Airfares continue to climb due to rising jet fuel prices and the recent collapse of Spirit Airlines, which means summer travel is threatening to break the bank for some travelers.
Fortunately, there are still deals to be had if you know where to look. Dollar Flight Club recently published its Summer 2026 Cheap Flight Forecast to uncover the cheapest places to fly to this summer.
The leading flight deal platform analyzed more than 500,000 airfare data points across 65-plus U.S. departure airports in late April and looked at round-trip economy fares for travel June through August 2026 to determine which destinations offer travelers the most bang for their buck this season.
Cheapest Places to Fly in the US
Domestically, the cheapest flight destinations are in the Southeast, Gulf Coast and Midwest. "If you're on a tight budget, fly east, not west. Although West Coast airports like LAX, SFO and SAN are offering some deals, they have higher-than-average fares," says Dollar Flight Club Founder and CEO Jesse Neugarten.
The report also highlights other affordable U.S. destinations such as Charlotte, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, New Orleans, Miami, Chicago and Nashville.
Busy Broadway in Downtown Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo Credit: Kim Banocy)
Europe's Top Budget Destinations
According to Dollar Flight Club, peak summer fares to popular Western European cities such as Paris, Rome, London, Barcelona and Frankfurt are running $1,700 to $2,100 round-trip, which is approximately 20 percent higher compared to last year.
However, travelers can find deals to cities like Reykjavik, Dublin and Stockholm, in addition to Helsinki, Oslo and Copenhagen.
"If you can shift to late August, almost every European city gets 30–40 percent cheaper," says Neugarten.
More Affordable Summer Vacation Spots
Dollar Flight Club's latest forecast also reveals awesome deals on the Caribbean, while Canadian destinations offer some of the best value for Americans seeking out cooler weather this summer.
The view of Old San Juan and the Caribbean Ocean from Castillo San Cristobal. (Photo Credit: Lacey Pfalz)
Wherever they choose to go, travelers will want to have flexibility and book sooner rather than later to give themselves the best shot at savings. "Book now, not later. Airlines are cutting capacity every week. Fares aren't going to get cheaper, so if you see a deal, book it," Neugarten encourages.
Top 10 Most Affordable International Destinations (Average Price Ranges)
- Leon/Guanajuato, Mexico (BJX): $185–$288
- San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU): $196–$300
- Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (PVR): $228–$355
- Guatemala City, Guatemala (GUA): $266–$359
- San José, Costa Rica (SJO): $276–$383
- Mexico City, Mexico (MEX): $232–$420
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ): $279–$403
- Nassau, Bahamas (NAS): $245–$371
- Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ): $276–$393
- Toronto, Canada (YYZ): $175–$425
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
