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Thanksgiving is right around the corner, but it’s not too late to book an international getaway for the American holiday.
The window for the best savings on international flights during the week of Thanksgiving may have ended on October 15, according to Expedia’s Holiday Travel Outlook, but travelers can still score good deals if they know where to look.
In the U.S., Thanksgiving falls on Nov. 26. But since the holiday isn’t celebrated globally, it could be a good time for travelers to go abroad.
“If you’re looking to skip the turkey and trade Thanksgiving for an international escape, there are still some great destinations that offer real value,” said Melanie Fish, vice president of global public relations for Expedia Group, in a statement to USA TODAY. “From the beaches of Phuket to the mountains of Cusco to the Mediterranean charm of Nice, a few days off can take you a world away, all with average nightly rates under $150 over the holiday.”
When Is It Cheapest and Most Expensive to Fly for Thanksgiving?
Here are some affordable international destinations for Thanksgiving week, according to data from top travel platforms.
According to Expedia, Nov. 23 to 26 are the dates with the lowest average airfare. It’s typical for flights on the holiday itself to be cheaper. Meanwhile, the most expensive day to fly is Nov. 29, the Sunday after the holiday week.
Affordable Hotels for Thanksgiving
Travelers can still find hotel rates under $150 a night in a slew of international locales. Here are five destinations, based on Expedia data for travel between Nov. 22 and 30.
- Phuket, Thailand
- Cusco, Peru
- Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
- Frankfurt, Germany
- Nice, France
Cheap Thanksgiving Airfare From the U.S.
Skyscanner pulled the destinations with the cheapest round-trip airfare and hotel rates for travel between Nov. 22 and 29. Depending on which U.S. coast they’re flying from, travelers could book an affordable trip to Mexico City or San Juan.
From Los Angeles:
- Calgary, Canada – flights from $380; hotels from $62 per night
- Mexico City, Mexico – flights from $468; hotels from $23 per night
- Nassau, Bahamas – flights from $500; hotels from $257 per night
- Cartagena, Colombia – flights from $734; hotels from $41 per night
From New York:
- Toronto, Canada – flights starting at $334; hotels starting at $113 per night
- Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – flights starting at $407; hotels starting at $83 per night
- Kingstown of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – flights starting at $423; hotels starting at $160 per night
- San Juan, Puerto Rico – flights starting at $467; hotels starting at $119 per night
Kathleen Wong is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY. She’s the author of “The Conscious Traveller Hawai’i” and is based in Hawaii.
Reporting by Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
