The US hotspots where the cost of a holiday has risen the most have been revealed, with the most expensive spot costing visitors more than $400 a day on average.
Las Vegas emerged as the destination that has seen the biggest increase in vacation costs with a 47 percent increase in hotel prices over the past five years.
Accommodation now typically costs travelers around $252 per night.
Nevada City also saw car rental prices rise more than 60 percent to $77, while food costs hovered around $100 a day in 2023, according to Forbes Advisor.
The outlet ranked the 75 largest U.S. cities based on nine weighted metrics.
Las Vegas emerged as the destination that has seen the biggest increase in vacation costs with a 47 percent increase in hotel prices over the past five years.
It found that Tucson, Arizona, was the hotspot with the second-largest increase in vacation costs.
This food city, which was the first to receive the UNESCO City of Gastronomy designation in the US, saw huge increases in food and drink prices and ranked 13th on the list nationally in this category.
Accommodation costs saw the biggest increase, rising by almost a third, while car rental costs rose 15 percent to $53 a day.
Domestic flights to Tucson are down compared to 2019, but round-trip airfare still costs about $449 per person in the third quarter of 2023.
Sacramento, the capital of California, also saw massive vacation price inflation.
It saw the biggest increase in car rentals, up 37 percent, at a daily cost of about $58.42 per day.
Tucson, Arizona was the hotspot with the second-largest increase in vacation costs
Hotels cost almost $200 per night and three meals a day averaged $104 per day.
The city of New Orleans in Louisiana and San Antonio in Texas rounded out the five cities that saw the largest increase in travel costs.
However, Michigan’s Grand Rapids saw the largest price increase in meal prices, with a staggering 37 percent increase.
While inflation continues to affect the entire country, not all cities are affected equally.
In fact, tourists looking for a bargain should head to Indianapolis, where the cost of food, car rentals and airline tickets have dropped over the past five years.
The city saw the biggest drop in food prices of any part of the country, falling by almost a quarter.
Flights were twelve percent cheaper last year than in 2019, while the cost of car rental fell by six percent.
California’s capital, Sacramento, also saw massive vacation price inflation.
Lodging costs saw a slight increase of 2.25 percent to an average cost of $165.69 per night.
The other five cities with the smallest increases in travel costs were Oakland in California, Dayton in Ohio, Houston in Texas and Kansas City in Missouri.
Overall, the cost of domestic flights has skyrocketed to an average of $384 as of the end of last year.
For those looking to get a cheap getaway, Forbes advises using classic money-saving tactics, such as comparing prices on flights, hotels and car rentals.
Flexibility in travel dates and the exact neighborhood you’re staying in can also help reduce costs, depending on the outlet.
Meanwhile, rewards credit cards that earn points or miles can be used for perks like free meals, lounge access, or an extra night’s stay.
Typically, cards with a membership fee offer the biggest benefits, but even those with below-average credit scores can secure affordable getaways.
