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

Floridians 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 two Florida vacation spots in its ranking of the top 120 “bougie-on-a-budget” travel destinations.

Florida destinations, their rankings nationally, and what they offer:

No. 4 Mount Dora: Set on a chain of lakes in Central Florida, Mount Dora serves up small-town charm with upscale flourishes: antique shops, waterfront wine bars, and sunset cruises. It’s the perfect antidote to beach traffic and summer crowds.

According to Visit Florida, the town "just 35 minutes northwest of Orlando, is a relaxing lakefront getaway with a bustling downtown, charming bed and breakfasts, and an abundance of parks and green spaces. … Dubbed “Festival City,” Mount Dora hosts more than 30 festivals a year, and its year-round entertainment schedule means there’s always something to do. In addition to the longstanding Mount Dora Arts Festival, the city’s arts and culture scene offers a variety of galleries and museums, including Modernism Museum Mount Dora, where visitors can also dine on contemporary Florida cuisine at 1921 Mount Dora and shop at the museum store. For a sampling of what local restaurants have to offer, take a food and wine tasting tour."

No. 11 Apalachicola: According to Florida's Forgotten Coast, Apalachicola "is a warm, welcoming port town bursting with hometown charm, friendly folks and rich maritime history. Nestled on the mouth of the Apalachicola River, this small coastal city is home to bustling seafood houses, weather-worn shrimp boats and stately historical buildings. … Throughout Apalachicola’s historic downtown commercial district, visitors will stumble across eclectic boutiques, unique eateries, art galleries and popular music venues tucked into brick, tin-roofed warehouses. "

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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