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Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
The Most Budget-Friendly Travel Destinations in Every State
Whether focused on nature, history, a beach escape, a quiet mountain hideout or exploring a city with real character, every state has at least one destination where the vibe is right and the prices stay affordable. Every state has that one hidden gem where good times and budget-friendly costs go hand in hand. Here's a list of destinations across the country — one for each state — that prove great travel experience delivers without breaking the budget. Read Next: Trending Now: Gulf Shores: great beaches and inexpensive seafood joints, the area offers a coastal escape, per Check Out: Seward: Delivers dramatic natural beauty with many free trails and low-cost campgrounds with views of surrounding peaks, according to Prescott: Combines high desert scenery with a historic downtown and affordable outdoor activities. Eureka Springs: A Victorian-era town filled with charm and budget inns. The entire downtown is walkable, keeping transit costs minimal. Redding: This California city stands out near nature, offering low-cost recreation. Glenwood Springs: Known for hot springs and hiking trails and national forests, according to Tripadvisor. Mystic: Mystic offers a mix of maritime heritage and coastal charm with free admission to the historic downtown and harbor area, per Tripadvisor. Rehoboth Beach: A classic, budget-friendly destination with many nearby attractions catering to families. Gainesville: This Florida city offers natural springs, hiking and free museums, according to Wanderlog. Savannah: Walking tours, city parks and low-cost eateries make it an affordable Southern gem. Hilo: This spot in Hawaii is a budget option with lush gardens, waterfalls and proximity to national parks. McCall: Provides lake access and hiking trails, with affordable cabins and public beaches. Galena: A historic town with 19th-century architecture and scenic countryside. Brown County: Offers natural beauty, small-town charm and activities for all ages. Decorah: Blends small-town charm with natural beauty, including free trails and parks and affordable museums, according to Tripadvisor. Kansas City: The city offers natural beauty and recreational opportunities. Red River Gorge: A top destination for rock climbers and hikers, with low-cost campgrounds and free trails, per Lafayette: Has a rich Cajun and Creole culture, plus festivals, live music and low-cost eats. Bar Harbor: Borders Acadia National Park, where a one-time entry fee provides days of scenic views, hikes and coastal access. Assateague Island: Offers a unique coastal experience with wild horses and free public beaches. Berkshires: The Berkshires combine beautiful nature, charming towns and rich cultural attractions. Marquette: A lakeside city with small-town feel and rich history, making it a perfect spot for nature lovers and peaceful getaways. Duluth: A gateway to great lake views, hiking trails and public parks. Ocean Springs: Coastal atmosphere offering art galleries with no admission fees and budget-friendly dining options, according to Travel + Leisure. Lake of the Ozarks: A relaxing getaway for those who enjoy hiking, boating, scenic views and diverse dining options. Great Falls: Offers natural beauty with small-town charm. Kearney: Best known for its free annual sandhill crane migration that draws bird watchers from across the country, per Elko: Famous for its cowboy culture, Elko offers affordable rodeos, museums and nearby hiking. Portsmouth: A coastal city with free waterfront parks, historic sites and affordable dining options. Cape May: Historic sites, charming shops, beautiful beaches and nature trails, blending seaside beauty with small-town charm. Taos: Offers affordable art galleries, hiking and historic sites without the crowds of Santa Fe. Syracuse: Home to low-cost museums, nearby state parks and reasonably priced eateries. Asheville: Known for mountain views, a vibrant arts scene, craft breweries and outdoor adventures. Medora: Gateway to national park, with budget lodging and free outdoor activities. Cincinnati: Offers low-cost museums, historic neighborhoods and affordable dining in Over-the-Rhine. Tulsa: Known for free art deco walking tours, budget-friendly restaurants and parks, per Tulsa Tours. Bend: Provides affordable outdoor adventures with access to hiking, fishing and public parks. Pittsburgh: Features free museum days (according to scenic riverfront parks and affordable eateries. Newport: While famous for mansions, Newport offers free public beaches and budget-friendly walking tours. Greenville: Known for its charming downtown, free parks and budget-friendly restaurants. Spearfish: Close to Black Hills National Forest with affordable lodging and free hiking trails. Chattanooga: Offers free outdoor attractions like the Riverwalk and budget museums. San Antonio: This Texas city is home to the free River Walk and historic missions with low-cost or free entry. Moab: Known for Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, with plenty of free hiking trails. Stowe: Offers affordable hiking, free festivals and scenic small-town charm. Williamsburg: Historic district offers some free walking tours and affordable dining, per Spokane: Features free parks, public art and affordable access to nearby nature. Harpers Ferry: Combines Civil War history and natural beauty with a modest entry fee to the historic park. Door County: Known for budget-friendly lighthouses, parks and beaches. Cody: Gateway to Yellowstone with affordable museums and free outdoor activities. More From GOBankingRates Mark Cuban Warns of 'Red Rural Recession' -- 4 States That Could Get Hit Hard 25 Places To Buy a Home If You Want It To Gain Value 7 Things You'll Be Happy You Downsized in Retirement This article originally appeared on The Most Budget-Friendly Travel Destinations in Every State
