Experts offer advice on finding cheap summer trips

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

“Abundance and availability” for flights this season to Latin American destinations such as 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.

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

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

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

Most people recommend that travelers lock in domestic airfares during peak season at least 3-7 months before their intended travel date. For international flights, experts also recommend booking 4-10 months in advance during peak travel dates.

However, this summer has “reversed itself,” said Ms. Nastro, suggesting that travelers can simply book their tickets one to three months in advance to take advantage of summer airfare deals.

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

This year, however, is different. Nastro calls it the “golden summer of cheap flights.”

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

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 (mostly online travel agencies) also shows 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.

Be flexible

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, Berg said.

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 many new low-cost airlines.

Meanwhile, Hopper's 2025 international travel guide also notes 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 be flexible in choosing airports and times of arrival in Europe to receive the best deals.

Additionally, travelers 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 do your research to find the best deal,” Berge added.

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

“Airfares are on average $300 cheaper if you travel in the last two weeks of August, compared to peak times in June and July,” she said.

Another plus, says Ms Berg, is that travelling during this time will mean fewer crowds, cheaper accommodation and fewer queues at popular 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