Best budget travel calendar for the USA
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With holiday prices varying so much from season to season, bargains can be hard to pin down – but according to global traveller data, it’s possible to book an affordable holiday in the USA based on the month you visit, with savings of up to 92%.
Here’s a month-by-month guide to help you find the best travel accommodation prices in North America for 2023.*
January – Palm Springs
Head to Palm Springs in January to hike through the stupendous Joshua Tree National Park
January is known to be one of the best times to visit the glamorous Californian resort of Palm Springs, yet last year it was 52% cheaper than April, which was the most expensive month of the year. The desert climate here means that winter sees ideal temperatures for heading outdoors – whether you want to hike through the Joshua Tree National Park, admiring its strange rock formations and spiky, succulent trees, or take a tour of the city’s alluring midcentury architecture. Shaded by slender palm trees and backed by the San Jacinto Mountains, the buildings here blend warm hues with bold shapes and are endlessly photogenic. Check into the fashionable Ace Hotel and Swim Club Palm Springs.
February – New York City
Saunter through a snowy Central Park in February
February in New York may be chilly but – provided you wrap up warm – you’ll be able to enjoy its myriad advantages, too. As well as being the city’s cheapest month of the year for accommodation, there’s ice skating, ubiquitous romance for Valentine’s Day, the Lunar New Year taking over Chinatown, and Restaurant Week (when the city’s finest restaurants offer discounted prix fixe meals for the first week of the month). Last year, February in New York was 92% cheaper than the most expensive month of the year. Stay moments from Central Park at the Chambers Hotel.
March – Los Angeles
Join LA locals getting some fresh air in the 160-acre Runyon Canyon Park in March
Spring is prime time to visit LA, when the streets erupt with jasmine, the skies tend to be bright blue and temperatures are milder than summer. So it may be surprising that last year, March was 21% cheaper than the most expensive month. The ocean still tends to be a little too cold for swimming at this time but that doesn’t rule out a balmy stroll or a yoga class on the beach. A hike is also a must – join locals getting some fresh air in the 160-acre Runyon Canyon Park, with trails meandering through the Hollywood Hills and views of several LA landmarks including the Hollywood sign, Hollywood Boulevard and Downtown LA. There’s also the 2.5-mile Griffith Observatory Trail in the park of the same name, passing caves, canyons and quite possibly a few celebrities. Cool down after a hike in the rooftop swimming pool of the Kimpton Everly Hotel, located in the heart of Hollywood just at the bottom of Griffith Park.
April – Honolulu
April last year was 22% cheaper than the most expensive month, despite it being peak season in Hawaii
Despite April being peak season for the volcanic archipelago of Hawaii, it was 22% cheaper than the most expensive month last year. It’s best to base yourself in the capital of Honolulu, on the third-largest island of Oahu. First things first, hire a car and do a full-day tour of the island. See waterfalls and white sand beaches, rainforest and plunging cliffs covered with fragrant frangipani flowers, hibiscus and plumerias – the latter being Hawaii’s floral emblem. You can also explore Oahu on foot, with hundreds of hikes such as the Diamond Head Walk, or head to the beach, either to snorkel in Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, swim at the quiet Lanikai Beach, or surf on Waikiki Beach. Feast on island food staples such as fresh pineapple and papaya from roadside fruit stalls, cups of cooling ‘shave ice’ and poke bowls. And it doesn’t get much more Hawaiian than Merrie Monarch in late April, an exuberant week-long annual cultural festival that’s sort of the Olympics of hula dancing. Stay at the highly rated Jenny’s Pineapple Cottage in Honolulu.
May – Miami
Visit Miami’s Wynwood Walls, an open-air gallery with bold and bright murals
May is one of the best times to visit Miami weather-wise, yet last year it was 46% cheaper than the most expensive month. Visit the Wynwood Walls, an open-air gallery with bold and bright murals by international artists like Shepard Fairey. And take a tour of the street art highlights in the surrounding area. There’s also Miami Design District, and a plethora of pretty mint green and powder pink art deco architecture in the Miami Beach area that’s worth wandering around. Visit South Beach for its gastronomic offering, from exemplary ceviche to sourdough pizza. Or Little Havana for mojitos and meaty Cuban sandwiches at joints like Versailles, and to watch locals play dominos in Maximo Gomez Park. Finally, don’t miss some of the finest urban beaches in the USA, namely South Beach with its bright lifeguard huts and gleaming white sand. Stay moments from the waves at the boutique Marlin Hotel.
June – New Orleans
New Orleans’ cultural calendaris packed with events during June
Though you’ll miss the intoxicatingly fun atmosphere of Mardi Gras, June in New Orleans is a great time to visit this charismatic city. Last year, June was 39% cheaper than the most expensive week of the year. The cultural calendar at this time is packed with events, from the burlesque shows and parades of New Orleans Pride and the exuberant music of the Cajun Zydeco Festival to the delicious extravaganza that is the city’s annual Oyster Festival. Visit rooftop bars to sip cocktails and revel in the early summer temperatures, as well as strolling streets that are frequently filled with live music. Base yourself in a historic property at the Maison Perrier Bed & Breakfast.
