Want to escape those winter blues on a budget? We've searched everywhere to find the best locations where smart travelers can save top dollar.
Our top five off-peak destinations for this winter include options across the globe, from lesser-known ski areas to temperate climates to hot cultural spots.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
This winter marks an especially good time to visit Philly. Besides the always-popular Independence Hall, visitors can tour a slew of new art exhibits that are slated to commence this winter. The brand new, one-of-a-kind National Museum of American Jewish History will open to the public on November 26. And the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Picasso and the Avant-Garde in Paris exhibit will open February 24, while, a collaboration between the City of Philadelphia and the National Park Service, President's House: Freedom and Slavery in the Making of a New Nation, is expected to open in mid-December.
Food lovers will want to visit during Center City Restaurant Week in January, when more than 100 restaurants offer prix fixe menus at bargain prices. And if that's not enough, there are holiday festivities throughout the city, such as tree lightings in Rittenhouse Square and at City Hall, the Holiday Light Show and Dickens Village at Macy's, and the unique Mummers Parade on New Year's Day.
Morocco, Africa
If your travel aspirations are a little more far-flung, consider Morocco this winter. Summertime weather and holidays result in crowded streets and higher prices, making winter a quieter and less expensive time to go. Plus, temperatures tend to be very mild, though the varying climates allow for skiing in the Atlas Mountains and swimming in Agadir. Plus, you can explore medieval architecture in the capital city of Marrakech or go ultra-modern at relaxing Casablanca spas.