Tom's Guide
31-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
5 best summer travel apps to help you have the perfect vacation
Summer travel is upon us, and so is the stress of planning and executing the perfect trip. While delays and mishaps are always possible, you can hit the road prepared thanks to help from mobile apps. Making sure your phone is equipped with everything from travel planners to route mappers, you can ensure that your vacation runs smoothly from the moment you start booking your travel to the time when you finally return home. To start, there are a few general types of apps you'll want to download, the details of which will vary based on your specific travel plans. If you're flying, it makes sense to install the app of your airline of choice so that you can easily check your flight status, access your boarding pass, track your luggage, and connect with customer service. With the app for your preferred hotel chain, you can manage your stay, redeem rewards, request amenities, and even unlock your room in some cases. If you have a vacation rental, through an outfit such as Airbnb or VRBO, be sure you have the app for access to your booking details and easy communication with hosts. You should also have a ride hailing app — such as Uber or Lyft — that provides service at your destination, and if you're driving, research which apps are used for paid street parking (ParkMobile, for example) so you don't have to spend time downloading and entering your payment details once you arrive. DoorDash or GrubHub can be useful for perusing and comparing menus in advance for food allergies and dietary restrictions. But beyond those basics, a few other apps can come in handy whenever you hit the road or take to the skies. Here are five other travel apps you should have on your phone now. Wanderlog is an all-in-one travel planner for everything from creating an itinerary to tracking expenses. Start building your trip with the basics — where and when — then invite travel companions if you're planning a trip with other people. Other Wanderlog tools let you add reservation details, explore restaurants and attractions, make a packing list, and create a budget. The app's basics are free, while a Pro subscription ($39.99/year) includes extras like live flight updates, route optimization, offline access, and syncing with Google Maps and Gmail to automatically pull in reservation details from confirmation emails. If you're road tripping, you can map your route and add roadside attractions and pit stops in Wanderlog. Speaking of which, Roadtrippers is another popular route planner that shows you interesting stops along your way, but the Android app has enough negative reviews to where I would suggest just using the sites web-based tools or turning to Wanderlog as my mobile trip planner. Download Wanderlog: Android, iOS Skyscanner is a search engine for flights, hotels, and car rentals that prioritizes good deals, so you can browse or search cheap options or set up alerts for price drops on your desired itinerary. This can be useful whether you're planning in advance or need a last-minute reservation mid-trip. Note that unlike online travel agencies (OTAs) — which generally allow you to book within their app — Skyscanner redirects you to the airline, hotel, or rental agency to complete your reservation. While this is an extra step up front, it avoids potential pitfalls of OTAs, like confusing booking and cancellation policies and generally worse customer service if something goes awry. Download Skyscanner: Android, iOS If you find yourself asking, 'Where is the nearest…' in the middle of a road trip, iExit is likely to have an answer. The app uses your device's location to display upcoming interstate exits and their amenities, from the basics like hotels, restaurants, and gas stations to banks, auto shops, grocery stores, and tourist attractions. You can view fuel prices and lodging rates and get distances and directions to destinations listed. Use iExit to help you decide when and where to stop without having to search for a specific location or scroll around a map. Download iExit: Android, iOS CityMapper is a journey planner that helps you navigate public transportation in major metro areas around the world — handy if your next trip to the big city doesn't include a rental car. Y With CityMapper, you can get real-time arrival, departure, and location data for buses, trains, subways as well as turn-by-turn directions with options for walking, bikeshare, and scooter rental. The app will also notify you of upcoming turns and stops, track service alerts, and calculate travel time so you can select the best route to your destination. Download CityMapper: Android, iOS If you don't know the language at your destination or are traveling to a region where multiple languages are spoken, add Google Translate to your device to facilitate communication. The app can translate from typed text, photos, or real-time bilingual conversations as well as instant camera feedback — pointed at signs, for example — and text inside other apps. To get started, choose your primary language and select the language to translate to from the more than 100 available in the app dropdown. Check Translate offline to download for offline use. (Not all languages have this feature.) Download Google Translate: Android, iOS
