Florida Has One of the ‘World’s Best Cities,’ New Report Says
It’s pretty great to be named one of the United States’ best cities, but it’s even better to be named one of the world’s best cities. There are a lot of factors that go into being named the best, too. Those include economy, environment, opportunities and basically what kind of life residents can lead. Well, one Florida city recently made the list of the world’s best cities. It’s inside the top 10, to boot.
Florida City Named One of the World’s Best Cities
The study comes from Worldsbestcities.com. In it, they rank some of the world’s best cities, specifically, the ones in America. As for methodology, they ranked U.S. cities with populations of more than 500,000 by using a mix of statistical performance and qualitative evaluations by locals and visitors. They also used 26 areas divided into six core categories. The population numbers come from from the U.S. Census, American Community Survey 2021, which is the most recent survey available.
Before we get to Florida, let’s look at the No. 1 best city in the world that’s in America. It’s New York City. They say that after a difficult two-plus years, due to the pandemic, “few cities on the planet are as busy making up for lost time as NYC.” In the article, they note that New York City has made major efforts towards bringing back tourism after the pandemic, and that city leaders have helped make the Big Apple a hot tourist spot once again. It’s also ranked No. 1 in the U.S. for sights and landmarks. It doesn’t get much better than visiting the Statue of Liberty, after all.
So, which Florida town is one of the world’s best cities? It’s Miami, coming in at No. 6 on the list. The outlet calls says the city’s “creativity is powered by its arms-wide-open acceptance of newcomers.” They also rank the city No. 3 nationally in their outdoors subcategory, No. 5 for its walkability and No. 4 in our overall place. I’m happy to see Miami getting some attention for its outdoor beauty.
Secret Tips to Save Money on Your Next Vacation
1. Try to Negotiate Your Lodging
Did you know that hotel fees can be negotiable? Fidelity.com points out that, “You may be able to negotiate the online price by calling a hotel directly, or asking if they have any discounts for students, government employees, or members of certain groups, such as AAA.” So, don’t settle for that price you see on your laptop. Try to do better. It’s a secret tip that can pay off bigtime.
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2. Get Smart with Your Lodging
Did you know some hotels that are virtually the same, including the same brand, can be cheaper just a few miles apart? As a general rule, hotels that are near the airport are more expensive. So, you can look at the hotels you want to stay at and their multiple locations in the area for the best rate. “Some hotels that are under construction may rent rooms at a discount, which is a great option if you can deal with the noise,” Fidelity.com points out.
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3. Snack Your Way to a Cheaper Trip
Going out to eat on vacation can be one of the most exciting things about the trip. But, if you want to save on cash, skip a few meals out and opt for healthy, hearty snacks. Pack (or buy at a local store) some protein-rich snacks, like protein bars and meal bars, and limit your dining out. You can still enjoy some of the best food the area has to offer, just not as much of it. This is a way to stay fit on your trip, too. A lot of people don’t think of this tip, so it’s a bit of a secret.
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4. Timing is Everything
You’ve heard it so many times in life: Timing is everything. That’s true for travel, too. Research to find the least-busy times to visit your destination. If you travel during those downtimes, you’ll save big. While this is a common tip, something people forget is that every vacation destination has its own peak time. So, be specific for your travel spot.
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5. Travel with a Friend
If you’re thinking of traveling solo to a place you’ve always wanted to visit, go cheaper by traveling with a friend. You two can share lodging fees. Also, sometimes there are more deals and discounts for those traveling with multiple people. I always do this when going to a big music festival, if it’s far away. I’ll usually meet my friend there, and we share lodging costs. It also makes the trip more fun.
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6. Find Free Spots to Travel
Look for some free attractions in your travel area. Chances are, they won’t be as packed as the big-named places, too. You can still visit some of the popular landmarks. But, if you add a trip to a national park or free museum to your itinerary, it will save you some cash.
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7. Max Out Your Memberships
Are you a member of any random groups? You might have travel deals just waiting for you. Check everything, from your college alumni membership to your credit cards, for travel discounts. You may be surprised what you find.
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8. Don't Get Picky
Say you just want to get out on a fantastic trip, but you don’t really have a place in mind. That’s actually a good thing. Take an hour to look at flight specials happening right now. If you aren’t picky on where to travel, chances are you’ll find a great rate on airfare and lodging somewhere. Once you find the most reasonable place to travel, then you can start looking at what to do when you’re there.
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9. Go Popular
This is a bit ironic, but often times, the most popular tourist destinations are also the cheapest. That’s because there is a lot of competition for all those travelers. So, big-named destinations like Orlando, Florida, or Las Vegas, Nevada, tend to have really good travel deals. Go popular, or go home.
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