Sometimes you just need to escape.
This spring and summer, there are a plethora of destinations offering affordable round-trip airfare, from bustling cities to sunny paradise beaches, both at home and abroad. Think Puerto Rico, Ireland or Las Vegas.
Travelers should start checking prices at least three to four months in advance for domestic trips, and the best prices will typically be one to two months before the departure date, according to travel app Hopper.
International travel requires more planning, with flights to Asia and Oceania booked between five and seven months in advance. However, people traveling to Europe or elsewhere can wait up to three and six months to get the lowest rates.
As always, flexibility makes for better deals. Taking a flight on a Tuesday or Wednesday could save travelers up to 30% compared to a weekend trip, Hopper said.
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According to data from travel platform Kayak, the most popular U.S. cities for travelers between March and September are New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston and Washington, DC.
Travel platforms Hopper, Kayak and Expedia shared with USA TODAY the destinations offering the cheapest round-trip plane tickets this spring and summer from the most popular U.S. cities.
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The cheapest flights, according to Hopper
The best spring offers
- Fly from New York to Tampa for just $157.
- Leave New York for Ponce, Puerto Rico for just $129.
- Fly from New York to Charleston, South Carolina for just $50.
- Leave Los Angeles for Fort Lauderdale, Florida for just $140.
- Fly from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City for just $90.
- Leave Boston for Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for as little as $72.
- Fly from Boston to San Juan, Puerto Rico for just $173.
- Fly from Chicago to Miami for just $66.
- Fly from Chicago to Cancun, Mexico for just $194.
The best summer deals
- Fly from New York to Oranjestad, Aruba, for just $257.
- Fly from New York to Nassau, Bahamas for just $239.
- Fly from Los Angeles to San Juan, Puerto Rico for just $380.
- Fly from Los Angeles to Denver for just $110.
- Fly from Boston to Orlando, Florida for as little as $170.
- Fly from Boston to Cancun, Mexico for as little as $165.
- Fly from Chicago to Denver for just $96.
- Fly from Chicago to Bogota, Colombia for just $356.
The cheapest flights, according to Kayak
The best offers between March and September:
- Fly from New York to Atlanta for $215 on average.
- Fly from New York to Charlotte, North Carolina for $237 on average.
- Fly from Boston to Philadelphia for $155 on average.
- Fly from Boston to Washington, DC, for $222 on average.
- Fly from Washington, DC, to Atlanta for $207 on average.
- Fly from Washington, DC, to Boston for $210 on average.
- Fly from Denver to Phoenix for $191 on average.
- Fly from Denver to Chicago for $194 on average.
The cheapest flights, according to Expedia
The best spring offers:
- Fly from New York to Detroit for $133 on average.
- Fly from New York to Atlanta for $174 on average.
- Fly from Los Angeles to Las Vegas for $85 on average.
- Fly from Los Angeles to Phoenix for $179 on average.
- Fly from San Francisco to Phoenix for $129 on average.
- Fly from San Francisco to Seattle for $198 on average.
- Depart from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale, Florida for $132 on average.
- Depart from Atlanta to Tampa, Florida for $143 on average.
The best summer offers:
- Fly from New York to Chicago for $200 on average.
- Fly from New York to Tampa for $300 on average.
- Fly from Los Angeles to San Francisco for $100 on average.
- Fly from Los Angeles to Las Vegas for $100 on average.
- Fly from San Francisco to Las Vegas for $100 on average.
- Fly from San Francisco to San Diego for $150 on average.
- Departure from Atlanta to Chicago for $150 on average.
- Departure from Atlanta to Houston for $200 on average.
Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at kwong@usatoday.com.
