New England has 15 great ‘bougie-on-a-budget’ vacation destinations, according to MarketBeat

The locations feel luxurious but come in under budget.

The Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls. Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism / flickr

August 5, 2025

1 minute to read

If you’re looking for a summer vacation that feels luxurious without the high cost, several destinations fit the bill in New England, according to MarketBeat.

3 low-cost ways of having fun in Portsmouth, N.H.

The financial media company recently released a list of the top 120 lesser-known affordable luxury vacation spots in the U.S., calling them “bougie-on-a-budget” destinations, and 15 New England locations made the cut.

“The most sought-after destinations among families seem to have one thing in common: they feel luxurious, but remain under-the-radar — and under budget,” according to the report.

The highest ranking New England destination is Portsmouth, N.H., which ranked No. 31.

“This list isn’t just about saving money — it’s about redefining what ‘luxury’ looks like in 2025,” MarketBeat wrote. “It’s less about marble lobbies and more about meaningful quiet, thoughtful design, and access to nature.”

Low-cost ways of having fun in Portsmouth include walking the Portsmouth Harbour Trail, visiting the Portsmouth Athenaeum, and attending the Prescott Park Arts Festival.

The following are the New England destinations that made the cut along with their ranking:

In Massachusetts:

Westport (No. 66)

Shelburne Falls (No. 99)

In New Hampshire:

Portsmouth (No. 31)

New London (No. 35)

Sugar Hill (No. 52)

In Maine:

Stonington (No. 62)

Rangeley (No. 93)

Guests gathered for a meal in a field at Pete’s Greens in Greensboro, Vermont. *– Photograph by Natalie Stultz*

In Vermont:

Montgomery (No. 36)

Greensboro (No. 45)

Grafton (No. 82)

In Rhode Island:

Wickford Village (No. 64)

Tiverton Four Corners (No. 91)

In Connecticut:

Essex (No. 61)

Stonington Borough (No. 83)

Chester (No. 117)

Twin Lakes, Colo., ranked No. 1. The list was comprised based on an online panel survey in July of 3,011 professionals in the travel industry based on age, gender, and geography.

Check out MarketBeat’s list of the top 120 lesser-known affordable luxury vacation spots in the U.S.

Kristi Palma

Culture writer

Kristi Palma is a culture writer for Boston.com, focusing on New England travel. She covers airlines, hotels, and things to do across Boston and New England. She is the author of Scenic Six, a weekly travel newsletter.