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Temperatures are ticking up and the scent of sunscreen is in the air. Both signal one question: Where will your family go on summer vacation this year, preferably without breaking the bank?
There’s always San Diego, the bastion of SoCal fun and culture. The sunny city topped Travel + Leisure’s list of 13 affordable family vacations to take in 2019, followed by Winter Park, Colo., St. Louis, Miss., and a few international spots, so there’s something for every type of travel itch.
According to the editors, the key to keeping a family getaway cheap is “to pick a destination with plenty of free and cheap attractions, while also having properties that welcome kids with complimentary amenities.” The Hotel Del Coronado, for instance, offers mermaid lessons and treasure hunts on the beach.
Colorado’s resort town may be named after the coldest season of the year, but it’s a gem in the summer, when rates at the Winter Park Resort start at $89, and families can enjoy hiking, biking, horseback riding and rafting, not to mention summer tubing at nearby Snow Mountain Ranch.
Looking for a global experience? Travel + Leisure recommends Lisbon, Portugal, where you can explore castles and palaces and take a scenic tour of the city’s steep hills aboard a tram that costs less than $4. Austria’s capital also made the list for its Vienna Pass, which gives travelers free access to more than 60 of the city’s top attractions, including a giant Ferris wheel and the world’s oldest zoo, Tiergarten Schoenbrunn, which dates back to 1752.
With that, here are Travel + Leisure’s top 13 affordable summer vacations:
