santa wears sunglasses here

Dallas-Fort Worth warms up as the 4th best winter vacation spot in U.S.

Here's a holiday planning argument for the family group chat.

Somewhere between the arctic blast that recently chilled the state and the triple digit temperatures of the last few months, Dallas-Fort Worth emerged as one of the top destinations for winter vacationers looking for a warm place to spend their holidays.

A new report by WalletHub for 2023 called Best Winter Holiday Destinations divided 70 of the biggest U.S. metropolitan areas into two categories: the top "warm" and "cold" weather destinations. The study evaluated every metro based on 37 factors, including travel costs, local costs, weather predictions, and safety.

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington ranked No. 4 with a score of 63.69 points (out of a possible 100), just behind Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown (No. 3), San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, California (No. 2) and Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Nevada (No. 1).

Dallas maintained its position in the top five for the third consecutive year.

For the purpose of the study, "cold" weather was determined to be less than or equal to 46 degrees Fahrenheit, while "warm" weather was greater than or equal to 57 degrees Fahrenheit. Both guidelines were analyzed based on the 50-year average December temperatures.

The report found that the Metroplex had the fourth-lowest travel cost and hassles, much of which can be owed to the busy (but highly efficient) Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

Luckily for Texans, the cheerful holiday season begins in November. There's plenty of time to make those festive weekend plans, from ice rinks to cowboy Santa appearances throughout the Hill Country and the rest of the state.

As expected, most of the best warm weather destinations in the report fall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The highest concentration of warm weather places is in the Sunshine State of Florida (10 metros), followed closely behind by Texas (nine metros), then California (eight metros).

However, Texas cities dominated the top 10. Right behind Austin and Dallas is San Antonio-New Braunfels (No. 5), and Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land (No. 8).

According to Linchi Kwok, a professor of hospitality management at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, winter holiday travel around the country is going to be impacted by the current economy. That could make other Texas destinations like San Antonio, Austin, or Houston more enticing for Dallas-Fort Worth residents.

"While Americans still want to travel this winter, they may pick a destination closer to home and find ways to stretch the dollar," Kwok said.

Oddly enough, if Dallasites would like to get away and enjoy some cold weather, the report recommends Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, Georgia (No. 1). Not exactly the picture of a winter wonderland. Chicago, at No. 3, is the highest ranked cold destination in the Northern states.

The top 10 best warm weather winter vacation destinations are:

No. 1 – Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Nevada
No. 2 – San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, California
No. 3 – Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, Texas
No. 4 – Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas
No. 5 – San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas
No. 6 – Charleston-North Charleston, South Carolina
No. 7 – San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, California
No. 8 – Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas
No. 9 – Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, Arizona
No. 10 – Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California

The full report and its methodology can be found on wallethub.com.

travel holidays austin houston dallas san antonio reports wallethub christmas

drowning in debt

Texas billed top-10 rank in new report of states dealing with most debt

Photo by Image Source Getty Images

Everything's bigger here — including the spending.

It's not too late to rein in that holiday spending, Texas. A new financial report has revealed Texas is the No. 9 state with the highest debt levels in the country.

The report by personal finance website CreditDonkey examined each state's average mortgage debt, student debt, automobile debt, and credit card debt. Rankings were determined based on which state had the highest amount of debt.

Texas was ranked so highly due to its rampant amount of auto loan debt, the most out of all 50 states. Over 100 million Texans have loans on their cars, which has racked up more than $1.5 trillion in auto loan debt. The average Texan's auto loan debt stands at $27,739.

Texans' higher-than-average credit card debt was also a major factor, according to the report. The average credit card debt amount adds up to $6,542.

The average mortgage debt in the Lone Star State is $217,461, while the average student debt amounts to $33,354. For a house-rich city like Dallas, affording a starter home will cost residents 10.6 percent more than it did in 2022.

While Texas' level of debt is no laughing matter, residents can find some relief in the fact that they're not living in California. Californians have the most debt in America, with the average mortgage debt at nearly $423,000 per household, and an average student loan debt of $37,384. Any Texans considering relocating might want to rethink their choice with that level of debt on the horizon.

CreditDonkey Director of Research Anna Ge explained the "multifaceted story" of why debt in Texas (and overall in the United States) has skyrocketed over the years.

"The causes for the surge in debt are rooted in a confluence of factors – from the pursuit of higher education to home-ownership aspirations and the challenges of rising costs across the board," she said. "The ease of access to credit, while providing immediate relief, has contributed to a culture where spending can outpace income."

Population growth and consumerism are two other driving factors, according to Ge.

"There are also more deep-rooted issues that are causing such drastic increases in debt, from rising costs of essentials such as gas and groceries, to healthcare and living expenses (rent and bills), as costs continue to rise many Americans are being pushed to the edge and require relief that inevitably results in the building up of debt," Ge continued.

The top 10 states struggling with the most debt are:

No. 1 – California
No. 2 – Hawaii
No. 3 – Maryland
No. 4 – Alaska
No. 5 – Colorado
No. 6 – Washington
No. 7 – Virginia
No. 8 – Georgia
No. 9 – Texas
No. 10 – Nevada

texas reports finance

santa wears sunglasses here

Dallas-Fort Worth warms up as the 4th best winter vacation spot in U.S.

drowning in debt

Texas billed top-10 rank in new report of states dealing with most debt

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