You don't need a week of PTO to travel. These five destinations are a quick flight from Tampa, affordable enough for a spontaneous weekend, and packed with things to do.
1. Key West — From $89 Roundtrip
A 1-hour flight puts you in America's most laid-back island town. Rent a scooter, hit Duval Street, watch the sunset at Mallory Square, and eat your weight in conch fritters. Silver Airways and American both fly this route.
2. New Orleans — From $69 Roundtrip
Two hours and you're in the French Quarter. Beignets at Cafe Du Monde, live jazz on Frenchmen Street, and some of the best food in America. Spirit and Frontier make this absurdly cheap.
3. Nashville — From $79 Roundtrip
Country music, hot chicken, and Broadway honky-tonks. Nashville is a 2-hour flight from Tampa with tons of competition keeping prices low. Perfect for a Friday-Sunday trip.
4. San Juan, Puerto Rico — From $99 Roundtrip
No passport needed. Old San Juan's colorful streets, El Yunque rainforest, and beaches that rival anywhere in the Caribbean — all for under $150 roundtrip when deals pop up. JetBlue and Spirit fly direct.
5. Savannah, Georgia — From $79 Roundtrip
One of the most charming cities in the South. Walk the historic squares, eat at Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room, and explore the riverfront. A short flight or even a driveable weekend trip.
The key to cheap weekends: Sign up for deal alerts and pounce when you see a low fare to one of these cities. Pack light, book a reasonable hotel, and you'll spend less on the whole trip than a nice dinner out.