So, you waffled back-and-forth about whether to have one final end-of-summer hurrah, and now you’re left wishing you’d booked a Labor Day weekend vacay. Before you resign yourself to sitting at home and stewing over your indecision (been there!), hear this — you can still book a last-minute Labor Day getaway and, no, you won’t have to barter your firstborn child or cash in your 401k to do so.
In fact, Labor Day weekend is a surprisingly good time to snag some last-minute deals on travel. And, if you play your cards right, you stand to shave even more money off the cost. According to CheapFlights.com, an arm of Kayak, you’ll see the biggest savings if you book in the next few days — we’re talking median round-trip airfare between $230 and $260 per person. Even if you wait until after Aug. 23, though, you can still score tickets for under $400. Plus, if your schedule is flexible, you may be able to pocket a few more dollars by flying out on Saturday and coming back Tuesday.
Bottom line? You owe it to yourself to spend this holiday having fun, preferably in one of the following cool LDW getaway locales.
Asheville, North Carolina
You’ve heard about how dreamy Asheville is, right? Set against a backdrop of the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains, this western North Carolina town routinely tops “best of” lists. And it’s little wonder why — it’s a foodie destination, a craft beer mecca, bursting with live music at eclectic venues, full of culture trips like museums and art galleries and offers a boon of outdoor activities. Oh, and did we mention the must-see Biltmore Estate? Don’t waste another holiday weekend without visiting. Per CheapFlights.com, there’s no time like the present since the area has seen a 24 percent fare decrease in the last year.
Austin, Texas
Austin is one of those cities that anyone who has visited routinely raves about. It’s effortlessly cool, genuinely welcoming and inclusive and seriously has something for everyone. Why visit over Labor Day? It’s seeing an 11 percent decrease in price, with the median fare sitting at around $217 per ticket for that weekend. The weather is still warm enough to hit up one of the area’s popular spring-fed swimming holes or head to the Hill Country to tube down San Marcos River with friends. You’ll also be there during bat watching season, meaning you get to gather on the Congress Avenue Bridge and watch the winged things emerge in mass at dusk. There’s more than we can mention here, so you should probably just take the plunge.
Chicago, Illinois
Let it be said that there is always something to do in the Windy City. There are about a million mouth-watering places to eat. There’s more world-class art and culture than you can imagine, and it’s all embedded in a cityscape with more than 100 awe-inspiring skyscrapers. The locals are friendly, Lake Michigan is a sight to see — get the picture? It would make for an action-packed way to spend your holiday. And that’s especially true when you consider special events taking place over Labor Day, like the Chicago Jazz Festival, the Great American Lobster Fest, the Bristol Renaissance Faire and the North Coast Music Festival. Plus, the Cubs will be in town at historic Wrigley Field!
Denver, Colorado
If you’ve never been to beautiful Denver, Labor Day weekend is actually a perfect time to give this dynamic city a try. They know how to send the summer out in style, throwing can’t-miss events like “A Taste of Colorado” four-day food festival, Polo Fest, Brews & Views (think a food truck rodeo plus 30 local breweries), fireworks at Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park, a Colorado Rockies game and even a Phish concert. You can get your fill of all that and the crisp mountain air and, airfare-wise, it’ll only cost you around $206 per plane ticket.
Louisville, Kentucky
ICYMI, Louisville has a lot more to offer than just horse races (although, admittedly, those are pretty cool, too). In recent years, Louisville has developed a reputation for being a wonderful and wildly underrated travel spot. Yes, it’s the home of the Kentucky Derby. But did you know it’s also home to the Maker’s Mark distillery, the Muhammed Ali Center and the Louisville Slugger Museum? Or that it boasts the country’s largest Victorian neighborhood? The city also offers a wealth of outdoor activities, like hanging out in the area’s many public parks or taking a riverboat cruise aboard a Belle of Louisville riverboat cruise. Labor Day weekend looks like an ideal time to explore the area more, seeing as the median price for airfare will only be around $248 per ticket — that’s a 10 percent YoY decrease.
Mackinac Island, Michigan
Before the chaos of back-to-school time sets in, treat yourself to an idyllic weekend on Michigan’s Mackinac Island. This picture-perfect town is a throwback to the days before everyone had their noses buried in blue screens. Couples ride bikes through the streets, occasionally passing by a leisurely horse drawn carriage. Families stop into nostalgic fudge shops to sink their teeth into cloyingly sweet treats. There are no cars allowed on the island, so you won’t get stuck in any traffic jams. And the houses! The architecture and gardens look as though they’ve been plucked out of the pages of a fairytale.
