5 Great Warm Weather Destinations in the U.S.

So, you’re already sick of the cold weather and want to head somewhere warm? I feel ya. It seems like fall whizzed by and we went straight from summer to winter. We’ve got biting cold winds to go with the rainy chilly weather, which does not make for a good combination. What’s worse is that with the holidays coming up fast, and at least four December birthdays, we’re also short on cash. If you have the same issue, then here are five destinations in the U.S. that are warm and might just be a car ride away and hopefully won’t be packed with tourists like Orlando and San Diego.

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Avery Island, Louisiana

Have you ever heard of this place? It’s just 140 miles from the much more touristy New Orleans. 

• Avery Island is home to the Tabascofactory. Free tours are available every day, though they don’t make the sauce on Fridays. 
• Enjoy the best of Cajun cuisine here. Anything you can get in New Orleans is dished up here. Landry’s Cajun Restaurant is a popular place for all your favorites. 
• Explore JungleGardens, a bird sanctuary surrounded by bayous where you can also view gators, raccoons and deer.

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Houston, Texas

Okay, so it’s not exactly a tropical paradise, but Houston has mild winters that are way more comfortable than you’ll find further north. It’s definitely not Michigan. 

• With the second largest theater district in the nation, you’ll find a performance for anyone, whether you’re traveling as a family or a couple. 
• Enjoy the weather and nature out at Discovery Green. This park hosts free weekly music performances, a permanent art installation and even two restaurants. 
• When I think of Texas, I think of BBQ. Save on a diner favorite at Triple J’s Smokehouse, where you can order ribs, burgers, sausages and more for under $15 per person.

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Palm Beach, Florida

You won’t find theme parks here or their enormous crowds, but you will want to pack your swimsuit and sunscreen. 

• While everyone else is staring at sad bare trees, you could be enjoying tropical plants and flowers at Mounts Botanical Garden. 
• Go shopping in the historic district – which will make for awesome photos too – on Clematis Street and Downtown.
• Gorge yourself on delicious seafood. Splurge on a meal at the fabulous Palm Beach Grill, where you’ll feel like a star.

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Santa Barbara, California

Everyone else is trying to pack themselves into Disneyland, but you can stroll along the beach instead.

• StearnsWharf is an amazing deep-water pier. Aside from the endless dining and shopping ops here, head to the bait & tackle shop to get everything you need to fish off the wharf.
• Find out what 2015 has in store for you when Madame Rosinka gives you a palm reading. 
• Built along the pier, the Santa Barbara Museum of NaturalHistory Sea Center is great for all ages, from a crawl-through tidepool tank to a shark touch tank.

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Tempe/Phoenix, Arizona

The desert is just a beach with no ocean. Winter is a bearable time to visit Tempe, because it’s warm, but not scorching like the spring and summer months can be. 

• With the ASU campus a prominent feature in town, there are tons of sporting events for visitors to take in, including baseball at the Diablo Stadium. 
• Have a picnic, sunbathe and even take a paddle boat or a real boat out on the manmade TempeTown Lake.
• Don’t miss out on all the tremendous Southwestern food in Tempe. Reserve a table at Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill and order some street tacos or chile pork. If you need to save, hit up happy hour instead.

Need a place to stay in any of these great cities? Search for an affordable hotel on Hipmunk. You can also find even more to do in Tempe on my post there.  What are your favorite warm weather getaways for the winter?

Disclaimer: This post was inspired by my partnership with Hipmunk - a great site to find low hotel rates wherever you travel. #hipmunkcitylove

The 411 on Overbooked Flights

These days, it’s almost mandatory that airlines overbook flights in order to make money and also fill each and every seat on the plane. There is a small percentage of people who arrive too late to make their flight or just don’t show up and the airlines take this into account when booking seats on each flight. Unfortunately, this means that planes are often crowded and many people each day get bumped and have to sit around the airport for hours waiting for the next flight going to their destination. This is especially true during the holidays. Of course, getting to the gate early could have prevented that from happening. While you could dwell on all the things you dislike about overbooked flights, it’s just as easy to look at the bright side and see how fewer flights per route and stuffed airplane cabins can work for you.

You want to get to your destination just like everyone else, but unless you have reservations to do something right after you arrive or are traveling for business, you can easily be a Good Samaritan and give up your seat to someone who really needs to arrive on time. You may be doing a good deed for someone else, but you’re also getting something in return, besides karma points. Airlines hope that people will volunteer to get bumped and are willing to reward you for doing so (even though they will reward Passenger X, too, when he arrives late and can’t get a seat). Maybe his ride was late or there was traffic or his alarm didn’t go off and he’s in a bind. Let him have your seat and wait for the next flight out. You will end up getting to your destination a bit late, but with some extras in your pocket.

