INTRODUCTION
If you’ve still got a few vacation days to burn before the end of the year, you don’t need a huge budget to make them count.
We analyzed tens of thousands of data points across hundreds of routes, looking at live prices, historical averages, and seasonal patterns to spot the best-value destinations. For this guide, we focused on round-trip economy fares departing from major U.S. airports for travel between late November 2025 and early January 2026.
All sample prices below reflect some of the lowest round-trip economy deals we’ve seen in our latest checks but actual prices will vary based on your dates and departure airport.
5 Cheap Domestic Getaways Before EOY
1. Miami, Florida (MIA)
- Typical low deals we’re seeing: from the East Coast to Miami starting in the high-$50s roundtrip (for example, BWI–MIA in late December).
- Why go now: Warm weather, beach time, and shoulder-season pricing before peak winter crowds fully take over.
- Best window: Late November through mid-December, or flying on December 24–25 if you’re flexible.
2. Orlando, Florida (MCO)
- Typical low deals we’re seeing: sub-$100 roundtrip on short-haul routes (for example, Atlanta–Orlando from the low-$90s around Christmas week).
- Why go now: Family trip, theme parks, or just Florida sun as late November and early December are reliably cheaper than spring break.
- Best window: Week after Thanksgiving through mid-December, plus Christmas Eve/Day for the best odds of lower fares.
3. Las Vegas, Nevada (LAS)
- Typical low deals we’re seeing: low-$100s roundtrip from the West Coast (e.g., Houston–Las Vegas in the ~$120 range for New Year’s week).
- Why go now: Desert hikes by day, shows and restaurants at night, plus lots of last-minute inventory on both flights and hotels.
- Best window: Early December or departing December 31 / returning early January if you want to sneak in a New Year’s trip on a deal.
4. Salt Lake City, Utah (SLC)
- Typical low deals we’re seeing: mid-$200s roundtrip from Western gateways (like Seattle–Salt Lake City around $225 for mid–late December).
- Why go now: Easy access to early-season skiing and riding at Brighton, Solitude, Alta, and Snowbird without paying Colorado prices.
- Best window: Mid–late December for early-season snow and cheaper midweek flights.
5. Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota (MSP)
- Typical low deals we’re seeing: sub-$200 roundtrip on domestic routes (for example, Tampa–Minneapolis around the mid-$100s across Christmas/New Year).
- Why go now: Great winter city break with breweries, museums, and holiday markets plus fares that tend to stay reasonable compared with other hubs.
- Best window: Early December or flying on December 25 or January 1 if you’re comfortable traveling on the holiday itself.
5 Cheap International Getaways Before EOY
1. San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL)
- Sample deal: Washington, D.C. (IAD) → San Salvador (SAL) from around $180 roundtrip with December 23–31–style departures.
- Why go now: Warm weather, surfing on the Pacific Coast, and a quick flight from the East Coast with genuinely low cash fares.
- Best window: Mid–late December, especially if you can fly right before Christmas and come back after New Year’s.
2. San José, Costa Rica (SJO)
- Sample deal: Los Angeles (LAX) → San José (SJO) from around $229 roundtrip with New Year’s week departures.
- Why go now: Easy access to beaches, rainforests, and volcano routes in one trip. Great option if you want tropical but don’t want to pay Caribbean island prices.
- Best window: Late December into early January, with especially strong value if you fly December 31.
3. Cancún, Mexico (CUN)
- Sample deal: Chicago (ORD) → Cancún (CUN) from the mid-$200s roundtrip over New Year’s week.
- Why go now: Classic quick escape with cheap nonstop flights, tons of hotel inventory, and options to head down to Tulum, Isla Mujeres, or further into the Yucatán.
- Best window: Early December for the lowest prices; December 31 departures can price lower than the days right before.
4. Madrid, Spain (MAD)
- Sample deal: San Francisco (SFO) → Madrid (MAD) from about $425 roundtrip for December 31–mid-January itineraries.
- Why go now: Europe is quieter and cheaper after Christmas, and Spain is one of the best value plays for food and hotels once you land.
- Best window: Fly over New Year’s (Dec 31/Jan 1) and stay into early January as those dates often slide under the usual holiday premium.
5. Lisbon, Portugal (LIS)
- Sample deal: Vancouver (YVR) → Lisbon (LIS) from about $512 roundtrip with December 30–mid-January departures.
- Why go now: Shoulder-season with lower prices on the ground, plus easy side trips to Porto or the Algarve.
- Best window: Late December into the first two weeks of January, especially if you’re flexible on exact departure day.
How to Actually Snag These Before EOY
A few quick rules I live by when I’m trying to squeeze in a last-minute trip before the end of the year:
- Target weird dates
Flying on December 24, 25, or January 1 (or shifting by 1–3 days around them) often dodges the worst of holiday pricing. - Use alerts, then move fast
Set alerts with Dollar Flight Club, Google Flights, or Skyscanner. Book first, fine-tune within 24 hours if you need to. - Check nearby airports
If your home airport is stubbornly expensive, check alternates: BWI vs. IAD/DCA, OAK vs. SFO, EWR vs. JFK/LGA. A cheap hop and a bigger-gateway deal can still come out ahead. - Travel light to keep the total cost down
Basic fares look cheap until you add bags and seat fees. If you can do a personal item or one carry-on, your real trip cost drops fast. - Be flexible on destination within a region
If you just want “somewhere warm” or “a Europe fix,” don’t get locked onto one city. Take whichever of Miami / Orlando / Cancún or Madrid / Lisbon is cheapest from your home airport and plan the adventure from there.
