VICE may receive a commission if you buy products through the links on our site. Read more here.
3 Rad Trips You Can Take Right Now for Under $1,000
Flying out of NYC, LA, or Houston? Take these grand vacations in Reykjavík, Austin, and Anchorage (respectively) to lean into your main character energy this summer.
Welcome! Climb atop the pedestal we’ve hot-glued together with all the quarantine Lone Stars, tired dildos, and half-used poppers that carried us through the 2020 tides of depression. Now, we’re vaccinated and ready to plan a vacation that’s more than just a short drive away, or just another economically feasible stay at Mom and Dad's (no shame; ILY) house. We’re ready to hop on a plane and say, “Halló, Reykjavík,” (or whatever your Main Character City is) with a superfluous hat on. We’ve done the $500-and-under vacations (they’re rad!), and planned others trips at $800 (that means: Airbnbs that aren’t just a tent in the backyard of a ‘friendly couple’). All have pluses and minuses, and it’s always a privilege to travel literally anywhere. But now, we’re ribbon dancing with big cats [air horn] with three different vacations you can take for under $1,000.
What does $1,000-ish get you? Distance. Nice Airbnbs. Steak and Stetson cowboy hats. It means you can drink sparkling wine in Iceland’s Blue Lagoon, or make it up to Alaska to blow kisses at all the bears. It means kicking up your boots at a Texas honky tonk bar, and developing a new addition to your carousel of summer personalities. Whether you’re departing from New York City, Los Angeles, or somewhere more in the middle of the country like Houston, we’ve ~curated~ three trips for you and your 15 friends (see: the psychedelic Austin Airbnb) for under $1,000.
If you want to leave NYC…
Photo by: Masci Giuseppe/AGF/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Where to stay? Cozy Apartment a Stroll from the Harbor; sleeps up to 3, $80/night at Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Beautiful Reykjavik XL Studio; sleeps up to 4, $177/night at Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Reykjavík Villa; sleeps up to 6, $421/night on Vrbo
Photo: Airbnb
If you want to leave Houston…
Where to go? Anchorage, Alaska. There are five-day, round-trip flights on Expedia right now for around $400.
Photo: Getty Images
What to do? You’d be right to picture Alaska as the last great frontier of America—there’s ample hiking, backpacking, kayaking, fishing, hunting, climbing, camping, skiing, snowshoeing, and pretty much every other outdoor activity you can think of. However, Anchorage, Alaska also has a lot to offer within the city limits. For learning more about the city and state, try taking an Anchorage Trolley Tour to get your bearings, visiting the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center to immerse yourself in the town’s history, and checking out the Alaska Native Heritage Center to familiarize yourself with Alaskan native culture. Finally, after you’ve hiked everything there is to hike (which will literally never happen), soothe your aching bones with a few pints at breweries such as Arkose, Midnight Sun, and Anchorage Brewing Company.
Advertisement
Where to stay?Urban artsy scenic foothills townhome; sleeps 1, $60/night at Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Cozy Private Space in Large House; sleeps 1, $75/night at Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Quiet, private, 1 bedroom guesthouse with 1/2 bath; sleeps 2, $126/night at Airbnb
Where to stay?South Congress House; sleeps up to 2, $144/night at Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Luxury SoCo Retreat with Pool; sleeps up to 2, $208/night at Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Historic Casa Cartel with Pool; sleeps up to 16, $1,040/night at Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Bon voyage, and don’t forget to pack your cactusThe Rec Room staff independently selected all of the stuff featured in this story. VICE may receive a small commission if you buy through the links on our site.
ORIGINAL REPORTING ON EVERYTHING THAT MATTERS IN YOUR INBOX.
By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Vice Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content.