breck beckons

Charming Colorado ski escape and Texas coastal town top Houston's favorite spring break destinations

Houstonians really love Breckenridge Ski Resort, per the new report.

Breckenridge Ski Resort/Facebook

Spring break is top-of-mind for many Houstonians, and many are escaping our humidity for crisp Colorado air and ski resorts.

And in the latest report from vacation rental specialist Key Data, more Houston spring breakers have set their sights on the Breckenridge Ski Resort more than any other destination. Two other Colorado ski resorts in Steamboat Springs (No. 2) and Vail (No. 3) are also at the top of the list.

Key Data determined their rankings based on the average nightly rate, the number of nights sold, the total accommodation cost, and the length of stay by travelers from Houston who made bookings in the month of March.

Though many Houstonians will stay in the great state of Texas, they won’t be sitting idle at home. They’ll be off to Port Aransas, which was ranked the No. 4 top destination for spring breakers in the report. Coming in at the No. 5 spot for the top destinations for Houston spring breakers is a city in the sunshine state: Destin, Florida.

For the curious minds wondering how much the average spring break stay is for the ski resort in Breckenridge, Key Data’s figured it out. The cost of the average 4.4-night accommodation at the resort adds up to $679 per night, or just over $3000 total. For those looking to stay closer to home by traveling to Port A, you’d be surprised to learn you’re not saving much money. Visitors will spend $852 per night, or $3,704 total for accommodations in Port A for the same amount of time as a spring break vacationer in Colorado.

In a press release, Key Data’s executive director of data insights Melanie Brown said the city’s spring breakers are divided into two categories this year: vacationers looking to see the mountains and embrace the snow, and those who want to catch some rays at the beach.

“Houstonians are having to part with quite large sums to stay in these locations, reflecting the huge popularity of these destinations with travelers from all over the US,” she explained.

The top 5 destinations for Houston spring breakers is:

No. 1 – Breckenridge, Colorado
No. 2 – Steamboat Springs, Colorado
No. 3 – Vail, Colorado
No. 4 – Port Aransas
No. 5 – Destin, Florida

Key Data also determined that 11 million nights for this year’s spring break week have been booked through online vacation rental marketplaces like Airbnb and Vrbo. That’s up 22 percent from last year, which accounted for 9.4 million nights.

The full report can be found at keydatadashboard.com.

houston spring break colorado florida port aransas spring break destinations

only the best in HOU

Houston's IAH soars as 4th best airport for holiday travel in 2024

George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston

George Bush Intercontinental Airport/Facebook

Houstonians are in safe hands at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Houston's punctual and award-winning George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) has just been rated the fourth best airport in the country for the upcoming holiday travel season, so says a new report by travel experts Locals Insider.

The study examined the percentage of on-time departure flights at 50 of the biggest airports in America to discover the 10 best and worst airports for traveling during the holidays. Departure statistics and reasons for delays were analyzed from November 17, 2023 to January 3, 2024.

According to the report's findings, IAH had an on-time departure rate of 85.8 percent during the 2023 holiday period. That means out of the 13,921 total scheduled flights departing from the airport, only 1,976 flights were delayed. That's a pretty good track record.

IAH has been working hard to deliver the best travel experiences for its passengers, including opening its new Terminal D, investing in much-needed bathroom upgrades, showing off its award-winning art and entertainment program, and providing top notch dining experiences.

Though IAH appeared on Locals Insider's top 10 best list, Houston's William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) descended onto the travel guide's 10 worst U.S. airports for holiday travel this year.

Appearing at No. 8, HOU isn't the worst offender on the list, but its holiday season delay and cancellation rate in 2023 was 22 percent.

"Although Houston’s William P Hobby experiences fewer departing flights compared to other airports on our top 10 list, it’s still prone to disruptions," the report's author wrote. "Overall, more than one in five (22 percent) of departing flights are either delayed or canceled during the holidays."

The study's data found 1,178 holiday flights at HOU were cancelled in 2023, and only 19 were delayed.

Ranking as the No. 1 best airport for holiday travel is Washington Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., which had an 88.6 percent on-time departure rate.

For Houstonians that will be traveling this holiday season, Locals Insider recommended five best-practice tips for a smooth travel experience: Book an early morning flight as those are less prone to delays (additionally, book a direct flight), apply for TSA PreCheck to avoid long screening processes, and budget more time to arrive early to the airport.

The report also suggests packing light and shipping gifts to their intended destination ahead of time.

"Even the TSA recommends shipping your wrapped gifts rather than packing them in your luggage or carry-on," the report said.

The top 10 best U.S. airports for holiday travel in 2024 are:

No. 1 – Washington Dulles International
No. 2 – Minneapolis-St. Paul International
No. 3 – Salt Lake City International
No. 4 – George Bush Intercontinental
No. 5 – Ronald Reagan Washington National
No. 6 – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
No. 7 – Newark Liberty International
No. 8 – Detroit Metro Wayne County
No. 9 – Chicago O'Hare International
No. 10 – Charlotte Douglas International

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics defines the Thanksgiving travel period from November 17-28, and the winter holiday travel period from December 14 through January 3, 2024. The study included data from both holiday travel periods, sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Airline Service Quality Performance System (ASQP).