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A trip abroad does not have to cost a fortune. Some international destinations have so many flights from the US, and so much competition between airlines, that fares are often close to a domestic trip. Once you land, many of them are also cheaper day to day than a big US city.
Here are 12 destinations that are usually among the best value for American travelers. Fares change every day, so check the live prices from your city on each route page.
Mexico and Central America
1. Cancun, Mexico
Short nonstop flights from dozens of US cities make Cancun one of the cheapest beach escapes abroad. Go in late April to May or November for good weather at lower prices. Read our full guide to the best time to visit Cancun.
Flights: New York to Cancun · Chicago to Cancun · Atlanta to Cancun
2. Mexico City, Mexico
One of the world's great food cities, with world-class museums, colonial neighborhoods and Teotihuacan's pyramids nearby. Hotels and meals are a fraction of US big-city prices.
Flights: Los Angeles to Mexico City · Chicago to Mexico City · Miami to Mexico City
3. Los Cabos, Mexico
Desert meets ocean at the tip of Baja California. Especially easy from the West Coast.
Flights: Los Angeles to Los Cabos · San Francisco to Los Cabos
The Caribbean
4. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
All-inclusive resorts here are often among the best value in the Caribbean, and there are many nonstop flights from the East Coast.
Flights: New York to Punta Cana · Miami to Punta Cana · Boston to Punta Cana
5. Montego Bay, Jamaica
Beaches, reggae and the famous Rick's Cafe in nearby Negril. Many direct flights from US hubs.
Flights: Atlanta to Montego Bay · New York to Montego Bay
6. Nassau, Bahamas
Less than an hour's flight from Miami, and a short hop from much of the East Coast.
Flights: Miami to Nassau · New York to Nassau
Canada
7. Toronto and Vancouver
Big, diverse cities with great food, short flights and, depending on the exchange rate, often good value for American visitors.
Flights: New York to Toronto · San Francisco to Vancouver
Europe
8. Lisbon, Portugal
Sunny, hilly and full of character, Lisbon is one of Western Europe's better-value capitals. A great base for day trips to Sintra and the coast.
Flights: New York to Lisbon · Boston to Lisbon
9. Dublin, Ireland
A popular gateway to Europe, and you clear US customs in Dublin on the way home, so you land in the US as a domestic arrival.
Flights: Boston to Dublin · Chicago to Dublin
10. Istanbul, Türkiye
Where Europe meets Asia. Spectacular history and food, and day-to-day costs are often low for visitors.
Flights: New York to Istanbul · Chicago to Istanbul
For more on timing a Europe trip, read our guide to the cheapest time to fly to Europe.
Asia
11. Bangkok, Thailand
The flight is long, but once there, hotels, food and transport are famously cheap. Bangkok is also a gateway to Thailand's islands and Southeast Asia.
Flights: Los Angeles to Bangkok · New York to Bangkok
12. Seoul and Tokyo
Not budget destinations in the usual sense, but fares from the West Coast can be good value, and both cities have excellent cheap food and public transport.
Flights: Los Angeles to Seoul · San Francisco to Tokyo
How to keep the whole trip cheap
- Travel in shoulder season. For beach destinations that usually means late spring and fall. For Europe, spring and autumn.
- Compare booking sites. The same flight can cost different amounts on different sites. Gotoesy sorts everything cheapest first.
- Pre-book airport transfers. A fixed-price Kiwitaxi transfer avoids haggling with taxi drivers after a long flight.
- Book tours and tickets online. Klook and Tiqets often have better prices than buying on the spot, plus mobile tickets that skip the ticket line.
- Rent a car smartly. For road trips in Mexico, Portugal or Ireland, compare rental companies on DiscoverCars or Localrent, and read the insurance terms.
- Check entry rules early. Passports, visas and electronic travel authorizations take time. Check the official government site for your destination before you book.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cheapest country to fly to from the US?
- Mexico is usually the cheapest, with Cancun and Mexico City served by many airlines from dozens of US cities. The Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Canada are also often good value.
- What is the cheapest place in Europe to fly to from the US?
- Big gateways with lots of competition, such as London, Dublin, Lisbon and Madrid, are often cheapest. It changes with the season, so compare several.
- Can I travel to the Caribbean without a passport?
- US citizens can visit Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands without a passport, because they are US territories. Most other Caribbean countries require one.