By Ren Newman for Going.com
Whether you’ve been in the depths of planning your next getaway for months or you’re open to booking something spontaneous today, you’re in luck. Here, we’re spotlighting eight spectacular places you can get to for less than $500 between now and the end of the year.
2-in-1 Europe
Depart from: East Coast (e.g., JFK, BOS, IAD, MIA)
When: April–May, September–December 2025
Going price: $399 roundtrip
A few airlines—TAP Air Portugal, Icelandair, and Turkish Airlines to name a few—offer stopover programs. This enables you to book a flight to one destination in Europe, then add another one on the outbound or return flight for free.
For each airline, the stopover will take you to a different destination: Icelandair stops in Reykjavík (KEF), TAP in Lisbon (LIS) or Porto (OPO), and Turkish Airlines in Istanbul (IST).
The main thing to be aware of is that you manually have to add your stopover when booking. But don’t worry! It’s easy, as all three airlines allow you to do so with the click of a button on their website. You essentially get to create your own sneaky 2-in-1 or mutli-city flight through one roundtrip itinerary.
Getting there: Book with Icelandair, TAP, or Turkish Airlines for any roundtrip itinerary to Europe under $500 on their website, and add a stopover. Easy as pie.
Passport-free Caribbean
Depart from: JetBlue hub airports (e.g., BOS, FLL, LAX, JFK, LGA, EWR, LAX, MCO, DTW)
When: April–early June 2025
Going price: $195 roundtrip
We recognize that not everyone has (or may want) a passport. Doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the serene blue waters and white sandy beaches of the Caribbean.
Let us introduce you to the low fares of passport-free Caribbean. Technically, these are US territories located in the Caribbean that boast all the beauty of places like the Dutch Caribbean and Bahamas but without the need of a passport.
Note: You’ll need documentation (e.g., birth certificate, Real ID) to re-enter the US.
The majority of routes with the lowest fares are operated by JetBlue and Delta, which means even if you’re not located in one of their hubs, you could find a cheap connecting flight and take a nonstop down to the Caribbean from a hub. All without breaking the bank or a sweat.
Getting there: There are a couple options for flying passport-free to the Caribbean: the US Virgin Islands (STT, STX) or Puerto Rico (SJU, BQN, PSE). Try to avoid hurricane season, which peaks from mid-August to November.
Hawai’i
Depart from: Houston
When: April–May 2025
Going price: $360–$481 roundtrip
In an ideal world, you’d score cheap airfare over the weekend, nonstop, including bags, and on your favorite airlines. Alas, finding low fares to Hawai’i is a game of give and take.
If you are flexible and/or your kids can miss a few days of school, departing or returning midweek can be your key to saving a couple hundred dollars roundtrip per ticket. This is especially important when booking for more than one person. Flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays tend to be cheaper to Hawai’i, whereas flights on Fridays and Sundays (when business and inflexible travelers fly) are typically more expensive.
Plus, your flying experience is often better if you fly midweek, as you won’t need to fight with weekend crowds in the airport or onboard your flight.
Additionally, if you’re looking for baggage-inclusive fares, snagging a cheap Southwest fare during the week compared to weekend prices can not only save you hundreds on each ticket, it can save you hundreds on added baggage fees (for flights booked by May 28; free bags disappear for new bookings after that).
Getting there: Most airlines operate flights to Honolulu (HNL), but there are other options to Maui (OGG), Lihue (LIH), Hilo (ITO), and Kona (KOA). If you’re flying from the West Coast, it’s often cheaper to fly into Honolulu (HNL) or Kona (KOA), as Southwest, Alaska, Hawaiian, and Delta operate frequent flights to both islands. On the East Coast, it’s often cheaper to fly to Honolulu (HNL), as there are more nonstops and less friction points. Remember: It’s easy to snag a short flight between islands once you’re in Hawai’i.
Tokyo
Depart from: Los Angeles (LAX)
When: April, September–November 2025
Going price: $412 roundtrip
Zipair is a newer carrier, operating nonstop routes to Japan from US airports as far east as Houston. The airline is not as all-inclusive as other carriers when it comes to international travel (think domestic carriers like Breeze compared to American or Delta). E.g., you’ll have to pay extra for things like carry-ons, checked bags, seat selection, and in-flight meals. However, Zipair offers bundles, a nice-to-have on long-haul flights and a great way to save money compared to à la carte add-ons.
