Hot Winter Vacation Spots For Less

By: Brian Dakss

If the holidays have left you needing a vacation, you're not alone! And you don't have to wait until spring to get some R&R.

Travel and Leisure magazine Senior Editor Heidi Sherman Mitchell

suggests destinations

that could offer lots of fun without breaking the bank.

She explained on The Early Show Thursday that you can find good deals, if you keep an open mind.

"First," she told co-anchor Julie Chen, "think about if you want a hot destination or cold destination, and how flexible you are and how far you're willing to travel. Remember, it's high season in places that have snow or beaches, and prices can get pretty expensive.

"So you should think about booking packages, look at Web sites to see if there are any deals out there. And there can be some, especially in January, when we're just coming off the holiday season."

Mitchell's top five:

Whistler, British Columbia has become the "it" destination for winter. It's set to host the Winter Olympics in 2010. If you love to ski, this is a great destination, because there's great skiing as well as great non-ski activities. There are spas, great shopping, and dining. If you live on the West Coast, this is a definite must! The Four Seasons Hotel offers pampering off the slopes, while the skiing is as good (or better, some claim) as Aspen or Vail, Colo. Also, many of the locals are mostly between 20 and 34, so there's a lot of ambient energy on the streets.

The Four Seasons Resort, Whistler is a great luxury choice ($417); also the less expensive Pan Pacific Whistler.

For families, there are 700 acres of newly-opened, patrolled back-country (as opposed to off-site, which isn't patrolled).

Also, the currency rate is great for Americans, so it's very affordable.

Lake Placid, N.Y. is a great place to check out if you're in the Northeast. The former Olympic site has a wide range of winter activities for both kids and adults. Lake Placid has long been a favorite of Travel and Leisure editors. They love its accessibility and its family atmosphere.

Stay at Mirror Lake Inn Resort & Spa (from the Travel and Leisure 500 list of best hotels), rooms from $270 a night, surrounded by seven secluded acres. You can do all the winter sports there, and there's an 11,000 square foot spa. They also have a club for kids.