<p>If anyone has any favorite warm weather spots for a winter trip, I would love suggestions. I would like to go to a spot that is usually warmer than 50 degrees during the day in dec/jan. I am looking for places that are nice but not very expensive.</p>
<p>Charleston, SC. Great for old home and history buffs. A unique American city. One of the few.</p>
<p>IN the same vein as Barrons, Savannah - it is something of a foodie place, too.</p>
<p>Anywhere on the Gulf Coast - NOLA, Fla Panhandle, Gulf Shores, MS casinos.
the weather will be predictably colder in Jan, although usually warmer than 50. Dec will be more unpredictable - 75 and foggy one day, 40 the next. To give you perspective - my DH’s family vacations at the beach every New Years, and the kids can usually get wet in the Gulf at least once during the week.</p>
<p>Palm Desert CA. It will be cool at night.</p>
<p>Hiking Zion National Park</p>
<p>My family spent last Christmas in Tucson. It was beautiful, and we thought the weather was gorgeous.</p>
<p>St. Augustine, in Florida, is pretty nice. There are beaches and historic sites and shopping, and it’s not too expensive. Also I hear they have a wonderful Christmas town display that lasts until the beginning of January or so.</p>
<p>We have visited Florida many times. Staying a few nights in the Tampa Bay area, then traveling south to see sites was enjoyable. Sanibel Island is a good day trip, as is the Corkscrew Swamp (not sure if details are correct). I would budget for some beachfront time in perhaps Clearwater Beach, see the Tampa Bay Aquarium while there. The Everglades are nice to tour. Cocoa Beach and the Space Center are good. Driving from NYC area or flying, renting a car and then staying at various budget friendly hotes/motels near the sights you choose works. Orlando can be a good place to fly in and out of, with most of the trip in other locales. We did not have reservations for every night, but planned our trip’s details as we felt like. It was good to see more than the tourist traps. We have often planned a trip with a flight, rental car and first few nights and last night’s hotels booked, leaving the middle of the week for travels we decide we are in the mood for within driving distance of the flight destination. We drove to Kitty Hawk et al in NC last winter, it was the off season and that changed the flavor markedly- good if you want to get into sites, bad for having fun with tourist time.</p>
<p>I get the sense you were asking only about US vacations for some reason. Anyway, if you are open beyond that, consider Thailand. Airfare may be pricey but once there, its shockingly inexpensive. Beautiful weather. Great people. Fascinating place.</p>
<p>Another vote for Tucson. Very nice at that time of year. Both Charleston and Savannah are great, but a little cooler than Tucson, and the dryness also makes Tucson feel a little warmer. Charleston and Savannah are perfect locations in the early fall and late spring IMHO.</p>
<p>San Diego is generally very nice then.</p>
<p>Puerto Rico. Stay in the old part of San Juan; visit Vieques by boat or rent a car and tour the interior. Be sure to see the rain forest.</p>
<p>Baja California, Mexico… just south of San Diego. Fly into San Diego. Cost of living/vacationing is substantially lower south of the border. In Dec/Jan, it is not beach warm, but it is in the 60’s, maybe 70’s during the day. Lots to do and some of the experience of a different culture. (Not totally a different culture as you are in the “border region”). English spoken everywhere.</p>
<p>I vote for Mexico or Puerto Rico. I have been to Flagstaff and Phoenix at Christmas and the weather was not great.
Maybe I just had bad luck…</p>
<p>Second Charleston, SC. If you are looking for beautiful, quiet beach with sugar white sand and emerald ocean waters, google Seaside, FL. You will love it! Also, Watercolor!</p>
<p>Yet another vote for Tucson here - we visit a guest ranch every other February break to get away from winter, even 50 feels great!</p>
<p>Maybe surprisingly, San Diego is warmer than Tucson in the winter but it doesn’t have Saguaro cactus.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I will have trips for the next few winters to dream about as well. ( Any others are gratefully welcome.)</p>
<p>We have been going to Cozumel, Mexico during December or April for the past 12 years. We love it there. We like to snorkle though. otherwise it is probably a waste to go there.</p>
<p>Casting a vote for Arizona–last April I tagged along while my spouse attended an annual meeting in Scottsdale. While he was conferencing, I went to the Frank Lloyd Wright house (Taliesin West) the Desert Botanical Garden (tons of saguaro cacti) and the Heard Museum (amazing collection of Native American art/culture). When he finished his work, we drove up to Sedona, which was wonderful. Did lots of hiking in the Red Rocks, went up Oak Creek Canyon and explored some of the local galleries. Weather was great–it was nice to get away from the cold/rain of the northeast. We’re thinking about going again in April.</p>