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Planning a summer vacation can get pricey, especially if you haven’t had a chance to get ahead of the curve when it comes to booking those plane tickets.
Luckily for last-minute travelers, though, I come bearing good news.
Not only is there still time to fly to some of the world’s most stunning beach destinations but this upcoming month is actually the cheapest time of the year to travel to 5 of them, meaning you putting off planning a vacation might have actually paid off.
But which are these places and are they actually worth visiting?
Costa Rica
If you’re eager to spend a summer in what was just crowned one of the best beach destinations in the world, August is hands-down the best time to do it.
According to Skyscanner’s pricing tool, round-trip flights to Costa Rica this upcoming month will start at a little over $150, and while that’s only the Fort Lauderdale – San Jose route, prices across all U.S. airports rarely exceed the $370 mark, so it’s safe to assume that you’ll be saving a lot of money on travel no matter where you depart from.
I know I said that waiting up until now to book your tickets might’ve paid off in terms of savings, but if you’re sure you want to spend your summer lounging around Malpais and Santa Teresa this year, you’ll want to get moving quickly – flights booked less than a week ahead can sell for $700+.
Vietnam
If a summer in Costa Rica doesn’t quite pique your interest, you can always turn your eyes toward Asia, and the very first destination you’ll want to consider is none other than Vietnam.
Though the Southeast Asian country has had an incredible year tourism-wise, come summertime, most people tend to overlook it in favor of more typically beachy hubs, forgetting that Vietnam has an incredible 2,140-mile (3,444-kilometer) coastline just waiting to be explored.
So if you want to finally swim on the fantastic beaches of Da Nang, Hoi An, and Nha Trang yourself this summer, you’ll be happy to learn that the price of a two-way ticket starts at just a little over $600 this August (for comparison, the price of the same exact ticket bought in January would be over $800).
Thailand
Moving on to a place more commonly known for its beaches, Thailand remains a favorite this summer season despite August being part of the rainy season in the country.
If you don’t mind a spontaneous change of plans or two, though, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Sure, it can be challenging to deal with all the heavy rainfall, but these episodes are generally short and refreshing, not to mention you’ll get to save a lot on airfare – you can cap all travel expenses at $660 per person, which is roughly $300 less than what you’d pay during the dry season.
Malaysia
Malaysia is yet another country that experiences a hot yet humid type climate in August, but again, as long as you stay flexible with your plans and choose to explore the island’s west coast (Penang, Langkawi, and Pangkor Island) where rainfall is more moderate, you shouldn’t run into too many issues.
Again, round-trip tickets start in the mid $600s this upcoming month, and considering that they can sell for up to $1000 in December.
Theoretically, a family of four could save upwards of $1600 just by choosing to take that Malaysia trip now.
Indonesia
Don’t want to take a chance with rainfall at all?
Don’t worry – you can always travel to Indonesia instead.
Here, August is part of the dry season, so Bali, Lombok, and the Gili Islands – here we come!
Return tickets to Indonesia even cost a bit less than those to Malaysia, at just $620, and between that, the dreamy weather, and the fact that you’ll get to see some of the most coveted places on Earth firsthand, it’s safe to say that this’ll be a great value vacation.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
