These CT Vacation Spots Offer Luxury On A Budget, New Ranking Says

CONNECTICUT — Connecticut residents who want a luxury vacation without the sticker shock can find affordable escapes without traveling too far from home, according to a new ranking.

The financial media company MarketBeat lists three Connecticut vacation spots in its ranking of the top 120 “bougie-on-a-budget” travel destinations:

Essex, No. 61: Travelers' life-list "1,000 Places to See Before You Die" named Middlesex County town Essex "The Perfect Small American Town." New England style influencer Kristy Cadwallader blogged, "The tree-lined streets beg for leisurely walks. You’ll want to stop and stare at every home you pass by. The architecture is beautiful." Essex is also home to the historic Griswold Inn which dates back to 1776, and the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat Cruises ooze charm.

Stonington Borough, No. 83: The town center of Stonington in New London County, "The Borough" is dripping in history and the maritime aesthete. But don't let any of that distract you from the shopping. The eclectic shops and boutiques are "each a universe unto itself," and the antiquing is to die for, if that's your thing. Then there's that famously fancy lighthouse…

Chester, No. 117: An "idyllic little New England gem," Chester, also in Middlesex, "makes for a wonderful day trip, or quiet getaway," raves New England travel guide New England Wanderlust. The duo behind foodie IG Sister Snacking say they're "obsessed with Chester, CT that’s like a mini Hallmark movie set!" They steer their followers to Otto Pizza, and their "number one restaurant in all of Connecticut, Grano Arso."

See Also: This CT Restaurant Named To Top 100 In America: New List

What the 120 destinations have in common is that “they feel luxurious, but remain under-the-radar — and under budget,” MarketBeat said.

Nationally, the top 10 affordable luxury vacation destinations and MarketBeat’s observations are:

1. Twin Lakes, Colorado: Rich with outdoorsy experience, “the luxury is the view.”
2. Kaunakakai, Hawaii: With “million dollar views,” Kaunakakai offers a “stripped-down, soulful Hawaii experience.”
3. Cold Spring, New York: An hour outside of New York City, the Hudson Valley village is “full of antique shops, art galleries and stylish cafés — all nestled between leafy mountains and the water’s edge.”
4. Mount Dora, Florida: Mount Dora, which is set on a chain of lakes in central Florida, “serves up small-town charm with upscale flourishes.”
5. Cape May Point, New Jersey: Absent the bustle of Cape May proper, the Point is “quieter, wilder, and full of dunes, shorebirds, and Victorian rentals tucked into quiet streets.”
6. Saranac Lake, New York: West of Lake Placid, the lake “offers Adirondack charm without Olympic crowds or prices. … It’s pure lake-life calm.”
7. Grand Rivers, Kentucky: “Tucked between two massive lakes (Lake Barkley and Lake Kentucky), this boating town has the relaxed elegance of a coastal getaway.”
8. Paris, Kentucky: The town has an Eiffel Tower replica, “but the real draw is nearby Kentucky Lake, where you can rent a stylish cabin, sip something cold by the water, and enjoy a calm, upscale-feeling summer escape that still flies under the radar.”
9. Dauphin Island, Florida: The coastal charm here is “less about crowds and more about barefoot walks, bird sanctuaries, and beachfront cottages that still come at off-the-radar prices.”
10. Los Alamos, California: The one-road town in Santa Barbara wine country “feels like Napa’s bohemian cousin.” Amenities include boutique inns “that haven’t caught on price-wise.”

MarketBeat’s ranking is based on a July panel survey of 3,011 professionals in the travel industry based on age, gender, and geography.

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