Experts offer advice on finding cheap summer trips

VHO - The slowdown in global travel, coupled with the ongoing economic uncertainty, could spur discount airfare programs during the peak summer season.

“Abundance and availability” for flights this season to Latin American destinations like Brazil, where Rio de Janeiro captivates visitors. Florian Plaucheur/AFP/Getty Images

'Golden summer of cheap flights'

Travel experts say many tourists have yet to book flights to popular European destinations this summer.

The slowdown in global travel, coupled with the ongoing economic uncertainty, will spur airfare discounts, experts say.

And now could be the perfect time to find last-minute summer travel deals.

Travel expert Katy Nastro says while it's not an exact science , many people will choose a convenient time to book flights during peak seasons, such as summer.

Most people usually advise travelers to lock in domestic airfare during peak season at least 3-7 months before their intended travel date. For international flights, experts also recommend booking tickets 4-10 months in advance for peak days.

However, this summer has "reversed itself," Ms. Nastro said, suggesting that travelers can book just 1-3 months in advance to get the best deals on summer airfares.

For non-peak travel periods, the advance booking window is typically 1-3 months for domestic fares and 2-8 months for international flights.

But this year is different. Nastro calls it the "golden summer of cheap flights."

"Normally, at this time, you would be hard-pressed to find a plane ticket to Europe for $400 round trip, from major cities in the US. But this year, we're still seeing it, which is really amazing," Ms. Nastro said.

More surprisingly, the May 28 promotion also recorded a round-trip airfare from New York to Dublin in mid-July for $392 on Aer Lingus and select dates in July and August for a round-trip airfare from Los Angeles to Paris for $579 on French Bee.

This summer is quite unique, according to Nastro, because there are still "plenty of flights and availability" to destinations in Europe, as well as Canada and Mexico, as well as Latin American destinations like Brazil and Peru.

According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, data collected from third-party sources (mainly online travel agencies) also notes affordable prices on flights from major US cities to major European cities.

Meanwhile, airfares from late January to mid-May also fell by about 10% compared to June, July and August. Meanwhile, flights in the opposite direction, from Europe to the US, also fell by 12%.

Ms. Nastro affirmed that the decrease in the number of international visitors to the US has affected the airfares of European airlines.

She suggests looking for deals on airlines like Aer Lingus, SAS, Lufthansa, Norse Atlantic Airways and Icelandair.

Flexibility

To get the best deals to Europe this summer, flexibility is key, according to Hayley Berg, chief economist at travel platform Hopper.

Airfares to Europe from major US hubs this summer are comparable to those in summer 2019, says Berg.

This is one of the cheapest summers in recent memory for tourists to travel to Europe thanks to low fuel prices, reduced competition and the addition of new low-cost airlines.

Meanwhile, the 2025 international travel guide by Hopper also noted that the average airfare from the US to Europe is $817 per ticket this summer, down 10% from last summer's price.

Mr Berg affirmed that consumers can have flexible choices about airports and times of arrival in Europe to receive the best deals.

Alternatively, visitors can choose to travel on weekdays and look for deals.

“Dublin, Stockholm and Copenhagen tend to offer affordable prices, while London, Paris and Rome will cost more depending on the time of year you choose to visit. So, people should shop around to get the best deals,” Ms Berge added.

When it comes to the best prices to travel to Europe, the last two weeks of August are ideal for saving money.

“The average airfare is $300 cheaper if you travel in the last two weeks of August, compared to the peak months of June and July,” she said.

Another plus, according to Ms. Berg, is that traveling during this time will mean fewer crowds, cheaper accommodation and fewer queues at famous European attractions like the Vatican.

“ If I had to give some advice, I would say flexibility,” Ms. Berg added.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/du-lich/cac-chuyen-gia-dua-ra-loi-khuyen-tim-kiem-nhung-chuyen-di-du-lich-mua-he-gia-re-139622.html