Mint
04-05-2025
- Mint
Planning your next holiday? These apps will make your life easier
When it comes to travel planning, while the big names like Airbnb, and dominate the landscape, there's a vibrant ecosystem of lesser-known apps that offer powerful, often more focused features for savvy travelers. Whether you're a foodie on a mission, a sustainability-conscious adventurer, or simply someone looking to streamline travel logistics, these underrated travel planning apps are worth adding to your digital toolkit. Rome free Planning how to get from Point A to Point B in an unfamiliar country can be tricky, especially when the route involves multiple modes of transport. Rome2Rio is a travel planner that shows you how to get anywhere by plane, train, bus, ferry, or car. Simply enter your origin and destination, and it maps out routes complete with estimated durations, prices, and booking links. Whether you're trying to reach a remote village in the Alps or figuring out the cheapest way to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Rome2Rio gives a comprehensive overview of your options. Yes, Rome2Rio works in India as well and can be used to plan journeys within the country. It provides travel options for various modes of transportation, including trains, buses, ferries, and planes, and includes operators like Indian Railways, FlixBus, and other local transportation companies. Not all who wander... If you're tired of juggling spreadsheets, notes, and email confirmations, Wanderlog is a godsend. It lets you build detailed itineraries with drag-and-drop ease, integrating reservations, flights, maps, and activity lists in one place. You can add restaurants, attractions, and custom notes, then view your plans by day, map, or timeline. Wanderlog is especially great for group trips—it offers collaborative planning, so everyone can pitch in and stay on the same page. And unlike some planners, it works offline too. TripIt shines in its simplicity: forward any confirmation email (flights, hotels, car rentals, etc.) to a designated address, and it automatically builds a master itinerary. You can access it anytime, even offline. For frequent travelers, the Pro version offers real-time flight alerts, gate changes, and reward point tracking. It may not be as flashy as some newer apps, but TripIt excels at consolidating scattered information into a single, stress-free view of your trip. Culture vulture The best app to discover authentic local experiences. While most travelers want to see the major attractions, if you are among those seeking authentic experiences—places locals go, hidden gems, and stories behind the destination—Culture Trip will curate content created by locals, blending destination guides with personal essays, offbeat tips, and neighborhood deep-dives—think of it as part travel planner, part magazine. The app has information and articles on trips within India as well. If you are one for always finding scenic routes and quirky stops, Roadtrippers is the app for you—especially if you are travelling to the USA and Canada. It helps plan car journeys with a focus on discovering unique roadside attractions, scenic points, diners, and offbeat museums. Simply enter your start and end points, and the app maps a route with interesting detours and must-see places. The app also calculates fuel costs and allows for collaboration, making it great for group road trips. The US and Canada have the best coverage, but it's expanding. Packing made easy Overpacking and underpacking are both travel woes that PackPoint helps solve. Input your destination, travel dates, type of trip (business, beach, hiking), and PackPoint generates a customized packing list that factors in weather forecasts and activities. You can tweak it manually and even share your list with others. It's a small but mighty tool that saves time, reduces stress, and ensures you don't forget essentials like chargers or umbrellas. Veg only For vegetarian and vegan travelers, finding food on the road can be a challenge—especially in places where plant-based diets are uncommon. Enter HappyCow, a crowd-sourced guide to vegan and vegetarian restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and health food stores around the world. With listings in over 180 countries, HappyCow offers reviews, photos, and filters (like gluten-free or organic) to help you find the best plant-based meals wherever you go. It also lists places with veg-friendly options, so even omnivores traveling with vegans can benefit. There are over 2000 listings for India! Down the drain Flush does exactly what it promises: helps you locate the nearest public restroom, fast. With a clean interface and offline access, it's a life-saver during long days of sightseeing or transit. The database includes thousands of toilets around the world, with filters for disabled access and paid vs. free options. Not glamorous, but absolutely practical. Sources claim that the app lists over 13,000 toilets in 11 Indian cities, but we could not verify this. First Published: 4 May 2025, 09:00 AM IST
