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Ranked guides, written by us

Four short guides for someone flying out of the US: why go, when to go, and roughly what it costs. Budgets are our own estimates in US dollars — domestic airfare, a bed and a sensible amount of food. Not quotes, and not tied to any single deal.

01Rank

Best beach escapes that aren't a resort wall

Outer Banks · San Diego · Florida Gulf Coast

Where to stay

Hotel search on Booking.com, in a new tab — we don't sell hotels and these are not deals.

Why go
Sand, warm water and a town you can walk into for dinner, all on a domestic flight. The Outer Banks are wide, empty beaches behind dunes with beach houses rather than hotels; San Diego gives you a city and a coastline in the same trip; the Gulf Coast is the warmest water you'll find without a passport.
Best time
Outer Banks: late May to mid June, and September — July and August are booked solid a year out. San Diego: September and October, when the marine layer burns off. Gulf Coast: April to May, and October to early November.
Rough budget
Outer Banks: about $1,400–$2,000 per person for a week, including airfare into Norfolk and a share of a beach house. San Diego: about $1,300–$1,800 for four nights, flights and a mid-range hotel. Gulf Coast: about $1,300–$1,900 for a week, flights into Tampa or Fort Myers included.

Our note: On the Outer Banks you need a car — it's a chain of islands, not a walkable town. Budget for it and for the grocery run.

02Rank

Best budget city break

Las Vegas · New Orleans · Nashville

Where to stay

Hotel search on Booking.com, in a new tab — we don't sell hotels and these are not deals.

Why go
Three nights, a decent bed, and enough left for actual dinners. Las Vegas is the cheapest flight and the cheapest room of the three, as long as you read the resort fee before you book; New Orleans is walkable and built for eating; Nashville costs more than it used to but still delivers a full weekend on foot.
Best time
Las Vegas: March to April, and October to November — summer is punishing. New Orleans: late February to April, and October to November. Nashville: April to May, and September to October.
Rough budget
Las Vegas: about $700–$1,100 per person for three nights, flights and a Strip-adjacent room with resort fees included. New Orleans: about $800–$1,200. Nashville: about $850–$1,250. Add roughly $70–$110 a day for food and drink in all three.

Our note: In Las Vegas the resort fee and the parking charge are the two lines that break a budget. Check both before you pick a hotel.

03Rank

Best winter sun

Phoenix / Scottsdale · San Juan · Tulum

Where to stay

Hotel search on Booking.com, in a new tab — we don't sell hotels and these are not deals.

Why go
Warm in February without a ten-hour flight. Phoenix and Scottsdale give you 70°F afternoons, desert trails and a pool; San Juan is a US territory, so no passport, no currency change, and a beach inside the city; Tulum is the one that needs a passport and rewards it with the best water of the three.
Best time
All three: January to March. Phoenix is at its best in February and March. San Juan is warm year-round — go in February to escape winter, and avoid the September peak of hurricane season. Tulum: December to March, before the spring break crowds.
Rough budget
Phoenix / Scottsdale: about $1,100–$1,600 per person for five nights, flights and a resort with a pool. San Juan: about $1,200–$1,700 for five nights. Tulum: about $1,300–$1,800 for five nights, including the flight into Cancún and the transfer south.

Our note: San Juan is the value pick once you count the passport and the transfer — and it's a domestic flight, which matters when something goes wrong.

04Rank

Best national park long weekend

Moab · Zion

Where to stay

Hotel search on Booking.com, in a new tab — we don't sell hotels and these are not deals.

Why go
Four days, two parks, and no tent required. Moab sits between Arches and Canyonlands with motels and restaurants in town; Zion is a shuttle ride from Springdale, where you can walk to dinner from your room. Both are red rock at a scale that photographs badly and looks enormous in person.
Best time
Moab: April to May, and late September to October. Zion: late April to May, and September to October. Both are crowded and hot in July — if that's your only window, start at sunrise.
Rough budget
Moab: about $1,200–$1,700 per person for four nights, flights into Grand Junction or Salt Lake City, a rental car and a mid-range motel. Zion: about $1,100–$1,600, flying into Las Vegas and staying in Springdale.

Our note: Zion's main canyon road is shuttle-only for most of the year, so the car stays parked. In Moab you'll drive everywhere — Arches and Canyonlands are separate parks with separate entrances.

Budgets are estimates based on typical shoulder-season fares and mid-range accommodation, quoted per person for two people travelling together. Prices change — check the live price before you book anything.