Affordable Destinations for Labour Day Weekend (& When to Book Them)

It may feel like you just broke out your swimsuits, but it’s time to start talking about the end of summer. Labour Day will be here before you know it, and you’ll want to end the season with an amazing getaway. But where should you go? Based on last year’s data, we discovered all the affordable Labour Day destinations — international and domestic — that you can travel to. Better yet, took all the most affordable destinations and filtered them down to the ones you should book based on how far ahead you’re planning your trip. So you can be confident you’re getting the most out of your holiday fund.

So get ready for the final countdown… to an epic Labour Day weekend.

Domestic Getaways

1. Montreal, QB: median airfare $114
2. Vancouver, BC: median airfare $290
3. Winnipeg, MB: median airfare $311

International Escapes

1. Los Angeles, California: median airfare: $163
2. Chicago, Illinois: median airfare $195
3. New York, New York: median airfare $267

Domestic Getaways

1. Quebec City, QB: median $126
2. Montreal, QB: median airfare $215
3. Calgary, AB: median $229

International Escapes

1. San Francisco, California: median airfare $164
2. Las Vegas, Nevada: median airfare: $257
3. Boston, Massachusetts: median airfare: $268

Domestic Getaways

1. Toronto, ON: median airfare: $235
2. Vancouver, BC: median airfare $242
3. Calgary, AB: median airfare $250

International Escapes

1. Seattle, Washington: median airfare $301
2. Orlando, Florida: median airfare $319
3. Miami, Florida: median airfare $417

Domestic Getaways

1. Winnipeg, MB: median airfare $192
2. Vancouver, BC: median airfare $210
3. Edmonton, AB: $264

International Escapes

1. Washington DC: median airfare $194
2. Orlando, Florida: median airfare $316
3. Nashville, Tennessee: median airfare $324

Domestic Getaways

1. Edmonton, AB: median airfare $218
2. Montreal, QB: median airfare $234
3. Vancouver, BC: median airfare $260

International Escapes

1. San Francisco, California: median airfare $292
2. Fort Lauderdale, Florida: median airfare $292
3. New York, New York: median airfare $294

Domestic Getaways

1. Victoria, BC: median airfare $137
2. Toronto, ON: median airfare $213
3. Vancouver, BC: median airfare $255

International Escapes

1. Fort Lauderdale, Florida: median airfare $176
2. New York, New York: median airfare$233
3. Chicago, Illinois: median airfare $305

Domestic Getaways

1. Toronto, ON: median airfare: $285
2. Regina, SK: median airfare: $317
3. Halifax, NS: median airfare $364

International Escapes

1. Tampa, Florida: median airfare $170
2. Los Angeles, California: median airfare $237
3. San Diego, California: median airfare $253

Domestic Getaways

1. Victoria, BC: median airfare $134
2. St. John’s, NL: median airfare $168
3. Vancouver, BC: median airfare $274

International Escapes

1. Los Angeles, California: median airfare $267
2. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: median airfare $319
3. Phoenix, Arizona: median airfare $399

In looking at last year’s Labour Day data, some things are very clear:

1. 1. If you’re looking for an international bargain, head south of the border. Destinations in the United States prove to be some of the most affordable options for Canadians. And while their politics may not be popular, American cities like San Francisco and New York are cosmopolitan, forward-thinking destinations. We also noticed that the majority of affordable US destinations are all on the coasts, so you can hit those late-summer ocean waves.
   2. Book Montreal sooner rather than later. Quebec’s major metropolis came up several times as an affordable Labour Day option. However, the best deals to this destination were found when booked between 4-8 weeks ahead, meaning some planning will need to be involved if you want to go there.
   3. Florida’s beaches are ready for you. Another theme for international travel is to cities in Florida. This southern state may be known for its beaches, theme parks and orange groves, but there’s plenty more to discover. Tampa, Orlando, Miami and Fort Lauderdale all came out on top for travelers looking to book between 1 and 6 weeks ahead.
   4. Get those last-minute deals to British Columbia. Give the West Coast some love. For Labour Day last year, cities in BC were great last-minute destinations, with median airfare to Victoria just $134. Hopefully the trend continues this year, and you can get out into nature to celebrate summer’s last days.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly escape to close out the season, there’s a Labour Day destination for you. And to find you the best flight deal, we’ll search hundreds of travel and airline sites at once so you can confidently plan the perfect trip.

Methodology

The data mentioned above is based on median airfares conducted from KAYAK CA and is intended to be used as a guide. Travel dates are 9/1/2017-9/4/2017 and search dates are the 8 weeks (broken out by Monday-Sunday) leading up to the indicated travel dates. All flights considered are economy, round-trip. Prices and availability may vary.