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Now that travel has become so expensive, the shoulder seasons provide the perfect opportunity to cut costs and keep your adventures a little more local. If you play your cards right, you can still have the time of your life while saving up for a bigger, better winter getaway.
And if you’re like me and you can’t seem to let go of the summer sun, Florida is probably at the top of your bucket list right now.
It’s warm but not scorching, lively but not crowded, and offers a good mix of nature, culture, history and good old-fashioned fun.
The downside? Depending on where exactly you’re going, the costs can really add up, defeating the purpose of a domestic trip in the first place.
But while prices have risen across the board, there are still some wonderful places that offer everything you’re looking for and more for a pretty reasonable price, or at least that’s what a recent report from Florida rentals discovers.
The company analyzed the costs of accommodation, food, transportation, alcohol and entertainment across the state in search of the cheapest travel destinations, and I can tell you that one of these will blow your mind.
Tallahassee
First up we have Tallahassee, a city where hotels average $104 – with some great options going even lower.
To take Clarion PointeFor example.
Not only are the rooms clean, spacious and well-reviewed, but the usual rate of $80 per night has been reduced to $50 on specific dates during this fall season, so you can definitely get a good deal.
And as the state capital, Tallahassee promises an experience that’s anything but boring – complete with the Florida State Capitol Complex, the Museum of Florida History, the beautiful Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park and some can’t-miss seasonal events like the Tallahassee Downtown Market and the annual Greek Food Festival.
Everglades National Park
If you’re looking for something more nature-oriented right now, a trip to the Everglades National Park is the best thing you can do.
Not only is the average total daily cost comfortably under $200, but for just $30 you get a whole week of access to the park, and if you can manage to time your visit during National Public Lands Day (which is observed this year) falls on September 28), you don’t have to pay anything at all.
The best thing about coming here is that you don’t have to spend much money on activities – hiking, birdwatching and cycling are all free!
Cocoa beach
Don’t want to give up your beach holiday yet?
You can always come to Cocoa Beach.
Sure, it may not have the vibrant, big city atmosphere you may be used to, but the quiet, small town atmosphere of a coastal town can be so refreshing (both mentally and financially), especially now that most of us are looking for a change of pace.
You can spend your days here lounging in Lori Wilson Park and taking surfing lessons – the former is completely free, the latter will only cost you an effort €65 for a 2-hour session.
Cape Canaveral
Cape Canaveral is a haven for curious souls looking for more than just relaxation on their fall getaway.
From watching rocket launches to exploring nature reserves, you’ll be amazed at how much you can experience here on a fairly limited budget. To help you narrow things down, here’s how much you can expect to pay for some important stops you can add to your itinerary.
Miami
Miami was definitely the wildcard in today’s rankings.
Most of us tend to associate the iconic Florida city with luxury shopping and expensive parties, but when you think about it, when it comes to a city as vast and diverse as this one, you can go with almost any budget have a great time.
Not only can you book some fantastic rooms for less than $150 per night (see Hilton Miami Downtown And Novotel Miami Brickell), but you can also lounge around South Beach, explore Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, and even take part in Art Walks – all of which will cost you less than $20-$30 per day.
Most expensive places
So now we know which places to prioritize when planning a budget-friendly Florida getaway, but an even more important question to answer is: which ones should we avoid?
Luckily for us, Florida Rentals also ranked the state’s most expensive destinations, and some of these might surprise you as well:
- Duck key
- Destination
- Large pine key
- Key West
- Orlando
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
