The autumn leaves are done changing colors, there’s a new distinct chill in the morning air, and we’re all digging our heavy sweaters out of the back of our closets. Yes, winter is almost here — and that’s exactly why you should start plotting your warm-weather escape right now. 

In late October, WalletHub shared its list of the best winter holiday destinations for the 2024/2025 season, including both the best cold and warm-weather getaways. 

It created its list by analyzing 70 of the largest metro areas in the United States, grouping them by either “warm” or “cold” destinations. It then analyzed each on 37 key metrics, including two weeks of flight data, safety indicators, and weather predictions, to uncover the cheapest U.S. destinations that are also the easiest to get to for most travelers. 

“Compared with other rankings that focus on each destination’s scenic quality, this report focuses primarily on the cost and convenience of traveling to each location as well as its affordability,” the team wrote in its list. “This report also ensures the number of attractions and the variety of activities in each destination will keep everyone busy and entertained throughout the trip.” 

After doing all that hard work, the WalletHub team named none other than Las Vegas as its No. 1 warm-weather choice. 

“The Las Vegas metro area is the best warm-weather winter travel destination of 2024,” WalletHub proclaimed. “Las Vegas surprisingly has affordable accommodations during the winter travel season, with the lowest price of a 3-star hotel room at just $35 per night. Las Vegas is a bit more expensive to actually get to than other cities, though, with the cheapest flights from major cities costing $328, with an average of 0.5 connections.” And if you’re wondering about those “.5 connections,” it means there are more direct flights than connecting flights, making travel super easy. 

As WalletHub added, Sin City is the clear winner thanks to its “abundance of attractions, including an especially high number of amusement parks and shopping centers. The metro area also has plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities, with the sixth-best parks in the country and a high number of basketball courts, bike rental facilities, and public golf courses per capita. In addition, Las Vegas is one of the best places for affordable, high-quality restaurants.”

Other destinations that joined Las Vegas at the top of the list include San Diego, which came in second thanks to its excellent weather, cheap flights, and also its own .5 connections. It was joined by Dallas, Austin, Phoenix, and Houston rounding out the top five.

See all the other warm-weather possibilities at wallethub.com.