Are You a Champagne or Beer Traveler? Trips for Every Budget

It’s up to you: Travel first class … or watch your pennies

Karen Hube,

AARP

Comments

Published September 10, 2024

illustration of a palm tree with a $549 price tag on it

Getty (2); Lettering: Carolyn Sewell

Need suggestions for whether to splurge or save? These trips across the country and in Canada show you how to do both at six weekend destinations throughout the year.

Pricing Note

Lodging prices are the average cost for one room with a king-size bed for a single night during a three-night weekend stay, including taxes and fees.
Food prices are the midrange cost of a dinner entrée unless otherwise noted.
Attractions and activity prices are per person before any discounts unless otherwise noted.
Total vacation costs are for two adults.
All prices are in U.S. dollars as of early July 2024.

Seattle in September

Pike Place Market is a top Seattle tourist destination.

Brooke Fitts

Luxury

(Weekend starts at $2,943)

Accommodation

Lotte Hotel. A 44-story glass tower within a mile of Pike Place Market and the Seattle Art Museum; $609

Dining

Canlis. A multicourse tasting menu alongside views of the city, Lake Union and the Cascade Mountains; $180 (full meal)

Things to Do

Viator excursion to Mount Rainier National Park. Includes a mile-long hike to picnic next to a glacier; $179
The 5th Avenue Theatre. Open since 1926 and the birth site of nine Broadway-bound works, including Hairspray and Memphis; $199 (center orchestra)

On a Budget

(Weekend starts at $950)

Accommodation

Staypineapple University Inn. Four blocks from the University of Washington and surrounded by restaurants and shops; $279

Dining

Marination Ma Kai. Hawaiian-Korean tacos, margaritas and views of the city skyline; $10

Things to Do

2.8-mile Loop Trail at Discovery Park. Overlooking Puget Sound, with views of the Cascade and Olympic mountains; free
Space Needle. At the time of its completion, the tallest U.S. building west of the Mississippi, with an observation deck 520 feet up; $46.50

Early Fall in Santa Fe

Library at the Rosewood Inn of the Anaszi

Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi is in Santa Fe’s cultural center.

Douglas Merriam

Luxury

(Weekend starts at $3,277)

Accommodation

Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi. Located in Santa Fe’s cultural center and featuring a mix of Native American, Hispanic and Anglo furnishings; $883

Dining

Geronimo. Global eclectic dining in a 250-year-old art-studded adobe building; $50

Things to Do

Glass Experience Class at Liquid Light Glass. An opportunity to create original pieces (blown or shaped) in a 1½-hour class; $338 total
Routes Bicycle Tours’ art and history ride. A two-hour outing covering 10 miles at a leisurely pace; $95

On a Budget

(Weekend starts at $828)

Accommodation

The Sage Hotel. Motel style with a bohemian flair; $222

Dining

The Shed. A 1692 adobe hacienda with three patios; $14

Things to Do

Self-guided walking art tour. A visit to the Canyon Road galleries, Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe Plaza and Railyard Arts District; free or up to $22
Meow Wolf. Immersive, interactive large-scale art installations; $45

Holiday Season in Philadelphia

people eating at the Ambra restaurant in Philadelphia

A three-hour multicourse Italian tasting menu is available at Ambra.

Courtesy Ambra

Luxury

(Weekend starts at $3,888)

Accommodation

Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia. On the top 12 floors of the city’s highest building, with an infinity pool and spa; $820

Dining

Ambra. A three-hour multicourse modern Italian tasting menu with wine pairings; $300 (full meal)

Things to Do

Adrenaline private helicopter tour. A 30-minute sunset flight above the city at 1,500 feet; $534 total
Handel’s Messiah. The masterpiece performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra and a choir; $147 (first tier)

On a Budget

(Weekend starts at $589)

Accommodation

Club Quarters Hotel Rittenhouse Square. Steps from historic sites and shopping; $187

Dining

Dalessandro’s Steaks and Hoagies. Iconic, award-winning cheesesteaks; $14

Things to Do

Independence Mall. Home of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, among other historic attractions; free
U.S. Mint. A tour of coining operations and artifacts at the nation’s first mint; free

Spring in New Orleans

The French Quarter is a must-stop destination in New Orleans.

Stocksy

Luxury

(Weekend starts at $3,084)

Accommodation

Windsor Court. Views of the Mississippi River or city skyline from private balconies and bay windows; $775

Dining

Commander’s Palace. Creole cuisine in a Garden District landmark restaurant that opened in 1893; $40

Things to Do

New Orleans Yacht Experience cruise. City views during a private two-hour Lake Pontchartrain charter on a 47-foot yacht; $399 total
Doctor Gumbo food and cocktail walking tour. A stroll among restaurants, bars and landmarks for a history lesson and tasting tour of local specialties; $140

On a Budget

(Weekend starts at $851)

Accommodation

Maison Dupuy. In a quiet section of the French Quarter, near Louis Armstrong Park; $259

Dining

Camellia Grill. Quintessential po’boys at this landmark uptown diner; $14

Things to Do

Frenchmen Street. A hot spot for live music and local art; free or up to $20 per person
St. Charles Avenue Streetcar ride. Views of early-1800s mansions in the city’s historic Garden District; $3

Lake Tahoe, California, in June

a woman sitting along a beach in Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe, California, has mountain and lake views.

Jake Stangel

Luxury

(Weekend starts at $3,305)

Accommodation

The Landing. Mountain and lake views steps from a privately owned beach; $601

Dining

Edgewood Restaurant. Visible from your table: Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada range; $57

Things to Do

Lake Tahoe Balloons ride. Sunrise hot-air ballooning with views of the surrounding wilderness; $399
Lake Tahoe Boat Rides tour. Two hours on the lake in a powerboat at sunset; $590 total

On a Budget

(Weekend starts at $800)

Accommodation

Station House Inn. Boutique hotel a short walk from the lake; $242

Dining

• Sidellis Brewery. Bar food plus a selection of home brews; $14

Things to Do

Emerald Bay State Park. Hiking, fishing, swimming and picnicking against a background of blue water, towering trees and granite cliffs; $10 per vehicle
Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City. Locomotives, model trains, railroad history and a 40-minute ride on a steam-powered train; $18

Summer in Montreal

Grab hot dogs and 27 variations on poutine at Greenspot in Montreal.

Courtesy Greenspot

(Prices are in U.S. dollars)

Luxury

(Weekend starts at $2,262)

Accommodation

Ritz-Carlton. Among the highlights: afternoon tea in a palm court and a saltwater pool; $576

Dining

Chez Delmo. An Old Montreal gem for nearly a century; $40

Things to Do

Bota Bota Spa-Sur-L’eau massage. A 90-minute therapeutic treatment with a balm on a boat-turned-spa in the city’s old port; $143
Local Montréal Food and Drink Tour. A three-hour walking and tasting trek in Old Montreal; $84

On a Budget

(Weekend starts at $702)

Accommodation

Le Nouvel Hotel. A short walk to the shops on the famous Rue Sainte-Catherine; $212

Dining

Greenspot. Burgers, hot dogs and 27 variations on poutine, including the classique preparation with gravy and cheese; $10

Things to Do

Mount Royal Park. Woods and meadows on a hilltop in the middle of the city, ideal for walking or picnicking; free
La Grande Roue. Views of the city from a Ferris wheel with climate-controlled cabins rising to 200 feet; $23

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