3 Underrated Winter Travel Destinations in the South That Won't Break the Bank

Like Santa Claus, many of us like to hit the open road for the winter to take advantage of time off work, escape the dreary weather, or just get a change of scenery ahead of the new year. But whereas Old Saint Nick can fly for free pretty much anywhere in the world, the rest of us have to work within our budgets to plan a trip that doesn't freeze our personal finance goals.

One region that could make for a great winter destination is the American South. Many parts of the South have mild winters, affordable accommodations, and stunning scenery. While you might be familiar with Miami and Nashville, here are three underrated places that could take the winter blues off your mind.

1. St. Petersburg, Florida

Located on the Gulf, St. Petersburg is a fun, vibrant city in Florida. Not far from Tampa, St. Pete is the final stop on a coastline of pristine beaches that runs 35 miles north to Clearwater. Art lovers can get lost in the city's Dalí Museum, home to some of his most famous paintings, like Lincoln in Dalivision, while beatniks could visit the home of Jack Kerouac. You can go to Sunset Beach and watch one of the most beautiful sunsets you'll ever see, or you can opt for something more adventurous and parasail above the Gulf.

As a former resident of Treasure Island, which is 20 minutes from St. Pete, I can say winter is the best time to visit. The beaches are empty, hotel rates are low, and the weather is so warm it would be considered summer in most other places. Plus, you can avoid hurricane season and the sweltering days of summer.

You can find budget hotels near the city ranging from $100 to $150 a night. The budget carrier Allegiant serves St. Pete with good rates, though you could also choose to fly with most airlines into Tampa.

2. Helen, Georgia

Helen is a little mountain town nestled in the Appalachians a few hours north of Atlanta. Oddly enough, it's also a replica of a Bavarian alpine village. The combination of southern American and German cultures (Huddle Houses, for instance, serving pancakes under a pitched roof) is jarring at first. But the shops are quaint, the mountainous backdrops are stunning, and nowhere else in Georgia will you find so much German food in one area.

You can fly into the Chattanooga or Atlanta airport and drive about two-and-half hours to Helen. For a week in January, you could expect to pay in the ballpark of $100 to $150 a night. While there's not a whole lot to do in Helen, you could also explore the surrounding area, which has numerous parks, hiking trails, and waterfalls.

3. Asheville, North Carolina

If you're visiting Helen, you might as well pop over to Asheville, North Carolina (or vice versa). Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is a vibrant city with good food, great beer, and an active nightlife. Although it does snow in the winter, you could escape the cold by visiting the Biltmore Estate -- the biggest house in the U.S.

Asheville is pretty cheap in the winter, with some hotels reporting rates as low as $100. Accommodations can be so cheap, in fact, you might even be able to cover a large portion of your stay with the welcome bonus on a credit card. It has a regional airport with direct flights from multiple cities, like Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Las Vegas, and even St. Petersburg. It can be fun getaway, especially if you like the idea of staying in the mountains.

All in all, you don't need to drain your savings account just to have a memorable vacation. You can get a hotel budget in one of these southern cities and have a good time just being in a new area. Plus, pecan pie and fried green tomatoes just ain't that expensive -- and you can surely find these and other good, cheap Southern cuisine in whatever city you decide to visit.