When the winter freeze sets in, the urge to escape is hard to resist. Whether your dream getaway involves carving down fresh mountain powder, sprawling out on a sun-drenched tropical beach, or standing under falling “snoap” on Main Street, U.S.A., the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is prime vacation territory.
The downside? Because millions of travelers share that exact same travel window, the holiday travel season comes with aggressive price inflation. From surging airfare to tripled hotel rates, the cost of festive travel can quickly drain your wallet without delivering the premium experience you paid for.
“Ticket prices are highest from Dec. 19 through Jan. 2, and that’s also in line with crowds,” explains Sally French, NerdWallet travel expert and co-host of the Smart Travel Podcast.
Before you sink thousands into a holiday getaway that leaves you stuck in serpentine lines, take a closer look at the five iconic winter hot spots where price hikes are steepest—plus the lower-cost alternatives and booking workarounds that deliver the same magic for a fraction of the cost.
Related: This Is the Ultimate 80-Degree-and-Sunny Winter Escape
The 5 Destinations With the Most Extreme Holiday Markups
Elijah-Lovkoff / Getty Images
While holiday pricing hits almost everywhere, certain bucket-list destinations see markups that drastically outpace reality:
Walt Disney World: Between holiday school breaks and cold-weather travelers heading south, Orlando becomes the ultimate holiday epicenter. “I absolutely love Disney, but I’d never go to Walt Disney World around the holidays,” says French. “That time is the perfect combination of kids out of school plus snowbirds looking to flock somewhere warmer, which is why it becomes the most crowded time of the year. We also rarely see Disney ticket deals around those dates either. Believe it or not, May through September is the cheapest time of year for Disney tickets, with September being the absolute cheapest.” New York City: While watching the glittering ball drop in Times Square is a bucket-list dream for many, the price of sleeping in Manhattan that night reaches eye-watering heights. “New York for New Year’s sees extreme price markups, where hotel rates can easily run triple what they’d go for on an average January day,” French warns. “A lot of people want to see the famous Times Square ball drop. If that’s you, understand the cost of hotels before booking and consider if that’s really worth it to you.” Big-Name Ski Resorts (Aspen, Lake Tahoe, and Beyond): Hitting the slopes during the final week of December often results in more time spent waiting in lift lines than carving powder. “Aspen, Tahoe and other big-name ski resorts typically see the week after Christmas as the most expensive and crowded week of the ski season,” notes French. “Many versions of the Epic and Ikon ski passes actually have blackout dates during that week. Those passes are some of the best ways to save on multi-day ski trips, or for people who ski at least a couple times a year—but not if you want to ski during that week (which you probably don’t want to given the massive lift crowds anyway).” Mexico and Caribbean All-Inclusive Resorts: Escaping to an all-inclusive beach resort is a quintessential winter tradition, but the festive surcharge on family rooms is steep. French points to a recent stay at sister resorts Secrets and Dreams Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resorts in Cancun: “The cost for a standard room with two queen beds at Dreams (which is the family-friendly property) on the Saturday after Christmas is 48% higher than the cost to go Saturday, Dec. 5 (exactly three weeks prior). Interestingly, the markup wasn’t quite as high at Secrets (which is the adults-only resort). It was 37% more expensive on those same dates, suggesting that post-Christmas is a busy and expensive time to travel regardless. But presumably childless adults are the key demographic for adults-only resorts—who likely aren’t beholden to school schedules (thus the price difference isn’t as significant).” Hawaii: The islands are a dream winter escape, but airfare and oceanfront resort rates spike heavily as travelers chase tropical warmth. “Again, this suffers from the problem of snowbirds seeking sunny beaches—not to mention that the Mele Kalikimaka spirit does make Hawaii positively delightful during Christmastime,” French says. Her recommendation? Shift the calendar slightly: “To visit Hawaii on a budget and still get to participate in holiday spirit, I’d go in early December.”Related: 23 Cozy Ski Cabins Under $50/Night for a Low-Key Winter Getaway
Smarter, Budget-Friendly Alternatives That Deliver the Vibe for Less
Christkindlmarket Chicago at Daley PlazaPhoto by Scott Olson on Getty Images
You do not need to overpay at a mega-resort to get your fill of holiday charm or warm-weather excitement. If you want to travel during the late-December holiday rush without emptying your savings, consider these alternatives:
Pivot to Business-Focused Downtowns: Leisure destinations jack up rates over Christmas, but metro areas that cater primarily to corporate travelers suddenly find themselves empty. “If you want to travel during the busy holiday week period but are on a budget, look for business-travel oriented cities, which often get cheaper over Christmas, especially if you’re willing to stay in the downtown core,” French suggests. “In the U.S., that includes cities like Chicago, Las Vegas and San Francisco.” Trade Mega-Theme Parks for Regional Wonderlands: Instead of dropping hundreds on crowded after-hours theme park parties, seek out lesser-known local light trails. “Also look at the less obvious attractions. The big-name destinations draw crowds, and in turn charge a premium for holiday magic. I recommend the smaller, local experiences that deliver the same thing for the fraction of the price,” says French. “My parents live in Missouri, so I love to make the pilgrimage out to the Missouri Ozarks for something called Nature at Night at the Top of the Rock Ozarks Heritage Preserve. Here, you ride a private golf cart along a path lit with holiday lights that takes you into caves and past waterfalls and other limestone formations. Adult tickets start at $50, which is way cheaper than a Disney after-hours holiday party.” Explore Zoo Lantern Festivals: “Closer to home for me, I absolutely love the Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo, which is a winter lantern festival where the zoo is filled with hundreds of massive lanterns,” adds French. “More local zoos have caught on to this trend and now run their own nighttime light festivals, but I’ve yet to see any top the experience that Oakland’s zoo offers. Their experience starts at just $26 for adults.”Related: Forests Climbing Toward the Clouds: Cozy Alpine Village Surging for Winter Getaways
How to Beat the Markup If You Refuse to Change Your Plans
If your family already has their hearts set on spending the holidays at an iconic resort or under the palm trees, there are still ways to soften the financial blow:
Tweak Your Window by Just a Few Days: If you have even a little flexibility, adjusting your departure makes an immediate impact. “This is a situation where I’d say adjust your travel dates if you can,” French advises. “A snowbird escape to a sunny beach feels just as good the week of Christmas as the weeks before. Otherwise, set expectations accordingly. Places like ski resorts and Disney are going to be packed no matter what, so you should come packed with your patience.” Lean Into Loyalty Points and Uncapped Free Night Awards: When cash room rates double or triple, loyalty currencies offer exceptional redemption value. “And this is where points pay come in handy,” French explains. “Points rates typically don’t spike as sharply as cash rates, making the holiday time a good time to spend points. Some credit card rewards, like the Hilton free night certificate, are especially valuable for expensive holiday stays (the Hilton certificate can be used on any room with standard availability, no matter how high either cash or points prices search).”Related: These Are the Best Winter Destinations for Travelers Who Love the Cold
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