Jeff Klee, CEO of CheapAir.comsays airline capacity has rebounded from pandemic complications, but strong travel demand means summer flight prices can be high, depending on when you hope to go. Flying in June, July or early August will be more expensive than later in the season, according to the company's summer report. forecast.
“And it’s not just about the plane ticket,” Klee said in an email. “High hotel prices and crowds everywhere make Western Europe difficult for summer.”
Despite the price, “people are going to go,” said Melanie Fish, head of global public relations for all Expedia brands, including Vrbo, Expedia and Hotels.com. “When we look at destination searches, they are definitely increasing year over year.”
For popular destinations like Europe, Klee and Fish say to push trips later, into August, September or even October. Not only will prices drop, but you will also alleviate some of the stress associated with overtourism.
“My number one piece of advice is to go ahead and take that summer vacation, but maybe wait to take that big, big trip in September,” Fish said.
Based on Expedia Summer 2024 Travel outlook, we're currently in the perfect place to buy early summer flights at the best rates, as Fish says the lowest rates tend to appear between 21 and 60 days. It doesn't hurt to start your search even earlier, setting up price alerts to signal when airfares are dropping. If you can do it, consider flying on a Monday for international travel or a Tuesday for domestic travel to save up to 15% on fares, Fish added.
It's not impossible to find good deals on plane tickets, whether you're looking for a tropical trip beach trip, a mountain adventure or a bustling city. Here are the places that tend to be cheaper and the destinations you'll want to avoid.
Sun, surf, culture, chilaquiles — Mexico is always a good idea, but particularly this summer. With the opening of new airport in Tulum, U.S. airlines have added many new flights to Mexico, particularly to beach regions. “We've seen a good number of transactions in Mexican resort areas like Cancun,” Nastro said.
Laura Lindsay, global travel trends expert at Skyscannersay three Mexican cities — Cancun, San José del Cabo and Puerto Vallarta – are among the top 10 destinations offering travelers the best value for money in 2024.
To escape the summer heat, Phyllis Stoller, president of the Women's Travel Grouprecommends high-altitude destinations like Mexico City or Ixtapan de la Sal, a town near Mexico City with hot springs.
Avoid European port cities
If you're planning to visit a popular European city that's also a cruise hub, be wary. Not only will you face the usual summer crowds, but you'll be joined by thousands of day-trippers flocking to ports i.e. Barcelona, VeniceAthens and Santorini.
Sandra Weinacht, co-owner of the travel agency Europe Travel Experiences, says you can avoid some of the craziness of these hot spots by staying in neighborhoods away from typical tourist areas. You can also visit the main sites in the late afternoon or evening, after cruise passengers have returned to their ships.
Better yet, wait to visit until the shoulder season
Epic hikes, breathtaking nature, and more craft beer than you'll ever taste in a lifetime: the Centennial State is a national gem. Ashlee Collins from Inspired, a luxury travel and lifestyle subscription service, says Vail is popular among members this summer. Not only is the ski resort beautiful without snow, but it is also passable for many, significantly reducing costs for travelers.
Airfares to Colorado appear more reasonable than those to other domestic vacation centers. Nastro recently spotted a Miami-Denver round-trip fare over the July 4 holiday for just $199. She says an average round trip from major U.S. cities is between $173 and $250, but those prices are expected to rise to $350 as summer gets closer.
Avoid places at risk of forest fires
Forest fires have become an unfortunate phenomenon of summers in the Northern Hemisphere. Last year's fires in Europe, notably in Cyprus and Greece, were among the worst this century, according to the European Commission. reported.
Stoller says fire risk was a factor in planning his summer trip; She canceled a New England cruise after remembering how bad the smoke was last year because of the fires Canada. “None of us can predict everything, but it’s something I would be aware of,” she said.
Extreme heat is also a problem. Last July, Southern Europe experienced excessively high temperatures of a “thermal dome”.
“There is a concern about the heat,” Stoller said. “Last summer was really painful.”
The Caribbean experiences its peak tourist season in winter, when Americans flock to warmer waters. This means that summer travel to the region tends to be quieter and less expensive.
“You can pay less than $300 for almost any island: Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Aruba, Dominican Republic,” said Lindsay Schwimer, consumer travel expert at Hopper. She saw similarly priced flights to Colombia.
Skyscanner's Lindsay also said that Puerto Rico and the Bahamas offer some of the most affordable flights from the United States this summer.
Unless you leave for the Olympic Gamesavoid the French capital this summer.
“Paris is always a top destination in the summer, but this summer… it will be on another level,” said Madison Pietrowski, head of U.S. brand at Get your guide.
Not only are hotel prices high, but “we are seeing that some of the major attractions like the Louver have increased their ticket prices,” Pietrowski said.
Nastro says crowds are going to be “banana” during the Games, and not just in Paris. Olympic travelers will likely add other French destinations to their trip, such as Nice, which organize football matches — or the Côte d'Azur, already popular in summer.
Even if you try to get ahead of the rush by visiting before the July 26 start date, you might still have a few Olympics-related headaches in the French capital. As the city races to complete preparations, “you may find that there will be some eyesores, scaffolding and loud noises early in the morning,” Nastro said.
Interest in Western Europe hasn't slowed, and Americans are expected to return in droves this summer. If you want to avoid them, put rural European destinations on your radar.
Weinacht is optimistic about Spain Rioja region, the Basque countryside and the central Italian region of Umbria, which borders Tuscany but does not see the same levels of tourism. She is also a fan of Carinthia, the least populated state in Austria. “It’s dotted with castles and lakes, it’s not too hot and, oh, the food and the stories the towns and villages can tell,” Weinacht said in an email.
Weinacht says she's getting more and more requests from Americans for trips to her native Germany. The country is easy to navigate thanks to its high-speed trains and offers a mix of small and large cities spread across powerful wine regions, UNESCO World Heritage sites and numerous food festivals. According to Skyscanner, US airlines have increased their flights to Germany, namely Frankfurt, an international business hub, meaning you may be able to find more deals.
If your dream Italian destination has been featured on TV lately, that's a red flag. The final season of “The White Lotus” sparked interest in Sicily already popular; the same thing happens on the Amalfi Coast thanks to the new Netflix miniseries “Ripley.”
“They will definitely be the most expensive and it will be very crowded during the summer,” Schwimer said.
