Top Five Off-Peak Destinations For Winter 2014/2015

Four Seasons Denver (Photo: TripAdvisor, LLC)

Don't let fear of cold weather cloud your vision of the perfect winter vacation. Low-season trips to spots where winter weather reigns are where it's at, for many reasons. An off-peak destination affords budget travelers the rare chance to splurge: Luxury accommodations and flight upgrades become within reach during winter at popular destinations around the world. Plus, crowds are sparse and deals are plentiful. Here are five awesome and affordable spots to consider visiting this winter.

Blue Lagoon (Photo: Icelandair)

Iceland

For those of us in the northern hemisphere, it may seem counterintuitive to head north for the winter. However, Iceland offers thermal refuge during the coldest months of the year thanks to its many geothermally heated springs and pools. A hike through the Icelandic countryside often yields the chance to submerge in steamy hot springs. And the celebrated bath-like Blue Lagoon is, arguably, best visited on a brisk winter day, when the toasty mineral waters and blood-warming cocktails offer a welcome thaw.

Airfares to Iceland during winter are notably lower than those in summer. Icelandair, which flies from eight U.S. cities to the Nordic country and beyond, is a great choice for low-priced winter airfare. We spotted flights from New York to Reykjavik for as low as $622 round-trip in early February, via a Hacker Fare on Kayak (combining flights on Icelandair and Norwegian Air). The lowest fares we found for June and July travel started at $837 round-trip.

Iceland is also the perfect place for a winter stopover if you're heading to Europe. Check out Icelandair's free stopover package and take advantage of those affordable low-season airfares.

Hotel Monaco, Philadelphia (Photo: TripAdvisor, LLC)

Philadelphia

Philadelphia is an ideal winter destination because so many of its top historical attractions are indoors. It doesn't really matter how cold it is outside when you're taking in a Matisse at the Barnes, exploring Independence Hall, or fiddling with hands-on exhibits at the newly renovated Benjamin Franklin Museum. Plus, there'll be far fewer crowds to contend with while you're learning about Mr. Franklin's affinity for musical inventions and printmaking.

Not all Philadelphia properties offer clearly discounted seasonal rates. Still, it's common to see comparatively lower prices at many hotels during winter, and it didn't take us long to unearth a few examples: At the Hotel Monaco Philadelphia, we found rates in late December for as low as $135 per night, compared to June, when the lowest nightly rates amount to $189. At Rittenhouse 1715, nightly room rates start at $219 during January; in spring, those prices bump up to $239.

(Photo: Bucharest via Shutterstock)

Bucharest

Bucharest made our list of 10 Places to Go While They're Still Cheap this year. It's almost always inexpensive to visit Bucharest, compared to other major European cities. Better yet, it's an even more affordable place to visit during winter. From airfares to hotel rates, prices drop sharply with the temperature. This winter, you can get from JFK to Bucharest on Turkish Airlines for as little as $724 round-trip, with a stop in Istanbul. (Try a free stopover and get two cities for the flight price of one.)

Hotels are cheaper too, naturally. At Hotel Christina, the number-one rated Bucharest hotel according to TripAdvisor (our parent company), prices are the lowest all year during winter months. In February, for example, nightly rates come to €50 (about $63). In June, though, rates jump to €70 (about $87) per night. At Hotel Epoque, the best available rate in June came to €170 (about $212). In January, you can grab a room at this historical and luxurious property for as little as €128 (about $159) per night.

(Photo: Banff Lake Louise Tourism/Paul Zizka Photography)

Banff National Park

Banff National Park is achingly beautiful in wintertime. Whether seen from the ground by sleigh, snowshoe, or dogsled or viewed from the comfort of a fire-warmed room, the park's snow-dusted mountains and turquoise lake appear dreamlike against a pale winter sky.

Banff is full of well-known luxury properties that can cost an arm and a leg come spring and summer--but we found rates dropping by almost half during winter. For example, let's look at the local Fairmont resorts: If you want to stay at Banff's iconic and luxurious Fairmont Banff Spring, go soon. During winter, rates fall as low as $359 CAD (about $317) per night. Comparatively, the best available rate in July is $609 CAD (about $539). Same goes for the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Grab January rates starting at $299 CAD (about $265). In June? Those prices skyrocket to $559 CAD (about $495) nightly. Moreover, both properties are offering a range of deals during winter, from free nights to complimentary resort credits with your stay.

(Photo: Denver via Shutterstock)

Denver

It's rare to see a U.S. ski destination offering lower seasonal rates during winter. There's an exception, though: Denver, Colorado. Though it isn't exactly a ski spot itself, the Mile-High City makes an ideal base for winter sports. It's close to Winter Park Resort and Loveland Ski Area. Plus, Rocky Mountain National Park, about an hour away, offers non-downhill activities, from hiking to snowshoeing to cross-country skiing in pristine park wilderness. Rent a car, take a few day trips, and return to Denver after the sun sets to enjoy the city's fabulous nightlife and restaurants. The best part? You'll save money on accommodations, and you can fly right into Denver International.

There's a general uptick in Denver room rates when the weather gets warmer. At theFour Seasons Denver, for example, weekday winter rates start at $525 per night in January. Comparatively, weekday nights in June cost $100 more. Denver's Magnolia Hotel offers weekday January rates from $215 per night. In June, those rates rise to $242.

