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Cheap Destinations for Summer
These strategies can help you get to almost any city for less.
— -- Good news: There are deals for summer. Bad news: They’re not for everyone. Nevertheless, some cities are cheaper than others and we’ve got a list.
We also have strategies that can help you get to almost any city for less, especially if you’re willing to endure a little inconvenience.
Cheaper U.S. Destinations
Competition is key here; when more airlines fly to/from a city, prices usually go down. This is especially true when there is discount carrier competition.
• Boston: Lots of airline competition and it doesn’t hurt that it’s a focus city for JetBlue.
• Dallas: When the restrictive Wright Amendment was lifted back in 2014, Southwest was allowed to offer more non-stops from Dallas to destinations way beyond the previous limits of Texas and its border states, and prices to/from the Big D sank like a stone. They’ve risen some since then but there are still deals out there. We’re seeing some good value routes to/from Houston as well.
• Denver: Airlines have been flocking to the Mile High City for years now and there are lots of deals. It’s also headquarters for discount carrier Frontier.
• South Florida: Especially good pricing is seen on routes to Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. Just fly into whichever one is cheaper, the airports are only 26 miles apart.
• New Orleans: Yes, it’s hot in Louisiana in the summer, but the prices can be pretty cool depending on departure city, and we understand all those excellent restaurants serving gumbo and jambalaya are air-conditioned.
• Washington, D.C.: The nation’s capital is the beneficiary of a number of good deals but compare fares to both airports -- Dulles (IAD) and Reagan (DCA) -- to see which has the best. If you don’t mind driving 40 miles or so, check out fares to/from Baltimore; Southwest has been launching a lot of deals out of the Maryland airport of late.
Cheaper International Destinations
• Caribbean: The Southwest Effect is in play here thanks to the airline’s new routes from Houston. Or maybe we should just call it the Competition Effect because of more and more flights from cities throughout the U.S. to Caribbean destinations courtesy of Spirit and JetBlue. We’re seeing good pricing to Liberia and San Jose in Costa Rica; Montego Bay, Jamaica; San Juan, Puerto Rico, and elsewhere.
• Paris and Scandinavia: Paris won’t be cheap exactly, but it’s looking good compared to the rest of the triumvirate which includes London and Rome. As for Scandinavia, international discounters have helped lower prices big-time; I recently saw a New York to Copenhagen round-trip flight on Norwegian Air in August for under $600.
How to Find Better Deals to Any City
Remember the part above, about a little inconvenience? Here’s where a little extra time plus your own flexibility can lower the price of an airline ticket.
• Fly cheaper days: Popular days are expensive days so avoid Fridays and Sundays; cheaper days are usually Tuesdays, Wednesday and Saturdays. For international flights, it’s generally less expensive to fly midweek than weekends. Compare fares on different days; it’s the only way you’ll know for certain.
• Fly cheaper routes: On short hops, non-stops can be your best bet, price-wise. On longer flights, compare non-stops vs. connecting flights and you may be surprised by how prices drop. In some cases, a connecting flight can save up to 60 percent. Again, compare routes to be sure.
• Fly cheaper airports: Again, if you’re heading to the greater Miami area, be sure to look at both Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. The greater New York City area includes LaGuardia, JFK, Newark, even Islip on Long Island.
For Los Angeles, check fares to LAX, of course (it’ll often be cheapest), but don’t forget Burbank and Long Beach. The latter in particular could have significant deals for West Coast travelers; not only is Long Beach a longtime JetBlue stronghold, it gets new competition from Southwest in June with Oakland flights.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in this article are those of Rick Seaney and do not reflect those of ABC News.
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