It’s that time of the year to pack up the car and score some tan lines. For anyone looking to get away on a spring vacation, we have some good news: it’s cheaper to travel for Spring Break this year than last. So whether you’re a college student looking for a little thrill-seeking or a family in desperate need of some sun, we have what you need to plan a break that’ll be the envy of every classroom.
But when do I book?
It sorta depends on when you’re going. If you’re following the university calendar and planning a March break, book your international travel between 30 and 60 days ahead of travel – while domestic travel can be booked between 7 and 45 days out. For April vacations, you’ll want to book around 70 days ahead (2.5 months…. So, now) if you’re flying over international waters. Sticking around in the US, though, means you can be as spontaneous as 7 days or prepared and planned at 45 days ahead.
Where can I go for cheap?
If you’re looking to spend as little as possible on your flight, our data shows that you’ll want to stick within North and South America. You’ll be surprised to know that there’s not much of a price difference between US cities and places like Toronto, Guadalajara and San Salvador.
Cheapest domestic destinations for March break
- Baltimore, MD: $265 average airfare
- Nashville, TN: $277 average airfare
- Chicago, IL: $288 average airfare
- Atlanta, GA: $293 average airfare
- New York, NY: $294 average airfare
- St. Louis, MO: $298 average airfare
- Orlando, FL: $299 average airfare
- Boston, MA: $302 average airfare
- Denver, CO: $304 average airfare
- Las Vegas, NV: $304 average airfare
Cheapest international destinations for March break
- Toronto, Canada: $303 average airfare
- Guadalajara, Mexico: $336 average airfare
- Montreal, Canada: $361 average airfare
- San Salvador, El Salvador: $383 average airfare
- Calgary, Canada: $440 average airfare
- Medellín, Colombia: $441 average airfare
- Guatemala City, Guatemala: $446 average airfare
- Santiago de los Caballeros; Dominican Republic: $450 average airfare
- Vancouver, Canada: $452 average airfare
- Mexico City, Mexico: $464 average airfare
Cheapest domestic destinations for April vacation
- Denver, CO: $268 average airfare
- Chicago, IL: $283 average airfare
- Tampa, FL: $294 average airfare
- Nashville, TN: $298 average airfare
- St. Louis, MO: $304 average airfare
- New York, NY: $317 average airfare
- Fort Lauderdale, FL: $322 average airfare
- Orlando, FL: $323 average airfare
- Atlanta, GA: $325 average airfare
- Minneapolis, MN: $329 average airfare
Cheapest international destinations for April vacation
- San Salvador, El Salvador: $300 average airfare
- Toronto, Canada: $326 average airfare
- Vancouver, Canada: $331 average airfare
- Montreal, Canada: $373 average airfare
- Guatemala City, Guatemala: $374 average airfare
- Medellín, Colombia: $432 average airfare
- Tulum, Mexico: $447 average airfare
- Mexico City, Mexico: $463 average airfare
- Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: $487 average airfare
- Cancún, Mexico: $496 average airfare
Where can I score a deal?
Overall, airfare is down 3% for March break and down 8% for April vacation, so you can expect to see a deal. Here are some destinations seeing the biggest decreases vs. 2023 for spring breakers.
Domestic deal destinations for March break
- Punta Gorda, FL: 46% decrease in airfare YoY
- Myrtle Beach, SC: 28% decrease in airfare YoY
- Vail, CO: 23% decrease in airfare YoY
- Panama City, FL: 23% decrease in airfare YoY
- Anchorage, AK: 19% decrease in airfare YoY
- Tucson, AZ: 19% decrease in airfare YoY
- Aspen, CO: 15% decrease in airfare YoY
- Reno, NV: 12% decrease in airfare YoY
- Bozeman, MT: 12% decrease in airfare YoY
- Baltimore, MD: 12% decrease in airfare YoY
International deal destinations for March break
- Shanghai, China: 40% decrease in airfare YoY
- Bridgetown, Barbados: 34% decrease in airfare YoY
- Sydney, Australia: 32% decrease in airfare YoY
- Castries, Saint Lucia: 32% decrease in airfare YoY
- St. Croix, USVI: 23% decrease in airfare YoY
- Cozumel, Mexico: 22% decrease in airfare YoY
- Auckland, New Zealand: 21% decrease in airfare YoY
- San Salvador, El Salvador: 20% decrease in airfare YoY
- Liberia, Costa Rica: 19% decrease in airfare YoY
- Belize City, Belize: 18% decrease in airfare YoY
Domestic deal destinations for April vacation
- Kailua-Kona-HI: 31% decrease in airfare YoY
- Panama City, FL: 27% decrease in airfare YoY
- Asheville, NC: 25% decrease in airfare YoY
- Myrtle Beach, SC: 23% decrease in airfare YoY
- Fort Myers, FL: 21% decrease in airfare YoY
- Pensacola, FL: 20% decrease in airfare YoY
- San Diego, CA: 20% decrease in airfare YoY
- Kahului, HI: 20% decrease in airfare YoY
- Tampa, FL: 19% decrease in airfare YoY
- Fort Lauderdale, FL: 19% decrease in airfare YoY
International deal destinations for April vacation
- San Salvador, El Salvador: 37% decrease in airfare YoY
- Castries, St. Lucia: 36% decrease in airfare YoY
- Belize City, Belize: 30% decrease in airfare YoY
- Liberia, Costa Rica: 30% decrease in airfare YoY
- Guatemala City, Guatemala: 26% decrease in airfare YoY
- Saint Thomas, USVI: 25% decrease in airfare YoY
- Sydney, Australia: 25% decrease in airfare YoY
- Cartagena, Colombia: 24% decrease in airfare YoY
- Nassau, Bahamas: 22% decrease in airfare YoY
- Reykjavik, Iceland: 21% decrease in airfare YoY
Found a destination you’re into but not ready to book? Set a Price Alert to track prices on the sly while you go about your life. We’ll email you when we see a change in the airfare price so you’re prepped to book.
Methodology: KAYAK has defined “March Break” as travel dates between March 1 – 31, 2024, and “April vacation” as travel dates between April 1 – 30, 2024. In both instances, search dates between Dec. 1, 2023 and Jan. 19, 2024 were considered. Cheap destinations are those with the lowest average airfare from a US origin. Deal destinations are those with the greatest year over year decrease in airfare from a US origin. For year over year change in airfare, search interest or when to book data, the same travel dates in 2023 were considered for searches between Dec. 1, 2022 and Jan. 19, 2023. Flight prices are on for round-trip, economy trips, are on average, and are subject to change.