While Passenger X happily gets to his work meeting on time, you can browse the Internet, grab lunch or peruse the shops. You might even want to start planning your next vacation, because your empty seat can net you a free ticket on a future flight. That’s right! You now have two tickets for the price of one! The fuller the flight is, the more desperate an airline will be to have people volunteer to be bumped. This gives you leverage. You can haggle for anything from a credit for future travels (a credit is always better than a free ticket, because you can use it like a gift certificate) to a hotel room to free drinks at the bar. Since the seat you gave up was, essentially, paid for twice by you and Passenger X, the airlines aren’t losing money by rebooking and also giving you a free fare certificate for the future. Of course, what you can bargain for also depends on how long after your initial flight your new one is scheduled. The longer the wait, the more you may get.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has imposed a mandatory compensation for all those bumped from a flight and it always helps to know what you are owed, just in case. For flights arriving less than two hours after your original flight, you should be rewarded at least the cost of your one-way ticket, up to $650. For flights arriving more than two hours after your original flight, airlines are required to compensate you twice the cost of your one-way ticket, up to $1,300. 

If you are looking to get bumped in order to score some free travel, arrive at the airport early, check in at the gate to see if the flight is oversold and travel with only a carry-on to make it easier to get your stuff to your destination with you. Do something nice for someone else and reap the benefits in big ways. Now you can travel practically for free again in the future, helping you to stretch your trip budget enormously. Woot!

Have you ever been bumped from an overbooked flight?

Budget Hotels for a Winter Surfing Getaway

Heading to the beach in winter sounds like it might be a great idea, but even if you live near a beach like we do, it’s probably way too cold to actually enjoy it. Wearing three layers to build sandcastles is never fun, so why not head to a place where it’s warm in the winter and won’t bust your budget? Colima, Mexico is one such place that has lovely weather all year, a tropical feel with banana and coconut trees all over – giving it the name “City of Palms” – and is ideal for surfing, too.

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Colima is right on the water and sits between two volcanoes, giving it amazing views wherever you look. Watersports a great way to enjoy Colima, but it can also be super relaxing or make for a lovely history-filled vacation if you prefer. It also has crazy affordable hotels that feel luxurious and exotic, with all the amenities you expect to find at high end resorts. You’ll find yourself wanting to return to Colima before you even leave. What a way to enjoy a budget escape.

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Refresh

If the ocean is not for you, Colima has tons of natural springs and pools. Why use the hotel pool when you can, literally, soak in the landscape? Skip the hot tub and sink into one of the state’s thermal springs. The ones in Agua Caliente and El Hervidero are surrounded by jungle, making them even more unique. Explore the flora and fauna that you’ll not find anywhere else.

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Invigorate

La Cumbre is Colima’s city where paragliders go. The thermal winds are the perfect environment for the sport and you’ll have sweeping views of valleys, hills and canyons. What more can you ask for? How about awesome kayaking, camping, horseback riding, fishing, hiking, as well as surfing? Families can enjoy all of these things and more. Kids will love running through the parks and seeing animals at the zoo that they may never have seen before.

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Immerse

Colima is steeped in history. The archaeological sites of La Campana and El Chanal are home to temples, buildings and sport courts from the Mayan culture that once inhabited the lands. Those who have a love of beautiful architecture won’t be disappointed. The main plaza of Colima, Jardín Libertad, is bordered by a row of arches, the city hall building and the cathedral. Entertainers and musicians can often be found here, so it’s a nice place to spend a frugal afternoon. Art and history lovers will want to visit the Museo Regional de Historia de Colima, the Museo Universitario de Artes Populares or the Pinacoteca Universitaria Alfonso Michel.

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Indulge

Colima has a vibrant night life, so if you want to toss back a few cocktails or dance the night away, make sure to pack your dancing shoes. Tantalize your taste buds with some of the city’s finest cuisine. Lunch is the main meal of the day and you’ll be happy it is, because it’ll give you time to walk off the calories from all the dishes you’ll want to try. Make sure to sample the Tatemado (pork in mole sauce), tales de ceniza, sopitos (a corn tortilla topped with red chili and bean sauce) and try a glass of tuba (coconut beverage) or Tejuino (a corn-based, beverage with cinnamon and lime).

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Where to Stay

Believe it or not, even though the city of Colima is small, it has a choice of budget-friendly hotels. Even the luxury Wyndham Garden Colima is less than $100 per night and has views of the Colima Volcano, a variety of pools, a sauna, hot tub, a bar and restaurant. You may never want to leave.

The Fiesta Inn Colima is perfect for those who want easy access to both the airport and other activities. The hotel is business-minded, but has extras that everyone can appreciate: a restaurant that is open long hours, 24-hour room service and free Internet. It is also close to the cultural center and art museum.

Business travelers and couples alike will enjoy a stay at Hotel Mision Colima. The hotel is in the middle of the financial district, but is also beautiful and makes for a fantastic romantic getaway. With room service, free Wi-Fi, a restaurant and lovely courtyards, you never need to leave. At just $50 per night on average, you can stay even longer.

Want more options? Surf-Mexico specializes in hotels only in Mexico. Search for lodgings everywhere in the country where surfing is fantastic and get suggestions for different kinds of accommodations from people who love vacationing (and surfing) there. Let the experts help you find a place to call home while you’re in Mexico. Because the less you spend on your hotel, the more money you have to splurge on delicious food and souvenirs to bring home.

You can also connect with Surf-Mexico on Twitter.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Surf-Mexico.