July – Philadelphia
Find farm-to-fork produce at Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market
The traditionally industrial cityof Philadelphia is enjoying a surge of popularity as an up-and-coming travel destination. Last year, July was 20% cheaper than the most expensive week of the year here. The culinary scene in particular is blossoming, no longer characterised by the Philly cheesesteak and embracing the city’s ethnic diversity – from the South 9th Street Italian Market or Amish farm-to-fork produce at FARMiCiA at 15 South 3rd Street/Reading Terminal Market, to Mexican and contemporary Asian fare. For those who are into Mexican cuisine, there’s also a sensational, casual eatery that was featured on Netflix’s Chef’s Table called South Philly Barbacoa, which is definitely worth a visit. In terms of culture, Philly is overflowing; see a performance by the renowned Philadelphia Orchestra, admire Cézannes and Van Goghs at the Barnes Foundation, the Rodin Museum (containing the largest collection of his sculptures outside Paris), or check out the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The guided Philly Art Walk (which takes place on the second Saturday of every month) visits many of the city’s finest galleries while also taking in public spaces and street art. Lap up the industrial loft decor while staying at Lokal Hotel Old City.
August – Detroit
Find Warhols and Degas housed within Detroit’s beautiful Beaux-Arts Institute of Art
August in Detroit brings warm temperatures and great hotel rates – last year, it was 30% cheaper than the most expensive month of the year. The city has recently been compared to Berlin, thanks to its reputation for being the birthplace of techno, for its affordability, and its flourishing, raw creative energy. New galleries, bars and restaurants are constantly cropping up alongside more established institutions such as the contemporary MOCAD and the Detroit Institute of Art (where you’ll find Warhols and Degas housed within a beautiful Beaux-Arts building). You can also expect a young generation of mixologists serving up exciting cocktails in soulful jazz bars around the city, as well as a newfound craft brewery offering – try the Batch Brewing Company/Axle Brewing Company for fine beer as well as gourmet food (the city is home to a smattering of urban farms, found on empty plots around the city and supplying many of Detroit’s top restaurants). Check into the highly rated Inn on Ferry Street.
September – Austin
Public art installations, sculpture gardens and parks lining the banks of the Colorado River
The Texan city of Austin is most well-known for its live music scene and SXSW festival but it also has a reputation for being one of the USA’s most eclectic and culturally rich cities. Visit in September, when warm temperatures linger after summer but are milder and more manageable, with lower humidity. Last year, September was 38% cheaper than the most expensive week of the year. And it’s a great time and place to be outdoors; by day, discover festivals, public art installations, sculpture gardens and parks lining the banks of the Colorado River. And when the sun sets, enjoy the casual bar culture, from dive bars and honky tonks to The Yard, a warehouse containing craft breweries and restaurants, and Half Step, where you can order cocktails on the verandah shaded by old trees. Trying some of Austin’s renowned brisket is also a must, and Franklin Barbecue is the best place to do so (just be prepared to queue). Head home with a full belly to the nearby Modern Condo with Parking – A.
October – Denver
Intimate taprooms and microbreweries make up part of Denver’s beer scene
The Coloradan capital sees an influx of visitors during the peak summer months but October is the time to go for savvy travellers – last year, it was 8% cheaper than the most expensive month. Most come to the Mile High City for summery jaunts into the Rocky Mountain National Park but in autumn, crisp, blue skies and orange-gold aspen forest arguably makes the scenery more impressive. Within the city itself, you’ll find various annual culinary festivals taking place in October, such as ChefsFeed Indie Week where internationally acclaimed chefs team up with local talent. And don’t forget the city’s celebrated beer scene – more beer is brewed in Denver than in any other city in the USA – and if you don’t make it in time for the Denver Beer Fest (running until 5th October 2019), don’t fret. With everything from intimate taprooms and microbreweries to the mainstream Coors Brewery (the largest single-site brewery in the world), there’s plenty to explore. Come home to soak in the jacuzzi at the central Ember Hostel.
November – San Francisco
Cycle along the shore of the Bay across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
November is one of the most inviting months to visit the hilly, cultural and energetic Californian city of San Francisco. The weather is still warm and sunny with consistently blue skies. And you’ll also be able to beat the summer tourist rush and high season prices, making the ferry trip across the Bay to Alcatraz prison all the more enjoyable. Make the most of the mild weather by signing up for the walking tours organised by San Francisco Public Library, or hire a bike and cycle along the shore of the Bay from Fisherman’s Wharf across the Golden Gate Bridge to the town of Sausalito, before taking the ferry back to San Fran. Last year, the month of November was 38% cheaper than the most expensive month of the year. Stay just two blocks from the San Fran waterfront at Hotel Zoe Fisherman’s Wharf.
December – Las Vegas
December is an invigorating time to visit Sin City
December is an invigorating time to visit Sin City, with temperatures milder than the slightly oppressive summer here, and festive events aplenty in the run up to Christmas and New Year’s Eve – and last year, it was 82% cheaper than the most expensive month of the year. People-watch at pool parties, in luxurious nightclubs like XS or in glitzy casinos, enjoy fine dining at restaurants like Picasso, be entranced by sights like the dancing Fountains of Bellagio and visit more curious places like the Neon Museum; this collection of iconic neon signs from the Strip is a real homage to Vegas’ unique culture and aesthetic. Treat yourself to a Christmas stay at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino itself.
**Pricing data was measured over the period of May 2022 to June 2023.
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