Healthy Holiday Destinations for Expats: Balancing Wellness and Tax-Friendly Travel
As the holiday season approaches, many American expats plan visits home, looking for destinations that blend wellness, activity, and practicality. Whether escaping to a sunny retreat or embracing a snowy wonderland, finding the right spot can make all the difference.
Along with wellness options, it’s also smart to consider how local tax laws might impact expats working remotely during their stay. Greenback Expat Tax Services has analyzed 80 of the largest US cities to help travelers identify the healthiest holiday destinations that balance recreation, affordability, and expat-friendly financial considerations.
Key Takeaways
- Long Beach, CA, ranks as the top sunny winter escape, excelling in the number of highly rated outdoor recreational activities.
- Oakland, CA, is the second-best sunny destination, driven by its highly rated healthy food options and coworking spaces.
- El Paso, TX, is the most affordable sunny winter escape, with the lowest cost of living ($51,552 per year on average) and the best average short-term rental daily rate ($109).
- Portland, OR, tops the list of healthiest cold-weather holiday destinations, excelling in healthy food options.
Winter Escapes for Sunseekers
We first looked at 40 of America’s largest cities with the warmest average winter temps to identify the healthiest destinations for those looking to escape colder climates.
Top 10 Cities for Winter Sunseekers
- Long Beach, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Chula Vista, CA
- Honolulu, HI
- Riverside, CA
- Santa Ana, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Miami, FL
- Orlando, FL
- Long Beach, CA, ranks as the top sunny winter escape overall, thanks in part to its abundance of highly rated outdoor recreational activities.
- Oakland, CA, is the second-best, ranking No. 1 for highly rated healthy food options and coworking spaces.
- Honolulu, HI, and Miami, FL, stand out as top cities for warm winter weather, offering travelers ideal temperatures along with highly rated recreational activities. Charlotte, NC, and Atlanta, GA, fall to the bottom due to much colder winter conditions.
- Though temperatures are cooler, El Paso, TX, is the most affordable sunny winter escape, with the lowest cost of living ($51,552 per year on average) and the best average short-term rental daily rate ($109).
- Cities like Corpus Christi, TX, and El Paso, TX, rank among the worst for healthy food options and recreational activities among sunny winter escape cities.
- Californian destinations offer more amenities but also come with a higher price tag: San Francisco, CA, and San Jose, CA, have the highest cost of living among sunny winter escapes, while short-term vacation rentals in Anaheim are the most expensive.
For American expats working remotely while enjoying a warm winter retreat, it’s worth considering how an extended stay could affect tax obligations—both in the US and abroad. Spending time in certain states might introduce new tax considerations, making it helpful to plan ahead and consult a tax professional when booking longer stays.
Hotspots for Winter Health and Wellness
Next, we examined the 40 largest US cities with colder average winter temperatures to highlight the top destinations for healthy winter living, even in chillier climates.
Top 10 Cities for Winter Wonderland Seekers
- Portland, OR
- Newark, NJ
- Reno, NV
- Albuquerque, NM
- Tulsa, OK
- Seattle, WA
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Greensboro, NC
- Washington, DC
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Portland, OR, tops the list of healthiest cold-weather holiday destinations, excelling in healthy food options the most.
- Newark, NJ, claims the second spot, showing strong performance in healthy food options and recreational activities.
- Virginia Beach, VA, and Raleigh, NC, lead the healthiest cold-weather escapes with the warmest average winter temperatures of 46°F, offering a more moderate climate compared to other cold destinations.
- Among cold-weather destinations, Wichita, KS, and Albuquerque, NM, offer the lowest cost of living.
- Anchorage, AK, and Minneapolis, MN, have the coldest winter temperatures, making them less appealing for travelers seeking moderate cold-weather destinations. Temps drop to 16°F and 21°F, respectively.
- St. Paul, MN, ranks as a top city for affordable accommodations, offering the lowest average short-term vacation rental daily rate at $125.
Traveling to cold-weather destinations can offer a refreshing winter retreat, but expats working remotely should keep the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) in mind. Time spent in the US may impact eligibility, so monitoring your days abroad is essential to remain compliant with IRS requirements for the FEIE.
Maximizing Wellness and Financial Savvy on Holiday
Prioritizing wellness during holiday travels brings more than just a chance to recharge—it can also present potential financial benefits. For expats, certain health and wellness expenses may qualify as deductions under US tax law, which could help make the season even more rewarding. Staying informed about these options, along with planning destinations that support both wellness and financial well-being, can enhance your holiday experience.
Methodology
For this campaign, we collected data from Yelp, World Weather API, Economic Policy Institute, and AllTheRooms to determine the healthiest holiday destinations for warm and cold winter weather. We analyzed 80 of the largest US cities, dividing them into two groups: those with warmer winter temperatures and those with colder ones. For each city, we considered highly rated locations based on Yelp reviews, meaning those with ratings between 4 and 5 stars. We then compared cities across these metrics with the following weights:
- Weather: Average temperatures (considering max and min) during the winter months (December, January, February) from 2020-2024 via World Weather API (25%)
- Living costs: For a couple with no children via EPI’s Family Budget Calculator (25%)
- Healthy food options: Number of highly rated salad restaurants, farmer markets, vegetarian/vegan restaurants, health markets, organic stores, juice bars via Yelp (20%)
- Warm weather recreational activity options: Number of highly rated beaches, hiking options, paddleboarding options, rafting/kayaking options, parks via Yelp (20%)
- Cold weather recreational activity options: Number of highly rated skiing options, sledding options, wellness retreats via Yelp (20%)
- Coworking spaces: Number of highly rated shared office spaces, internet cafes, coffee shops via Yelp (5%)
- Average daily short-term rental rates: Via AllTheRooms from September 2, 2024, to October 2, 2024 (5%)
About Greenback Tax Services
Greenback Expat Tax Services empowers US expats with reliable, accurate, and hassle-free tax preparation, combining professional expertise with a user-friendly platform. With the Greenback team, expats have a trusted partner to help navigate both the joyful and practical sides of travel, so they can focus on what matters most this holiday season.
Fair Use Statement
If you know travelers looking for healthier holiday destinations, feel free to share this article with them for noncommercial use. We just ask that you link back to this page to ensure full access to our findings and methodology.
When you live in the US, tax day is simple: April 15th! When you move abroad, it’s not so straightforward! Learn about all the expat deadlines and extensions you need to know to file.
