Travel Leaders' Top Domestic Destinations For 2009

This year’s Travel Leader survey is filled top dollar destinations, but each one also has some hidden budget minded gems. Below is the list with my comments about each destination as well as travel time and air options from Nashville.

10. Chicago - The home of President-elect Obama and disgraced Governor Blagojevich, Chicago makes its first entry to the top 10 domestic destinations this year. While it is famously expensive, I found a few budget minded gems when I visited several years ago. Navy Pier is more than just a tourist trap, it offers some of the best views of the city as well as a free world class stained glass display.
Getting there on the cheap: 7 hours by car. Southwest by air.

9. San Francisco - Even more expensive than Chicago, San Francisco is difficult to do on a budget but there are some great cheap things to do. You can wander the streets of the largest Chinatown outside of Asia and be dazzled by the tea, jewelry, and shops. Or, you can walk across the Golden Gate Bridge for free and get the best views in the city. For more about San Francisco, check out the San Francisco Travel Examiner.
Getting There on the Cheap: Southwest

8. Washington, D.C. - You can get yourself in a lot of debt in D.C., paying top dollar for everything. Hmm, maybe that’s where the politicians get it from? You can also find some wonderful free gifts to the traveler. My favorite is the Smithsonian museum complex. Called America’s attic because of the wide variety of items housed in the many museums lining the National Mall between the Potomac River and the Capital, the Smithsonian houses pricesless artworks and historical artifacts and tells more stories than you can ever imagine-all for free! For more info about DC travel check out the Washington DC travel examiners.
Getting There on the Cheap: 10 hours by car. Southwest by air

7. Anchorage, AK - I’ve never been here before so I can’t offer any first hand experiences. But that’s the great thing about Examiner.com. We have a network of Examiners throughout the United States, including Anchorage. Check out the Alaska Transportation  Examiner page for details on how to take a free train trip!
Getting There on the Cheap: It's not cheap!

6. Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ - This bustling desert city is a golf oasis and gateway to the Desert Southwest. It is also a bustling tourist destination. I’ve only driven through here twice in thirty years. Luckily for you, there are a several Examiners covering travel in and around Phoenix.
Getting There on the Cheap: Southwest

5. New York City, NY - Ok, this is the third in a row that I haven’t visited. I can tell you it’s expensive and I can also tell you there are lots of Travel Examiners writing about all the great things. Check out their articles here.
Getting There on the Cheap: 14 hours by car. Southwest by air

4. Honolulu, HI - I’m back on familiar turf. Yeah, all of Hawaii is expensive, from getting there to sleeping there, to eating there. You can’t go wrong with the wide sandy beaches, even in pricey Waikiki a beach is still free, or taking in the moving USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.
Getting There on the Cheap: There is no cheap way. Plus, it takes 2 days to get back!

3. Maui, HI - I didn’t make it to Maui when I was in Hawaii but everyone says this is one of the most beautiful pieces of paradise in the United States. Check out Alternative Hawaii's Maui page for the best in budget travel on this island.
Getting There on the Cheap: See 4. Honolulu

2. Orlando, FL - This is a classic budget travel destination because of an abundance of cheap hotel rooms because of all the land. But lets be honest, people go to Orlando to see the Mouse. Disney World is why people want to go to Orlando. My favorite Disney money saving site is Mouse Savers. Be sure to check it out before your next visit. Of course, don’t forget to check out the Orlando Travel Examiners, too.
Getting There on the Cheap: 10 hours by car. Southwest by air.

1. Las Vegas, NV - An old school budget vacation, Vegas was once known as the home of the $1.00 buffets. In recent years it has gone through an upscale transformation. However, with the recent recession things have changed. An article I wrote a few days ago highlighted some of the recent deals.
Getting There on the Cheap: Southwest by air.