Airfare prices will increase by 3.5 percent while hotel prices are predicted to increase by 3.7 percent across the globe, according to a recent report from global travel management company Carlson Wagonlit Travel and the GBTA Foundation. Amid the rise in the cost of travel, it may be worth it to take a budget trip in 2018.
Small cities can offer travelers quality experiences without skimping on value, according to travel consulting firm Resonance Consultancy.
In a new ranking, Resonance Consultancy evaluated the best small cities across a number of measures. Using survey responses from people who have traveled in the cities, the rankings factored in features such as tourist attractions, landmarks, quality of life and economic activity.
Here are the best small cities in the U.S. in ascending order:
12. Anchorage, Alaska
Population:
City: 298,192
Metro: 398,000
Fourth Avenue Theatre, a beloved landmark in Anchorage, survived the devastating 1964 earthquake and stands in the heart of the city’s bustling entertainment district. Not surprisingly, the city ranked fifth for its neighborhoods and landmarks.
11. Colorado Springs, Colo.
Population:
City: 465,101
Metro: 688,643
Colorado Springs improved six spots from last year’s list and ranked fourth in culinary and culture. The city is home to several Food Network shows, including Chopped, and Cooks vs. Cons and Diners.
10. Asheville, N.C.
Population:
City: 87,531
Metro: 441,724
Asheville is an artsy Bohemian city filled with events, festivals and culture. The region has a $383 million tourism economy, and more breweries per capita (25 in town) than any other American city, according to the report.
9. Myrtle Beach, N.C.
Population:
City: 30,106
Metro: 419,585
Seventeen million visitors flock to Myrtle Beach each year. The city now features a 1.2-mile-long oceanfront boardwalk, complete with promenade facilitates. About 54 direct daily flights bring beachgoers to town every day and the waters are known to be consistently calm.
8. Madison, Wisc.
Population:
City: 246,034
Metro: 634,269
Madison ranked fourth in promotions, as visitors consistently checked in on Facebook, shared and tagged their location on Instagram, and wrote reviews about their experiences here. The city is also a surrounded by nature—the city has triple the national average for parkland per resident, according to the report.
7. Tulsa, Okla.
Population:
City: 399,906
Metro: 970,603
Tulsa ranked second in the prosperity category and has been mentioned as a great hub for millennials looking to build their careers. By 2019, the city will be home to a $20 million, 6,000-object Bob Dylan Archive, down the road from the Guthrie Center, a museum devoted to Dylan hero and folk singer Woody Guthrie.
6. Reno, Nev.
Population:
City: 237,121
Metro: 443,855
Tesla’s battery plant has drawn in tech companies from all over the country. Apple, Amazon and Alphabet have moved to the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center, which is one of the largest industrial parks in the world. Tesla received 980 acres of free land and over $1 billion in tax breaks as a part of a deal with the state, according to the report.
5. El Paso, Texas
Population:
City: 678,058
Metro: 837,073
El Paso continues to reap the harvests of its 2012 $500-million bond initiative. So far, the investment has funded a Children’s Museum, a new arena and a cultural center in the growing downtown area.
4. Charleston, S.C.
Population:
City: 129,888
Metro: 728,271
Charleston ranked second in the "place" category, which evaluates a city’s crime rate, air quality, weather, neighborhoods, landmarks and the availability of parks and outdoor activities. The city is also recognized as one of the most architecturally significant locations in North America, according to the report.
3. Albuquerque, N.M.
Population:
City: 556,859
Metro: 904,486
Albuquerque was ranked the second-most cultural small city and second in the museums category. The city has over galleries, theaters, a symphony orchestra and a lively opera scene that’s getting a lot of national attention, according to the study.
2. Omaha, Nebr.
Population:
City: 443,072
Metro: 904,834
Omaha is home to the most Fortune 500 companies among cities with less than 1 million residents. Berkshire Hathaway, Union Pacific Railroad, Peter Kiewit Son’s and The Mutual of Omaha call this small city home, and new companies have continued to migrate to Omaha over the last 10 years, according to the report.
1. Honolulu
Population:
City: 349,597
Metro: 986,999
Honolulu ranked first in Instagram mentions. Visitors constantly update their social media with photos of epic sunsets and great views. Aside from the visuals, the culinary scene in Honolulu is booming. The capital city prioritizes strengthening the local supply chain: Many of its restaurants employ a farm-to-table preparation style that doesn’t involve a sidetrip in a cargo airliner, according to the report.
