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Flights are one of the biggest travel expenses. But how much they cost is highly dependent on where you live and where you’re going. If you’re flexible about where you vacation, it’s much easier to get cheap flights, and there’s an easy travel hack you can use to find them.
Instead of plugging in destinations, try an “everywhere” search. This will show you destinations you can visit from your home airport and how much they cost. According to Skyscanner’s Travel Trends 2024 Report, 1 in 2 travelers who come to Skyscanner use this option. You can find incredible deals this way — for example, one traveler booked a round-trip flight to Santiago, Chile for just $221!
If you have specific travel plans, such as a winter vacation to Puerto Vallarta, then an “everywhere” search won’t work for that. But if you’re the adventurous type and are hoping to save on your flight, it’s an option worth checking out.
How to do an “everywhere” flight search
Many airfare search sites let you explore destinations, including Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Kayak. Personally, I like the Google Flights interface the most. If you have a site you like to use, check there first to see if this option is available.
After you’ve picked a site, here’s how to do an “everywhere” flight search:
- Enter your departure airport.
- For the destination airport, choose the “everywhere” or “anywhere” option (the terminology depends on the site you’re using).
- Add your other travel details: Round trip or one-way, number of passengers, cabin, and travel dates.
- Run the search and see what’s available.
You’ll see a list of destinations where you can travel from your departure airport. With each destination, you’ll also see the lowest flight price available to get you there.
Research the destination before you book
Being open about where you travel is a great way to have new experiences and see more of the world. And as mentioned earlier, it can also be good for your finances, since you can look specifically for low-cost destinations.
However, if you’re unfamiliar with a destination, I’d highly recommend doing a little research on it before you book. Get an idea of what it’s like, and see what other travelers have said about it. It’s exciting to book a trip on a whim, but if you end up not enjoying the destination, you may wish you had done your homework first.
Case in point, when my wife and I were traveling around Europe last summer, we knew we wanted to visit Italy. After hearing good things about the South, we booked an Airbnb for two weeks in Naples. It felt adventurous — we were going wherever the wind took us. Well, we absolutely hated it. Naples isn’t exactly the cleanest city, to put it lightly, one of the many reasons we couldn’t wait to leave.
I don’t regret going there. Not every travel experience is going to be perfect. But if I had to do it all over, we would’ve skipped Naples and spent more time in Milan and Tuscany.
Even if you find a cheap flight, every trip costs time and money. Find out more about a destination outside of how much flights cost so you can make sure it’s your type of city.
More ways to save on travel
Exploring destinations is one way to travel for less, but there are lots of other strategies you can use. Here are a few more ways to save on travel:
- Use travel credit cards to pay your bills and everyday expenses. These credit cards earn rewards you can use to cover travel purchases, such as flights and hotels. If you travel often, this type of card is practically a must-have.
- Be flexible about your travel dates. Flexibility with your travel plans always helps, as you can book based on what deals are available. Even if you have a specific destination in mind, you can still save by being open about when you travel.
- Book travel and activities early. If you start shopping around three to six months in advance, you’ll likely find lower prices than if you waited until the last minute.
- Look for affordable travel activities. Not everything you do when you travel needs to be expensive. Walking tours, museums, and parks are all affordable and fun things to do on vacation.
It’s definitely possible to travel on a budget. Based on Skyscanner’s recent research, “everywhere” searches are a popular option, and they’re perfect for keeping your flight costs down.
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