Most expensive U.S. cities for travelers

Wonder how much your next vacation is going to cost? Figures released by the U.S. General Services Administration may give you a rough idea. Each year, the GSA sets limits on how much federal employees traveling on business can spend on lodging, meals and incidentals, such as tips, basing their estimates on costs at midrange accommodations and restaurants. For more on the GSA's per diem rates, read a recent Travel column on estimating travel costs.

Based on the GSA's numbers, here are the 20 most expensive cities included in the survey.* Many are among the nation's top tourist destinations, including New York City and San Francisco. Others are cities leisure travelers could probably skip.

If you're traveling to one of these destinations, do your research to get the best deals on hotel rooms and meals. Also consider traveling during the low tourist season. Consult our budget travel page for more tips.

The cost averages listed below are for one person and one meal per day. 1. New York City

Lodgings: $297
Meals and incidentals: $71
Total: $368

2009 population: 8.39 million

Read about New York City:
• Up on the roof, where the drinks -- and the Manhattan views -- are fine
• Walking in Holden Caulfield's footsteps through Manhattan
• Pop-up eateries a hit with New York's hip
• A tour of literary Manhattan

More info: www.nycgo.com

2. Boston

Lodgings: $217
Meals and incidentals: $71
Total: $288

2009 population: 645,169

Read about Boston:
• Touring Cambridge, America's original college town
• Boston's up-and-coming destination

More info: www.cityofboston.gov/visitors

3. Washington, D.C.

Lodgings: $212
Meals and incidentals: $71
Total: $283

2009 population: 599,657

Read about Washington, D.C.:
• Washington, D.C., hotel upgrades a winning ticket
• A monumental cruise of the Potomac

More info: washington.org

4. Santa Monica, Calif.

Lodgings: $209
Meals and incidentals: $71
Total: $280

2009 population: 87,563

Read about Santa Monica:
• Santa Monica restaurants, bars, clubs and events
• Santa Monica's Basement Tavern at the Victorian a hidden pleasure

More info: www.santamonica.com

5. Chicago

Lodgings: $191
Meals and incidentals: $71
Total: $262

2009 population: 2.85 million

Read about Chicago:
• Ode to Chicago summer
• Guide to O'Hare Airport

More info: explorechicago.org

6. San Francisco

Lodgings: $183
Meals and incidentals: $71
Total: $254

2009 population: 815,358

Read about San Francisco:
• San Francisco Ferry Building a waterfront foodie heaven
• Cheap eats in San Francisco

More info: www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com

7. Key West, Fla.

Lodgings: $174
Meals and incidentals: $71
Total: $245

2009 population: 22,463

Read about Key West:
• Key West pirate museum to move to St. Augustine
• Fantasy Fest in Key West

More info: www.fla-keys.com

8. Tarrytown / White Plains / New Rochelle, N.Y.

Lodgings: $164
Meals and incidentals: $71
Total: $235

2009 population: 11,169 (Tarrytown), 57,468 (White Plains), 74,281 (New Rochelle)

More info: www.westchestertourism.com

9. Santa Barbara

Lodgings: $166
Meals and incidentals: $66
Total: $232

2009 population: 86,353

Read about Santa Barbara:
• Avocado madness and 10 handy Santa Barbara County facts
• Exploring Santa Barbara's locally grown food
• 13 Santa Barbara restaurants to savor

More info: www.santabarbaraca.com

10. Philadelphia

Lodgings: $164
Meals and incidentals: $66
Total: $230

2009 population: 1.55 million

Read about Philadelphia:
• Historic Philadelphia gets new life at Franklin Square
• Budget Philadelphia: Let FREEdom ring

More info: www.visitphilly.com

11. Seattle

Lodgings: $159
Meals and incidentals: $71
Total: $230

2009 population: 616,627

Read about Seattle:
• Seattle's Arctic Club mines gold rush-era memories
• Tea revolution brewing in coffee-saturated Seattle
• In Seattle, it's all about authentic dining

More info: www.visitseattle.org

12. Vail, Colo.

Lodgings: $158
Meals and incidentals: $71
Total: $229

2009 population: 4,843

More info: www.colorado.com/Vail.aspx

13. Floral Park / Garden City / Great Neck, N.Y.

Lodgings: $161
Meals and incidentals: $66
Total: $227

2009 population: 15,885 (Floral Park), 22,501 (Garden City), 9,935 (Great Neck)

More info: www.visitnassaucounty.com

14. Denver

Lodgings: $158
Meals and incidentals: $66
Total: $224

2009 population: 610,345

Read about Denver:
• Tips for a successful Denver family vacation
• Denver, Colorado, more than a conventional choice

More info: www.denver.org

15. Baltimore

Lodgings: $152
Meals and incidentals: $71
Total: $223

2009 population: 637,418

Read about Baltimore:
• Five for fall in Maryland

More info: baltimore.org

16. San Diego

Lodgings: $147
Meals and incidentals: $71
Total: $218

2009 population: 1.31 million

Read about San Diego:
• San Francisco vs. San Diego: Which is the better getaway?
• San Diego's naval side
• Serenity at Gaslamp Quarter's Hotel Indigo

More info: www.sandiego.org

17. Nantucket

Lodgings: $156
Meals and incidentals: $61
Total: $217

2009 population: 11,322

Read about Nantucket:
• A peaceful, end-of-summer family vacation in Nantucket

More info: www.nantucketchamber.org

18. Jamestown / Middletown / Newport, R.I.

Lodgings: $145
Meals and incidentals: $71
Total: $216

2009 population: 25,598 (Newport)

More info: www.visitrhodeisland.com

19. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Lodgings: $143
Meals and incidentals: $71
Total: $214

2009 population: 184,892

Read about Fort Lauderdale:
• Florida shopping guide: Fort Lauderdale
• The Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel has a multimillion-dollar face-lift
• South Florida piers get face-lifts, retain charm to lure visitors

More info: www.sunny.org

20. Napa

Lodgings: $147
Meals and incidentals: $66
Total: $213

2009 population: 75,297

Read about Napa, Calif.:
• Brides could be walking down the vineyard aisle
• Ghost wineries of Napa Valley offer a taste of the past
• Napa Valley wine tastings and tours

More info: www.legendarynapavalley.com

*Figures are taken from the GSA's estimates for the 2011 fiscal year, which started Oct. 1, for destinations most commonly visited by federal employees. For cities with costs broken down by season, the average was taken. Daily rates are given for each city.