Many people assume that summer is the perfect time to take a trip, but as Condé Nast Traveler editor Kate Maxwell explains, some of the best deals of the year are right in the middle of winter. "We've got Thanksgiving out of the way, we’ve got Christmas out of the way, so that means we’ve got those really high prices out of the way," she tells Rachael. "So now in January, flights are cheaper and hotel prices are cheaper, and the beaches in these cities are not crowded - it’s a really great time to go!"

Kate shares the top 3 winter travel destinations:

Las Vegas
"I think people tend to think it’s the casino destination in the world," Kate says, "but actually in the last few years, the spa offerings have really improved." Kate shares that recently the town unveiled a new development called City Center. "It's three hotels designed by amazing architects," she explains. "It's loaded with lots of art and sculpture and all that kind of stuff. There is one casino, but the casino is literally one percent of the whole place, and there are 125,000 square feet of spas."

Kate says that one of their favorite hotels there, the Mandarin Oriental, has rooms in January around the $200-250 range, and another favorite hotel, Aria, has an 80,000 square foot spa. "It’s a really high tech hotel," she says. "We love that place and it has shops, Cirque Du Soleil, and an Elvis theme!"

Chicago
Kate says that if you've always wanted to visit the Windy City, go in January. "Obviously, it's going to be cold in January, but it looks so beautiful covered in snow, and there are a lot of the activities outside. Go to Millennium Park, it's one of the best things to have happened to Chicago in the last ten years." Kate adds that there is plenty of great shopping on Michigan Avenue, and that one of their favorite hotels there is the Peninsula. "Our readers vote it the number one hotel just about every year," she says. "Plus, it's their tenth anniversary this year, so they’re offering really great deals."

New Orleans
"We’re showing the Gulf a bit of love," Kate says, adding that the region did not have a good summer last year due to the oil spill. "New Orleans, it has so much - you turn the corner and there’s someone playing the trombone! And the food, the beautiful architecture, the French Quarter ... the Garden District is just stunning." Kate recommends the W hotel in the French Quarter. "It has a really cute little court yard with a swimming pool, and it’s in the French Quarter but it's outside as well. The area isn't too hectic."