by Alexandra Edwards

Winter weather sure came in with a bang this year. Many states have seen record low freezing temperatures from Chicago, Illinois to as far south as Atlanta, Georgia. Unfortunately, this year's Farmers Almanac says the worse is yet to come. Heavy snow, icy cold arctic winds and gray days make summer seem so very far away. However, this great country being so vast and travel made so simple, states with much warmer climates can easily be reached.

Travel websites are offering some hard-to-resist great package deals on winter getaways. Sun-seekers that prefer to create their own vacation deal online can now visit a new website, Trivago.com, which shows all the major discount hotel deals, making it much easier to find the best value.

South Florida is said to have the warmest winter climate in the Continental US during the winter months, with daytime average temperatures reaching 78-82F in Miami, the Everglades and Key West. Other warm winter climate states with temperatures that vary between 65-70F include California, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana and Nevada. Of course, winter is after all winter, so it can be expected to be full of surprises from time to time, bringing a few unexpected cooler days. Therefore, packing a sweater and warm jacket along with shorts, tee shirts and swimwear would be a smart idea and could make for a more comfortable vacation.

Below are just a few winter getaway ideas you may want to consider, going by various discount hotel website rates given for the months of February and March. Obviously, due to the time of writing this article, availability of these deals are not guaranteed, but hopefully it will give the reader some idea of where to look and what to look for.

Average winter temperatures for lively Las Vegas, Nevada are said to be between a comfortable 64-69 degrees. Though often referred to as "sin city," don't let that name put you off. Uniquely situated in the middle of the Nevada desert, Las Vegas is also a very classy city. With ultra elaborate casino hotels each with their own theme, exclusive malls carrying almost every top designer brand name in the world, as well as hundreds of spectacular shows featuring top celebrities. For anyone who loves to party, and live a little on the wild side, (hey, it's just a few nights) then Las Vegas is definitely for you. To really appreciate the atmosphere of a city that never sleeps, those hotels directly on the 'strip' are highly recommended. During the winter months many Vegas hotels offer good incentives as well as low discount rates. Treasure Island Hotel and Casino looks pretty good at just $65 per night. Situated on the strip, it has a four star rating, offers many amenities, and free cancellation.

Meanwhile, way down yonder in New Orleans, where temperatures average between 65-70 degrees in the months of February to March, makes for a fun and entertaining winter getaway. Most of the city's good hotels are in the French Quarter amid most of the attractions and the world famous bars of Bourbon Street, known by everyone who loves great jazz.