To be clear, this won’t necessarily be a bargain vacation. But if you’re looking for one final dreamy Labor Day escape, you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere more charming than Mackinac.
Martha’s Vineyard
Make no mistake — Martha’s Vineyard is the place to be this year. Per CheapFlights.com, it’s the top trending Labor Day weekend destination, having seen a 200 percent year-on-year spike in interest. If you’re worried that means you’ll have to drop a pretty penny to visit, well, don’t. Median airfare to the area is actually seeing a 30 percent decrease in price, so now’s the time to snag your tickets and Labor Day like a Kennedy. Or Taylor Swift. Whatever floats your boat.
Ottawa, Canada
Let’s start with a fact sure to please anyone on a budget: According to CheapFlights, Ottawa is the most affordable international Labor Day destination, coming in at only $220 median round-trip airfare per person. And since Ottawa is a tourist’s dream, you’re sure to get your money’s worth. Imagine a weekend spend strolling along the Rideau Canal, touring Parliament Hill, visiting the National Gallery of Canada and the Canadian Museum of History and buying souvenirs for everyone back home at the beloved ByWard Market — one of the country’s oldest and largest public markets. Major perk? The Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival takes place over Labor Day weekend.
Panama City Beach, Florida
Want to get one last late-summer beach trip on the books? Look no further than the PCB. With the turquoise waters of the gulf, powdery white sand beaches and tons of attractions around town, you won’t have to wonder why interest in this Northwest Florida locale has seen a 200 percent spike in interest. With a median price of around $288 per person, jetting here for one more weekend of fun in the sun won’t set you back a million bucks.
Portland, Maine
What do you do if you crave both salty ocean air and cooler temps? You head to Portland, Maine, that’s what. The summer rush will mostly be over, meaning you can don’t have to fight the hustle and bustle as much in this super-hip city by the sea. With temps hovering in the 70s during the day and dipping into the 50s at night, you’ll be able to stroll the city’s craggy coastline in comfort while the sun is up while breaking out cozy fall clothes in the evening. It won’t be the cheapest airfare you’ll find at around $400 to $500 per ticket, but it’s a wonderful time of year to travel to the air if you’re looking to splurge just a little.
Puerto Rico
If you want to get a little further away from home, there are myriad reasons to put Puerto Rico on your radar for Labor Day weekend. For starters, both San Juan and Aguadilla are experiencing significant spikes in traveler interest (up 55 percent and 27 percent, respectively). Then there’s the fact that you can book both for around $300 per ticket, with San Juan coming in at $314 and Aguadilla at $280. Our favorite reason to go, though? The island is still recovering from Hurricane Maria, and tourism is crucial to their rebuilding process. Pick up hurricane travel insurance just in case, but go and have fun knowing you’re supporting an amazing U.S. territory in need.
Santa Barbara, California
California dreaming is definitely a thing. Who wouldn’t want to spend a fun day staring at the deep-blue Pacific while lounging on a palm-tree lined beach? You can watch the surfers venture out in their wetsuits, take a stroll down the palm-tree-lined State Street, or cruise along the oh-so-scenic ridge of East Mountain Drive to “ooh” and “aah” at the coast’s stunning vistas. But you can’t do any of this if you don’t book your trip. With the area experiencing a 19 percent increase in interest and 26 percent decrease in price (tickets will only set you back $318 per person), it’s basically like the universe is begging you to go.
St. George, Grenada
It’s difficult to adequately describe the beauty of St. George’s harbor in person, which may explain why the area has seen a whopping 313 percent increase in interest — seeing is believing, and everyone wants to see Grenada’s kaleidoscope of color. Brightly painted houses, cerulean water, white sands… what’s not to love? Sure, the median price to fly out for Labor Day weekend is around $543 per ticket. But when you consider you’ll essentially be spending the holiday in paradise, it seems like a small price to pay.
St. Lucia, Castries
Speaking of splurges, we can surely agree that it’s important to occasionally treat yo’ self. And while you may be thinking a trip to St. Lucia over Labor Day weekend would be cost-prohibitive, consider this: (a) you’re worth it, and (b) the West Indies island country has seen a 28 percent YoY decrease in price. So, at $558 median price per ticket, it’s a great deal — especially when you consider how trendy the area is, with a 247 percent increase (yes, you read that right!) in interest.
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