Traveling can really drain your wallet. From the high prices of transportation, accommodation, and meals to the never-ending expenses for activities and souvenirs, it all adds up fast. Whether you’re shelling out for plane tickets during peak seasons or splurging on fancy dinners, the costs can be overwhelming. And let’s not forget about those unexpected expenses that can pop up out of nowhere.
The personal-finance website WalletHub came out with their ranking of the best and worst cities for “staycations.” They compared more than 180 cities across 42 key indicators of a fun-filled yet budget-friendly staycation to identify the best spots for staying local. They looked at everything from the number of parks per person to how much you’ll spend on meals at local restaurants.
Two Florida cities ranked among the Top 5.
Florida led the staycation rankings, with two of its cities landing in the Top 5. Orlando secured the impressive number 2 spot, while Tampa secured the number 4 position. These cities have the most zoos and aquariums, with 0.0138 per square root of the population. That’s 19.7 times more than New York, which sadly has the fewest at 0.0007. When it comes to satisfying your sweet tooth, Orlando, Tampa, and Miami take the cake with the most ice cream and frozen yogurt shops per person.
Other Florida cities like Fort Lauderdale (18), Miami (28), Jacksonville (46), Tallahassee (97), Pembroke Pines (122), Port St. Lucie (141), and even Hialeah (at the bottom of the list, spot 172) all made their mark in the rankings too.
Where’s the number one place to staycation?
Hawaii snagged the top spot as the ultimate staycation destination. It earned that title by offering the most range of recreational activities, food, and entertainment options and having the perfect blend of rest and relaxation.
What about the worst places to staycation?
According to the site’s latest list, California seems to be a not-so-great place for staycations. They have over five cities that landed right at the bottom of the rankings. Santa Ana secured the 178th spot, Oxnard didn’t fare much better at 179th, and Fremont took the unfortunate 180th position.
Check out their full ranking and report here.