Contributed by Caroline Costello, Smarter Travel

Follow us on Twitter: @TraveloreReport

'Gett' App Offering Unlimited $10 Car Rides In Manhattan For The Rest Of 2014

This is kind of -- scratch that, TOTALLY -- awesome.

New "black car" app Gett is offering unlimited rides throughout Manhattan for a measly $10 during the rest of 2014, the New York Post reports.

The promotion starts today -- users must simply download the app and book one of the service's 3,000-odd cars to begin booking flat-rate rides.

It doesn't matter if you're going from "Harlem to Wall Street," stated an official app release. It "doesn’t matter if you’re stuck in traffic for 2 hours," either.

This is probably the most exciting thing to happen since ride service Uber announced a collaboration with United Airlines last month. Uber has quickly gained traction in the NYC area, duking it out with standard taxis for customers.

The Gett app, whose user interface looks uncannily similar to Uber's, launched in NYC last year. It calls itself "Uber's #1 competitor."

And with prices like these, we've gotta say Uber is getting a run for its (literal) money.

The Huffington Post  | By Suzy Strutner

Follow us on Twitter: @TraveloreReport

What Nobody Tells You About Your Favorite Tourist Attractions

We've all felt the blow of a travel letdown and ridden the high when a place far exceeds our expectations.

Before your next visit to a major tourist attraction, brace yourself -- for better or for worse -- by learning what you're really in for.

The Great Wall of China is STEEP.
One trekker recalls ascending 4,000 stairs just to get to the lowest possible entry point for a walk along the Wall. Sure there’s a gondola, but that’s beside the point -- we would just wish someone had told us what a monster the thing was before we decided to hike it. 

There's a Pizza Hut at the Pyramids. 
...and it's right on top of a KFC, which means the views of Giza are priceless. Watch out for the camel handlers outside, though: they've been known to pitch a modest price for a ride, then make you pay exorbitant amounts to get down from the camel. 

The "Mona Lisa" plays hard to get. 
A line divider keeps visitors far from the painting itself. Stuck behind hordes of camera-wielding tourists, you'll be even farther.

You can touch stuff at Pompeii.
If the "Mona Lisa" is so off-limits, you'd think ancient ruins would be encased in a massive glass box. Yet you can touch, stand and sit on many of Pompeii's remnants. 

Dead Sea salt will fry your eyeballs.
"Fry" might not be the correct medical term, but it will indeed burn like crazy. The Dead Sea is one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world, so you should avoid shaving your legs a few days before your dip and make sure you don't dunk your face -- it'll hurt. And "if you swallow seawater, request help from the lifeguard."

Iguazu Falls can be... brown?
When imagining "one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world," cascades of turquoise blue likely come to mind. But be warned: the water is closer to the tone of rich Brazilian coffee in some spots due to deforestation and during times ofheavy rainfall. 

There's a quicker way up the Eiffel Tower.
Ascending the Parisian jewel is no easy experience: it's not unusual to wait hours for an elevator. Sneaky shortcuts include buying tickets online to pre-book an arrival slot or climbing the stairs to the second level instead of taking a lift from the bottom like most tourists.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa isn't "leaning" as much anymore.
"Straightening out" is the more appropriate verb -- the tower recovered almost an inch of its vertical incline between 2001 and 2013. Visitors also complain that there's not much to do in Pisa itself (though some would disagree). Most guided tours drive you in, let you snap some photos, and bus you right back out.

Lady Liberty is exclusive.
You must reserve a spot ahead of time to enter the Statue of Liberty's headpiece. There's a maximum of four crown reservations allowed per order and only one reservation per person during any six-month period.

The Gardens of Versailles are better than the Palace.
This isn't the dinky plot of flowers behind most castles -- the gardens and park spill over almost 2,000 acres of fairytale-ish fountains, grottoes and pathways. Don't skip them!

You can't just "go see 'The Last Supper.'"
Da Vinci's famous painting is in the refectory (aka dining hall) of the Santa Maria delle Grazie convent in Milan, but don't you dare think it's possible to just saunter in. You'll need to reserve a visitation time up to two months in advance, and you can only stay inside the refectory for 15 minutes. If tickets are sold out, risk it by going standby, or consider joining a guided tour that includes the painting as a stop.

Old Faithful isn't very faithful.
You could wait around for almost two hours before that big guy erupts. 

Photos are forbidden in the Sistine Chapel.
Even sneaking a shot is near impossible.

The Grand Canyon doesn't take drop-ins.
It's a stunning sight from the rim. But if you're craving more, don't count on a casual jaunt to the Canyon floor. The National Park Service warns there are no easy trails into or out of the Canyon: "the difference between a great hike or a trip to the hospital is up to you." Day hikes exist, but can be long and might include unpaved trails, icy conditions or a total absence of water stops. Don't forget thatcoming up takes twice as long as hiking down.

Solo shots at the Trevi Fountain are RARE.
Photos come easy for Lizzie McGuire, but you'll have to fight for yours. Do you SEE those crowds?!

 |Contributed By Suzy Strutner,The Huffington Post 

Follow us on Twitter: @TraveloreReport