I walked to work yesterday, and my lips went numb. This is unacceptable. Time to formulate an escape plan. Below, a cheap guide to some great spontaneous getaways to flee the brain-crushingly-cold temperatures outside.

Yoga, Surf or Spanish lessons at La Escuela Del Sol in Costa Rica
Lying around on the beach all day is magic, but so is a vacation that sends you home feeling strong and rejuvenated (and, hey, a little bit smarter.) At Escuela Del Sol in Costa Rica, you can sign up for a week of surf, yoga, Spanish, or fire poi (that’s fire dancing with those flames on chains, FYI) lessons, or a combination of any two, for $755. What better break from winter than challenging your body, and your brain, in a new environment? Do it on the cheap and make some new yoga pals with shared accommodations, and make your meals in the full kitchen. Flights to Costa Rica run at around $650 these days, so for under two grand, you can have an enriching and memorable week away. Just try not to stay forever, okay?

All-Inclusive Weekend at Azul Fives on the Riviera Maya
Booking an all-inclusive usually means hours of trolling TripAdvisor looking for horror stories, and rabidly comparing the authenticity of the photos on the package website to the ones you find on the 16th page of Google Images. Well, we did the legwork for you, and Azul Fives is a Mexican all-inclusive that’s under $1000, and seems to be a people-pleaser across the board.

An urban LA beach bum weekend at Hotel Erwin Venice Beach
LA might be the land of the car, but you’d be surprised the feel you can get for the city by abandoning the obvious and walking around. There’s no better jumping off point then Venice Beach, and the Hotel Erwin is so great you might never want to leave. Sip Lifeguard Lemonade on the rooftop lounge overlooking the ocean, and eat at their delicious ‘Barn-to-Belly’ restaurant, (Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes and a Benedict Bar for breakfast, and a seriously down-home-indulgent dinner menu). The Westside Adventure Package comes with bike rentals for two and unlimited ride passes to the Santa Monica Pier. The rooms have a laid-back, beachy feel, almost all with partial or full ocean views (and if you want to really indulge in local lore, splash out on the “Dogtown, Sweet” room, which has its own private turntable, among other things.) But the real kicker? You can score a room right now for about $200 a night.
Weekend in LA? Weekend in LA.

The Sleigh Bells show in Miami
Sleigh Bells are back, and reigniting their reign of terror by touring Florida with Diplo. Do you know how easy it is to get to Florida? Like tomorrow, it’s only a day away. (Or a few hours, if you take an aeroplane.) We suggest you head down for the show in Miami, (tickets are only $25) and asked our friends at iStopover for a sweet short-term vacation rental. They sent us this beautiful guest cottage with a private pool, the perfect place to kick off your blood-stained Keds and stay awhile—for only $100 a night. 

A weekday spa retreat at El Monte Sagrado in New Mexico 
Take off for a spontaneous weekday spa retreat at this beautiful eco-resort in New Mexico. If your dates are flexible, you can find a two-night spa escape package for less than $600, which includes accommodations, breakfast and dinner, and a 60-minute custom massage for two.

~ Haley Cullingham