Sound the seashells because summer is here. And while we’re all about beach days and hanging out in parks, now’s not the time to be lazy when planning the perfect summer trip. For travel this season, it’s best to book early. Especially if you’re headed to one of the summer’s top destinations. But if what you’re looking for is a deal, we took a dive into our data to find out the weekends when median airfares are at their lowest. So now you’ll know what dates to aim for a Friday-Sunday trip that’ll get you the most bang for your buck.
Cheapest Weekends to Travel – Domestic
During the summer, the median airfare for weekend (Friday-Sunday) trips is $441. But by traveling these 3 weekends, you can potentially save a ton (and use that extra cash to order super fancy cocktails).
- August 25: median airfare of $305
- September 8: median airfare of $311
- September 1: median airfare of $312
Cheapest Weekends to Travel – International
For summer weekends, the median airfare to fly internationally is $760. But if you travel on the following dates, you’ll find your right flight for less.
- August 25: median airfare $607
- September 8: median airfare $609
- August 18: median airfare $613
Some clear call-outs: Generally speaking, the best time to travel if you’re price conscious is towards the end of the summer. This is true for both international and domestic destinations, with August 25th being the clear winner weekend for cheap summer travel. Plus, this is the weekend before Labor Day. So if you’re looking for a last hurrah for summer, you’ll not only save but you’ll also avoid the holiday airport traffic. Not only that, but this time of year is also when the crowds are dying down as back-to-school fever is on the rise and the summer heat hasn’t yet left most destinations.
If you need some inspiration on where to go, here are 10 popular destinations to check out for a weekend, all for under $500.
10 Popular Destinations Under $500
- Guadalajara: Median airfare is $297
- Mexico City: Median airfare is $313
- Montreal: Median airfare is $321
- Vancouver: Median airfare is $340
- San Juan: Median airfare is $352
- Cancun: Median airfare is $384
- Puerta Vallarta: Median airfare is $392
- Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: Median airfare is $431
- Nassau, Bahamas: Median airfare is $447
- San Jose, Costa Rica: Median airfare is $489
And because we know that summer travel is the perfect time to plan a group trip, we’ve got something to help clear those group chat headaches. KAYAK Trip Huddle is a tool that lets you and your friends vote on destinations, dates and accommodations. No more long email chains or group texts that keep your phone buzzing during that important work presentation. Just planning, made simple.
Methodology
The data mentioned above is based on median airfares conducted from KAYAK US and is intended to be used as a guide. Travel dates are June 6, 2018 through September 10, 2018 and search dates are January 1, 2018 through May 29, 2018. The Top 10 popular destinations were based on based on median airfares conducted from KAYAK US and is intended to be used as a guide. Travel dates are May 25, 2018 – September 3, 2018, and search dates are February 21, 2017 – February 21, 2018. All flights considered are economy, round-trip. Prices and availability may vary.
