Best Winter Holiday Destinations 2025: WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo Explains the Rankings
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/11/22
Chip Lupo of WalletHub discusses the site’s 2025 winter holiday destination rankings, split between cold- and warm-weather metros. Chicago, Atlanta, Washington, St. Louis, and Cincinnati lead cold locales; Las Vegas, San Diego, Austin, Dallas, and Phoenix top warm ones. Lupo explains a methodology covering six dimensions—travel costs, local costs, attractions, activities, safety, and weather—plus 37 granular metrics, including flight data, crime, and pedestrian safety. He notes price dynamics at hubs, accessibility differences, and why Las Vegas remains affordable. Surprises included strong showings from St. Louis and Cincinnati. Personal picks: Washington, D.C., for culture in the cold; San Diego for sunshine.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: We’re here with Chip Lupo from WalletHub, an analyst with the company. Today we’re talking about the best winter holiday destinations for 2025 — in a way, a look back at the year. The top five cold-weather metro areas are Chicago, Atlanta, Washington, St. Louis, and Cincinnati. The top five warm-weather metro areas are Las Vegas, San Diego, Austin, Dallas, and Phoenix. Is this list based solely on weather, or what metrics did you use to determine the best destinations?
Chip Lupo: In the United States, we’re geographically positioned so that during the winter months we have regions that embrace traditional winter weather and others that are warm year-round or have above-average temperatures. That gives people options depending on their preferences.
We divided the list into cold- and warm-weather destinations to match different travel interests. Personally, I enjoy having seasons — not extremes — so I avoid places where it’s 40 below zero or scorching hot in summer. I prefer balance.
We compared 69 of the most populated U.S. metropolitan areas and evaluated them across six key dimensions: travel costs, local costs, attractions, activities, safety, and weather. We also included 37 additional metrics, such as flight data and weather predictions, because even warm-weather climates can experience extremes — from natural disasters to sudden temperature drops over a few days.
Jacobsen: This analysis focuses on the United States, so travel costs and hassles are domestic factors. Why are some cities more expensive or more difficult to travel to than others? I’d assume they’d be roughly the same.
Lupo: Some areas, while great for winter travel, are major tourist destinations like Las Vegas. Interestingly, Las Vegas is relatively affordable because it’s a gambling and entertainment hub — prices are often kept competitive to attract visitors. On the warm list, Las Vegas ranks first, with San Diego second and Austin third.
Washington, D.C., the nation’s capital, is also a major tourist area but very expensive. The cost of living is high, and getting in and out of the region’s airports (including Baltimore/Washington) can be challenging. Phoenix has a modern airport and connects to regional light rail via the free PHX Sky Train, though the broader transit network is less extensive than in some cities.
Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson is the busiest airport in the U.S. (and the world by passengers). Chicago O’Hare is also among the busiest, with Dallas/Fort Worth and Denver typically ranking near it in passenger traffic. Winter holiday spikes for Thanksgiving and Christmas push volumes even higher at these hubs.
Jacobsen: Let’s talk methodology. The main factors seem to be travel costs and hassles, local costs, attractions, weather, activities, and safety — essentially getting there, staying there, and what you can do once you arrive. Is that a fair characterization?
Lupo: And being able to do things safely — without fear of incidents, whether from crime or pedestrian hazards. If you’re in a walkable city, you want to be able to move around tourist areas without the risk of being hit by a vehicle. Of course, we also looked at violent and property crime rates. One of the metrics we included for pedestrian safety was DUI-related fatal incidents, since many accidents unfortunately result from drunk driving.
Jacobsen: I’m seeing Corpus Christi listed as the least safe.
Lupo: Corpus Christi is, yes. It’s located in South Texas and ranks low for safety. It’s fairly limited in attractions, and it’s right near the southern border, where there are certain safety concerns. There’s also limited access in and out of the area — it doesn’t have a major international airport nearby. Weather there can also be unpredictable; conditions can change suddenly due to geography. But primarily, the low ranking is due to higher crime rates and general safety issues associated with its location.
Jacobsen: Were there any parts of the analysis that surprised you — factors that ended up mattering more than expected, whether travel costs, safety, or something else?
Lupo: I was a bit surprised that St. Louis and Cincinnati ranked as high as they did, but when you look at the details, it makes sense. Both are cold-weather destinations with plenty of attractions, easy accessibility, and relative affordability. What holds them back slightly are crime rates that are above average. During the holiday season, crime rates often tick up a bit, but overall, both cities have a lot to offer. Cincinnati can get quite cold in winter, though.
As for the warm-weather destinations, there weren’t many surprises. Las Vegas and San Diego topped the list. Personally, I’d bump San Diego to number one. Las Vegas obviously has unmatched entertainment, but San Diego maintains an average year-round temperature of about 72°F — roughly 22°C — and beautiful weather. Still, Las Vegas edges it out because of the sheer number of activities available.
Jacobsen: The analysis sources include the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the FBI, the Council for Community and Economic Research, Kayak, and TripAdvisor. It looks like you used a broad mix of official government data and public review platforms like TripAdvisor and Yelp. Is that a fair characterization?
Lupo: It is. We always strive for balance. In a study like this, we rely on travel-related websites such as Kayak to assess travel costs and TripAdvisor to gauge public consensus on popular destinations. Yelp is useful for local reviews. For official data, we use sources like the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, and the FBI. And for pedestrian and vehicle-related safety data, we rely on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), especially for tracking issues like drunk driving.
Jacobsen: One last question — based on this survey, what are your two top picks for winter and warm-weather destinations?
Lupo: For me, if I’m venturing into cold weather, I’d probably choose Washington, D.C. as a destination. There’s always something to do there, though I’ll admit commuting in the city can be a challenge once you arrive.
For warm weather, I’d go with San Diego. It offers a comfortable, year-round climate that’s hard to beat.
That said, during the winter holidays — Thanksgiving and Christmas — I tend to prefer colder destinations. Those holidays feel traditional to me in a colder setting, even though in recent years we’ve sometimes had temperatures in the 70s on Christmas Day. Still, I lean toward cold weather this time of year, as long as it’s not too cold.
Jacobsen: Chip, we’re out of time. Thank you very much for your time again today.
Lupo: Fantastic. We’ll talk again soon.
Jacobsen: See you soon. Bye.
Lupo: Bye.
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