That said, it’s hard to beat $400s nonstop fares to Tokyo, even from the West Coast. Zipair’s route from Houston tends to be more in the $600–$700 range (on par with other baggage-inclusive carriers). Even so, during Japan’s peak cherry blossom and autumn festival seasons, prices like these can’t be beat.
London
Depart from: Las Vegas (LAS)
When: April–May 2025
Going price: $498 roundtrip
Norse, like Zipair, has slowly expanded its network throughout the US and Europe, adding nonstops from the West Coast to destinations like London, and for much less than traditional carriers such as Delta or United. The airline also recently included overhead baggage in its base fare, previously an add-on that got groans from many passengers.
Norse is slowly becoming akin to Icelandair with its in-flight offerings, though its network isn’t as widespread. For the ease of getting to places like London, however, it’s perfect. If you happen to have an additional $100 or so to burn, you can also score a cheap nonstop roundtrip flight from London to other destinations in Europe, especially if you’re down to fly with Ryanair.
I personally did this to spend a day in Dublin. My outbound flight departed incredibly early in the morning, and my return flight was slated for late that night, making it easy to visit another European country without the fuss of finding accommodation or lugging your bags with you.
Getting there: Norse routes fly into London Gatwick (LGW). Other similarly priced routes (usually operated by JetBlue or Virgin) may fly into London Heathrow (LHR).
Paris
Depart from: Newark (EWR), San Francisco (SFO)
When: April, September–early December 2025
Going price: $410–$498 roundtrip
You could visit Paris over and over again and still not see all it has to offer. But with deals like these, you could sure try. They typically pop up for travel during shoulder seasons, roughly March–May and September–December, with the best deals originating from East Coast hubs.
The thing about Paris: Each season is a marvel. Spring blankets the city in cherry blossoms. Summer brings long, luminous evenings perfect for sipping wine along Canal Saint-Martin. Fall transforms the Tuileries into a canvas of amber and gold with mercifully thinner crowds. Even winter, with its glittering holiday markets and cozy bistros serving soul-warming coq au vin, has its own magic.
Thanks to Paris’s stellar metro system, you can zip between Versailles and the charming hillside cafes of Montmartre year round without weather woes. The real trick? Be flexible with your dates, and keep an eye out for airline sweet spots.
Getting there: Many carriers (e.g., FrenchBee) fly into Paris Orly (ORY) due to lower taxes compared to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). However, more routes fly into and out of Charles de Gaulle, and it can be easier to get ground transportation to your hotel from CDG as well.
Banff, Alberta
Depart from: Phoenix (PHX), Austin (AUS)
When: April, June, September–November 2025
Going price: $176 roundtrip
For many, Banff is a top bucket-list destination, and for good reason: It’s a stunning national park that boasts incredible views, hiking trails, and majestic wildlife. Thanks to Air Canada and WestJet, nonstops throughout the country are plentiful, and most have availability for less than $500 (bags included) throughout the peak summer season. Keep an eye out for WestJet sales to snag even lower prices.
Getting there: The closest airport to Banff is Calgary (YYC). From there, you’ll need transit (which doesn’t have to involve renting a car!) to enjoy the passing views of the Canadian Rockies.
Costa Rica
Depart from: Washington, DC (BWI, IAD, DCA)
When: April–May, September–November 2025
Going price: $267–$293 roundtrip
Budget-friendly fares to this Central American gem typically surface from major US hubs like DC, LA, and Miami, especially during shoulder seasons (May–June, September–November). In fact, the timing couldn’t be better. While most travelers flock to Costa Rica during the dry season, the shoulder months offer their own slice of paradise—fewer crowds at Manuel Antonio beaches, more intimate encounters with sloths and toucans in the Monteverde Cloud Forest, and better chances of having those natural hot springs near Arenal Volcano to yourself.
Even during the so-called “green season,” morning hours typically stay clear for ziplining and surfing sessions, while afternoon showers just mean more-dramatic sunsets and lusher landscapes.
With the money you saved on flights, you can splurge on a dreamy eco-lodge, book an extra waterfall rappelling excursion, or simply extend your stay in this “pura vida” paradise.
Getting there: Most airlines offer flights into both Liberia (LIR) and San Jose (SJO). Be sure to check out the distance from the airport to your accommodation.
Image Credit: Our Team/Freepik
