Study ranks top 10 cities for affordable vacations If you're thinking that the harsh economy is forcing you into a staycation this summer, you may want to think again. A new study ranking the top 10 most affordable vacation cities says Louisville, Minneapolis and San Antonio are the places to get the most bang for your buck. Editors at Livability.com, a national website that highlights more than 500 of America's best places to live, say some of the places are down right cheap. For less than the price of one days admission to a major theme park, the study says, visitors can see all the sites of Chattanooga, which was rated fourth on the list.. Livability.com narrowed down its database of cities and ranked them by the quality and quantity of unique, free activities - both indoors and out - and by the availability of discounts on otherwise pricey attractions. Athens, Ga., Boulder, Colo.and Rogers, Ark. were the some other cities on the list. "Great family vacations don't have to be expensive," Nancy Schretter, managing editor of the Family Travel Network, said in a press release. "Get the whole family together to help plan the vacation and decide on your own definition of family fun. Then enlist the kids' help (if they're old enough) in searching the Internet for cities that have attractions that match your family's interests.