambara, a New American eatery famous for its blue cheese, house-cut potato chips, hearty soups, and a robust wine and cocktail menu. In December, boost your holiday cheer at the hotel’s Vault Bar, which transforms into a pop-up Christmas tavern called Miracle with gift-wrapped walls and holiday cocktails.

Prep for the ski day in the Hotel Monaco’s cozy, colorful lobby with free coffee and tea service every morning, and unwind each night with a complimentary wine social. Maintain your fitness in the on-site fitness center, or just practice your downward dog on the provided yoga mat in guest rooms with fresh, modern design. No matter how you adventure today, the cozy suites, deep soaking tubs, and comfortable beds invite you to rest and relax by night.

See Sonoma in California’s famed wine country without the crowds during the quiet winter season. Just 90 minutes from San Francisco,  Sonoma offers pleasant temperatures and uncrowded tasting rooms that make it the perfect winter vacay—and there’s nary a snowstorm in sight.

The best place to stay amidst stunning natural landscape is AutoCamp Russian River, a luxurious glamping resort with mid-century modern style set in old-growth redwoods. Sleep in luxurious Airstream trailers outfitted with plush memory foam mattresses, spa-inspired bathrooms, stocked kitchenettes, and personal outdoor fire pits. Visit the central clubhouse to hang out, or shop the camp store’s selection of local wines and tasty treats.

When adventure calls, head to the camp reception desk for tips on what to do, or amble down to the Russian River for a walk along its shores. Winter is a wonderful time to hike among the redwoods at Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, or grab a bike and pedal to nearby Equality Vines or Korbel for samples of champagne. Wander downtown Guerneville’s funky boutiques and dine at gourmet eateries like BROT German cuisine or Boon Eat + Drink’s fresh fare.

When the northeast gets too chilly, head to Roanoke, Virginia, for a Blue Ridge mountain getaway with mild winter temperatures and endless recreation: Ice skating to sledding, skiing, biking, and even hiking on the Appalachian Trail, there’s plenty to do all winter long.

Make your home base the Hotel Roanoke, a hotel on the hill in a Tudor-style building built in 1892. Restored with period pieces and antiques, this charming hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places and home to a spectacular spa and outdoor adventure center. Taste your way through a food and cultural tour that departs from the hotel, or hit the trails in the “Mountain Bike Capital of the East” on a bookable bike tour.

When you need to unwind, schedule a luxurious foot soak at the Salt Foot Sanctuary. Dip your tired toes in a copper bowl filled with essential oils, Blue Ridge salt, and nourishing minerals. Outdoors, the hotel’s refreshed pool deck features a hot tub for warming up after a day outdoors.

But the hotel’s greatest asset of all is its prime location. Enclosed walkways lead from Hotel Roanoke to the downtown area where a booming dining and imbibing scene await. Sip brews at craft beer tasting rooms and shop the Historic Roanoke City Market without ever reparking your car.

Escape the bitter winter cold of Philadelphia and New York City for the former Honeymoon Capital of the World—the Pennsylvania Poconos. Cove Haven is a couples-only resort designed to spark passion, and winter is the perfect time to get cozy with someone special.

Relax in a deluxe suite with a heart-or champagne glass-shaped tub, then snuggle by your sweetie by a log-burning fireplace with hot cocoa in hand. If that doesn’t bring the heat, unwind in your private dry sauna or heated swimming pool. Breakfast and dinner is included throughout your stay so you can focus on romance and fun—instead of where to eat next.

When you’re ready to leave your suite, venture outdoors for ice carving, snow tubing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing on Cove Haven’s property. Find adrenaline-pumping pursuits like dog sledding and alpine skiing at one of the Pocono’s many ski resorts. Then thaw out inside with cocktail tastings, cooking demonstrations, champagne toasts, and live entertainment every night.

Escape the hustle, bustle, and traffic of downtown Denver, and stay in the outdoor adventure paradise of Boulder, Colorado. Skiing and wintry adventures abound, and Boulder’s walkable downtown is perfect for evening exploration. Enjoy the Rocky Mountain spirit and staying away from it all (but near everything) at Boulder Adventure Lodge in Fourmile Canyon. For skiers, Eldora Mountain’s slopes are just 35 minutes away, and winter hiking, snowshoeing, sledding, and ice climbing are found nearby.

A-Lodge accommodations range from hostel beds to private cabins to Jacuzzi suites, or go mobile in A-Lodge’s Adventure Vans tailored for winter adventurists. Just outside the A-Lodge’s doors, take in mountain views, and walk nearby snowshoeing trails. On a cold winter’s night, thaw out in the outdoor hot tub, socialize around the indoor fireplace, or just sip cocktails at the lobby bar.

Experience a winter wonderland in the snowy paradise of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a Wild West mountain town known for incredible skiing, snowshoeing, and even hot springs. Despite these incredible winter highlights, summer’s always been the more popular season in Jackson—so you can save big and ditch crowds by visiting when the snow’s falling.

Skip winter driving and stay right in town at Mountain Modern Motel, a revamped motel that rivals any ski lodge thanks to included amenities. All 135 rooms are thoughtfully designed to reflect the spirit of the West and built with racks and shelves for stashing your ski gear. The inviting rooms feature mini fridges, microwaves, and cozy blankets, and bunk-style options for your ski crew.

Every Mountain Modern winter stay includes a complimentary grab-n-go hot breakfast with specialty coffee available in the lobby. Then you can hop on the free hotel shuttle to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort for a day of powder skiing without the parking hassle. When the ski day’s done, soothe tight muscles in the hot tub or warm up at on-site restaurants Big Hole BBQ and Bapp Korean & American Restaurant.

Exploring Jackson is easy from Mountain Modern, walk right to Town Square, and check out the legendary Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, where saddle stools and country dancing make it a local legend. Or dance the night away at the Wort Hotel, an Old West favorite for country swing dancing and live music.

Be a snow bird and escape to Florida for a Walt Disney winter vacation. The humidity and weather is bearable this time of year, and it’s wonderful to take a break from heavy coats, beanies, and boots for a few days.

Instead of staying on Walt Disney property where prices are high and rooms are smaller, book a spacious suite at The Grove Resort and Water Park in Orlando. Relax in residential-style rooms that include all the comforts of home—like full kitchens where you can cook instead of dining out.

Experience the magic of Walt Disney World, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and the Animal Kingdom, or stay at The Grove and play in the Surfari Water Park—with free admission for all hotel guests. Parents can unwind with massages and facials at Escape Spa while the kids play at the children’s activity center. When you’re too tired to cook, dine at one of four restaurants ranging from Longboard’s casual bar eats to Valencia’s elevated classics.

Escape it all in Door County, Wisconsin, a string of charming hamlets dotting the shores of Lake Michigan, and one of America’s best small towns. Here chilly temperatures draw daring adventurers for ice fishing, snowshoeing, fat biking, and cross-country skiing, or others who come to admire the frozen lake and stellar winter sunsets. From polar plunges to winter events, folks visit to hike mosquito-free trails and see ice sculptures carved at the popular Fire & Ice Festival.

Rent the cozy Hidden Bear Cabin to sleep up to eight in a rustic, remote hardwood forest. This hand-built home is ready for fun and comes stocked with board games, a foosball table, and a big TV for movie nights. Warm up around its indoor fireplace, or build your own in the pit outdoors and make s’mores in the snow while staring up at the starry skies. All dishes and necessities are provided, but when you need to stock the kitchen, the charming town of Egg Harbor is just a few minutes away.