If you still have a few vacation days to burn before the year wraps up, you don’t need a massive budget to make something fun (and warm) happen. Dollar Flight Club analyzed tens of thousands of live and historical flight prices for late November 2025 through early January 2026, and these destinations kept popping up with genuinely bookable deals.
Prices will vary depending on your home airport, but the ranges below reflect some of the lowest round-trip economy fares Dollar Flight Club saw in their latest checks.
5 Cheap Domestic Getaways Before EOY
1. Miami, Florida (MIA)
Typical low fares: High-$50s round-trip from East Coast cities (like BWI–MIA in late December).
Why go: Beach weather + shoulder-season pricing before winter crowds take over. (See all the fun things you can do in Florida!)
Best window: Late November–mid-December; Dec. 24–25 if you’re flexible.
2. Orlando, Florida (MCO)
Typical low fares: Sub-$100 round-trip on short-haul routes (ATL–MCO in the low-$90s around Christmas week).
Why go: Theme parks, sunshine, and reliably cheaper fares in early December.
Best window: Week after Thanksgiving through mid-December, plus Christmas Eve/Day.
3. Las Vegas, Nevada (LAS)
Typical low fares: Low-$100s round-trip from the West and Southwest (Houston–LAS around $120 for New Year’s week).
Why go: Desert hikes, world-class shows, and tons of last-minute inventory.
Best window: Early December, or depart Dec. 31 and return right after New Year’s.
(If Vegas is calling your name, there are some major Cyber Week hotel and show deals right now — I rounded them up in a separate post.)
4. Salt Lake City, Utah (SLC)
Typical low fares: Mid-$200s round-trip from Western gateways (Seattle–SLC around $225 for mid-late December).
Why go: Early-season skiing at Brighton, Solitude, Alta, and Snowbird without Colorado-level pricing.
Best window: Mid–late December, especially midweek.
5. Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota (MSP)
Typical low fares: Sub-$200 round-trip (Tampa–MSP in the mid-$100s over the holidays).
Why go: Cozy breweries, museums, and good holiday-season availability.
Best window: Early December or travel on Dec. 25/Jan. 1.
5 Cheap International Getaways Before EOY
1. San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL)
Sample fare: IAD → SAL around $180 round-trip (Dec. 23–31).
Why go: Quick flights, warm Pacific beaches, great value.
Best window: Mid-late December, especially right before Christmas.
2. San José, Costa Rica (SJO)
Sample fare: LAX → SJO from ~$229 round-trip for New Year’s week.
Why go: Beaches + rainforests + volcanoes without Caribbean-island prices.
Best window: Late December–early January, with strong value on Dec. 31.
3. Cancún, Mexico (CUN)
Sample fare: ORD → CUN in the mid-$200s round-trip during New Year’s week.
Why go: Tons of nonstop flights and endless hotel options.
Best window: Early December for the lowest pricing; Dec. 31 often dips.
4. Madrid, Spain (MAD)
Sample fare: SFO → MAD from ~$425 round-trip (Dec. 31–mid-January).
Why go: Europe is cheaper and quieter after Christmas, and Spain is one of the best value plays on the ground.
Best window: Depart Dec. 31/Jan. 1 and stay into early January.
5. Lisbon, Portugal (LIS)
Sample fare: YVR → LIS from ~$512 roundtrip (Dec. 30–mid-January).
Why go: Shoulder-season prices and quick side trips to Porto or the Algarve.
Best window: Late December through the first half of January.
How to Actually Snag These Before the End of the Year
1. Target “weird” dates.
Dec. 24, Dec. 25, and Jan. 1 often dodge the worst pricing spikes.
2. Use alerts and move fast.
Set up tracking with Dollar Flight Club, Google Flights, or Skyscanner. Book first, tweak within 24 hours if needed.
3. Check alternate airports.
Sometimes the deal is sitting at the next-closest gateway.
4. Travel light.
Bags and seat fees add up fast — a carry-on keeps your “real” fare low.
5. Stay flexible on the exact city.
If you just need sunshine or a European fix, let the price decide whether it’s Miami/Orlando/Cancún or Madrid/Lisbon.
A Few More Travel Trends Worth Knowing
If you’re mapping out where to go next — or what to avoid — there’s some fresh data making the rounds. One recent study breaks down which popular U.S. tourist destinations are also the most dangerous, and it’s a surprisingly useful read before booking anything. And if you’re planning to bring your dog or cat along for the holidays this year, you’re not alone… but a new survey shows Americans are way more stressed about pet travel than you might think.