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Travel Tip: Finding Affordable Destinations

Locations in this article:  Albuquerque, NM Chicago, IL St. Louis, MO
Travel Tip: Finding Affordable Destinations

If finding an affordable destination is your goal, you might be surprised by what information is out there.

You just have to know where to find the data, and then how to interpret it.

Every year, Hotels.com releases its Hotel Price Index Report.

Among other findings, it shows average hotel rates in destination cities.

Domestically, the average hotel rate is highest in cities like New York, D.C. and Chicago. No big surprises there.

But this report also shows something else: destination cities with the most AFFORDABLE average hotel rates.

That includes places like St. Louis, Albuquerque and Yuma, Arizona.

Another resource that you may not have thought of is the government. By looking at the per diem rates set for government employees, you can get a sense of how much lodging and meals cost in various cities.

And just as important, you can see how those costs change depending on the time of year.

You can also check out Bankrate.com’s Cost of Living chart. Although it’s geared toward those who are relocating, you can use it to compare the cost of basic goods—everything from a hamburger to a tube of toothpaste.

Bottom line: if you get creative with existing information, you might discover a destination that has some real value.

Find more ways to get bargains in our Budget Travel section.

And get more of our Daily Travel Tips here.