Wallet-Friendly Landing Spots

Travelers are eager to venture out in 2021 and while they’re certain to face new challenges, including a limited number of available destinations due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, lower demand for travel means that they stand to save significantly on airfare in many cases. With some help from Google Flights and the team of flight experts at Scott’s Cheap Flights—an email subscription service that sends cheap flight alerts to its millions of members—here are some of the notable places travelers can visit this year without blowing their entire budget on plane tickets. 



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Cancun, Mexico

For travelers based on the East Coast, Cancun stands out as an affordable international destination that won’t require too much travel time or any last-minute COVID-19 testing. What’s more, the Mexican Caribbean is home to countless all-inclusive resorts that will allow travelers to sit back and relax in one convenient location while taking advantage of elevated health and safety protocols reopened properties have implemented in the wake of the pandemic.



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Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is one of the most accessible international travel destinations for Americans heading into the new year as it doesn’t currently require a negative COVID-19 test for entry. In addition to excellent rates on Punta Cana’s world-class all-inclusive resorts, travelers can expect to find tremendous savings on roundtrip flights to this tropical paradise.



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The Bahamas

Travelers hoping to kick back at the recently-reopened Atlantis Paradise Island will continue to find plenty of affordable flight options to Nassau and other popular destinations throughout the Bahamas over the course of 2021. 



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Miami, Florida

Sunny South Florida offers winter travelers a cheap escape from the bitter cold. Flights to Miami and nearby Fort Lauderdale won’t break the bank in the months to come and travelers can also see and do even more in this region by renting a car and taking the scenic road trip through the Florida Keys all the way to lively Key West.



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Hawaii

Hawaii is open to travelers who can provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours before their departure and getting there will be cheaper compared to previous years, especially for those travelers flying from the West Coast. Visiting coveted destinations like Honolulu and Maui from cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco could net passengers hundreds of dollars in savings in 2021.



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San Juan, Puerto Rico

One of the few places in the Caribbean that Americans can visit without a passport, the Puerto Rican capital is effectively on sale entering the new year. This January, travelers can find deals for nonstop flights from cities such as Washington, D.C. for under $150 roundtrip on budget carriers like Spirit Airlines. 



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Las Vegas, Nevada

With several resorts being forced to close mid-week amid slumping demand, the Entertainment Capital of the World has never been more affordable. Saving big on flights will allow travelers to focus more of their budget on securing accommodations on the Las Vegas Strip where they’ll be in the heart of the action for the duration of their visit.



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Chicago, Illinois

Another marquee U.S. city with restrictions still in place amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Chicago offers eager travelers the opportunity to take advantage of not only cheap flights but its vast array of famous sites and outdoor attractions. The walkable downtown is still a major draw even in the time of coronavirus. Just be sure to bundle up if you plan to visit during the winter. 



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US Virgin Islands

Like Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands offer Americans a passport-less winter escape in the Caribbean and, right now, travelers can score affordable flights to St. Thomas, especially if they’re able to fly out of South Florida. 



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Costa Rica

Costa Rica is hoping to reignite tourism by allowing visitors to bypass quarantine and COVID-19 testing requirements and instead complete an online health pass and provide proof of medical insurance that covers them in the event that they fall ill upon contracting the coronavirus. This biodiverse Central American gem is also seeing phenomenal flight deals in the early stages of 2021, like New York City to San Jose for under $260 roundtrip in March.



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New York, New York

New York may not be the buzzing metropolis travelers have fallen in love with amid COVID-19 restrictions requiring visitors to “test out” of mandatory quarantine but flying into the Big Apple is at least cheaper to kick-off 2021. Plus, the city is allowing low-risk outdoor activities like botanical gardens and zoos with capacity restrictions as well as permitting museums and other cultural attractions to reopen with some restrictions.



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Los Angeles, California

While the COVID-19 crisis continues to limit what visitors can see and do in Los Angeles, the City of Angels remains a marquee domestic destination with sublime weather offering access to beaches, scenic hiking trails and much more. With travel demand still down, air travelers can expect to fly to L.A. for cheap in 2021, especially if opting for a budget-friendly carrier like Southwest Airlines. 



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Phoenix, Arizona

Flying into Phoenix will also be cheaper this year, giving travelers added incentive to embark on a road trip through Arizona and the American Southwest that could include stops in tourist-friendly destinations like Scottsdale, Sedona and, of course, Grand Canyon National Park.



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Santiago, Chile

Chile has begun a gradual reopening plan and being among the first to experience the South American country since last year’s lockdown shouldn’t set travelers back too much. Currently, you can find March flights from New York to Santiago for just over $300 roundtrip, which is nearly $500 cheaper than usual for that time of year, according to Google Flights. 



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Alaska

The Last Frontier isn’t as easy to access in the time of COVID-19 as travelers will need to show proof of a negative test but travelers willing to meet Alaska’s requirements can reach the 49th state at a relative discount, especially if flying out of Seattle or elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest. 



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Bogota, Colombia

One of the many destinations popular with celebrities last year, Colombia is yet another wallet-friendly destination for travelers eyeing a culture- and nature-filled getaway to South America this year. Those booking soon can expect to find favorable fares to the country’s vibrant capital of Bogota. 



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Denver, Colorado

The Mile High City is the ideal gateway to one of the country’s best states for adventure travelers in 2021 and getting there is more affordable than it was this time last year. Plus, travelers can cut down on costs even more by flying Denver’s hometown carrier in the ultra-low-cost Frontier Airlines. 



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Montego Bay, Jamaica

Affordable airfare is just another reason to consider Jamaica in 2021. Travelers can find February flights from Philadelphia to Montego Bay for just over $300 roundtrip. The coveted Caribbean island country has also developed “resilient corridors” to keep locals and visitors safe amid the pandemic while still allowing for sightseeing and other activities visitors expect. 



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Aruba

There are plenty of excellent reasons to visit Aruba and in 2021 affordable flights are just another. The Caribbean hotspot was one of the first to reopen to travelers this past summer so flights resumed months ago, making Aruba an ideal last-minute getaway this winter. 



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Orlando, Florida

Central Florida’s renowned theme parks have reopened at limited capacity with enhanced safety measures in place and travelers will have the chance to experience them for less in 2021 as there’s no shortage of cheap flights to Orlando. Travelers visiting from the Southeast this coming March can score roundtrip flights from under $100 but even those traveling from the West Coast won’t have to pay more than $300 for a roundtrip ticket depending on the timing of their stay.



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Lima, Peru

Travelers taking the budget-friendly route with a carrier like Spirit Airlines can save hundreds of dollars on flights to Peru. For example, March flights from Baltimore to Lima are available for as low as $270 roundtrip, down more than $200 compared to the same period in 2020 just before the pandemic was declared. 



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