Pennsylvania Town is the Inspiration for New Hallmark Christmas Movie

Christmas movies are so addictive. Who hasn't gotten caught up in a Christmas movie marathon? They seem to start earlier every year, too. I remember seeing ads for brand new Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel back in mid-October. That's way too early in my book, but I do love a good holiday film. That said, one Pennsylvania town is the inspiration for a new Hallmark Christmas movie. What's even better is that the movie is going to premiere very soon.

The new Hallmark Christmas movie is called "Miracle in Bethlehem, Pa."

Here's the catch, though. According to Hallmark, principal photography for the film happened in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in late September. Moreover, the film won't have any real Bethlehem shots. The official storyline for the film, via a Hallmark press release, is, "Mary Ann (Laura Vandervoort) is a successful lawyer who wants nothing more than to adopt a child and be a mother. When she finally gets the call that’s God’s answer to her prayers, Mary Ann treks to Bethlehem, PA just before Christmas to meet her new bundle of joy. But bad weather forces her and her newborn daughter, Natalie, to delay their trip back home."

The storyline continues, "The local inn is full but the welcoming innkeeper Frankie (Amy Groening) has a solution — her brother Joe (Benjamin Ayres) has a spare room in his home she can use. The quintessential bachelor, Joe’s place is less than tidy but he welcomes Mary Ann and Natalie and tries to make them comfortable. The weather forecast isn’t cooperating so Mary Ann extends her stay, giving her time to become part of his family’s pre-holiday celebrations, including Christmas activities at their church." The film will debut Dec. 21 on the Hallmark-owned cable network, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Find first-look photos here.

Christmas is a time to visit family and friends and get away from the daily grind. The holidays can be a wonderful time, but they can also be very expensive. From buying lots of Christmas gifts for family and friends to having to pay for plane tickets and travel, holiday expenses can really add up. But, the good news is that there are some affordable Christmas vacations in the U.S. that are available for a good deal. Even better, Pennsylvania has one of the most affordable Christmas vacations in America.

One good thing about traveling during the winter months is that it's often the off-season for popular vacation destinations. Of course, the holidays are a busy travel time. That makes late December a difficult time to find a deal for travel. But, if you don't mind the cold and snow, some northern areas of the U.S. offer very good deals. That's true even during the Christmas season.

Some tips for finding a good deal for holiday vacationing include searching a lot of booking websites, comparing different hotel dates to find the most reasonable ones and finding bundle deals. Also, keep your eyes open for special deals on resorts and hotels that are just opening. That's because sometimes, during those opening months, new vacation spots try to attract a loyal clientele by offering special deals. One more tip is to search for airfare rates individually even if you are traveling as a couple or a group. If you put in a search for a group of tickets, the algorithms will often leave out information on one or two cheaper tickets being available. They'll just send you a group of tickets, sitting together, all at the same price. So, you might get a deal if you search for one ticket, instead.

So, what are the best affordable Christmas vacations in the U.S.? Here are some popular spots that won't break the bank.

Frankenmuth, Michigan, is the self-proclaimed Christmas capital city of the world. Okay, so many argue that Strasbourg, France, takes that honor, but Frankenmuth is close, and it's a lot cheaper to get there. No passport needed. The villiage's Franconian-style architecture has given it the loving name "Little Bavaria." Frankenmuth is also home to the world's biggest Christmas store.

You might never guess, but Las Vegas, Nevada, is a great spot for an affordable holiday trip. Think about it. Most people wouldn't think to go to "Sin City" for Christmas. Of course, it's much less the "sin" part these days, as Las Vegas offers fun activities for the whole family.

Charlotte, North Carolina, is a great spot to visit in the holiday season, because it's not as crowded as other times during the year. It's also less expensive to visit during the holidays and offers beautiful decorations during Christmas. Don't forget the many holiday markets.

Fort Myers, Florida, is a popular destination for snow birds. But, that's doesn't mean to skip it during the holidays. If you want to get away from the snow and ice, Fort Myers offers a great escape over Christmas and for prices that are more reasonable than in many other areas of Florida.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is located in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and it offers a beautiful view of snowy hills and Amish country. It's a very old-fashioned type of town, making it a charming winter getaway. There are plenty of fun, holiday-type things to do in Lancaster that won't break the bank.

Boston, Massachusetts, gets cold in the winter, but it also has that classic Christmas charm. It's a big city with a smaller city feel during the holidays. What's more, it's a more affordable winter vacation destination than many other areas, and you won't have the fight the crowds.