It’s not too late to plan some Thanksgiving travels — whether you’re searching for sun, craving a European getaway, or hoping for a couple of buzzy nights out.
Xochimilco in Mexico City.
The week of Thanksgiving is a notoriously hectic and expensive time to travel. With millions of people taking to the skies to celebrate the holiday with their loved ones, hours-long security lines and through-the-roof prices are commonplace. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t deals on airfare and hotels to be found; you just have to have flexibility in travel dates and your final destination.
To identify the most affordable places to go for a last-minute Thanksgiving trip this year, we tapped Kayak and Skyscanner to share data on domestic and international cities with relatively low travel costs over the last week of November.
Portland, Oregon
River in Portland, Oregon.
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According to Skyscanner, you can find flights to Portland, Oregon from around $170 — though exact prices will depend on your travel dates and airport of origin. With budget in mind, book a room at The Hoxton, Portland for $110 a night or the Dossier Hotel, where nightly rates start at $104 the week of Thanksgiving. Once your transportation and accommodations are squared away, it’s time to start planning your activities. Forgo a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for a meal at Jake’s Famous Crawfish, and opt for a Voodoo doughnut instead of pumpkin pie. And don’t forget to stop at Powell’s to get a jumpstart on holiday shopping.
Montreal, Canada
Snowy street in Montreal.
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After compiling price data from Nov. 22 to Dec. 1., Kayak found that Montreal was one of the cheaper cities to travel to — with the cost of a flight and hotel coming in around $620. The French-speaking city is often referred to as a destination where you can embrace European charm without having to make the transatlantic journey; think history, architecture, and world-class museums. Instead of turkey and stuffing on the big day, head to Mon Lapin in Little Italy for small plates and natural wine. Follow it up with a night out at Bar Furco or Cloakroom Bar. The next day, get some fresh air and hit your step count at Parc du Mont-Royal.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Boardwalk in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
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Kayak shared that Myrtle Beach is a relatively inexpensive Southern destination to visit for Thanksgiving, with flight and hotel deals from $507. Coral Beach Resort and Sandy Beach Resort are highly rated properties with nightly rates well under $100, and both have rooms that offer incredible ocean views.
While the South Carolina vacation spot might not give way to the best beach weather in November, it’s still filled with plenty of fun things to do. Play arcade games at the Myrtle Beach Pinball Museum, spend an afternoon on a golf course, or walk around Brookgreen Gardens.
Denver, Colorado
Fall foliage in Denver, Colrado.
aphotostory/Getty Images
Before ski season kicks into high gear, Kayak notes you can experience Denver starting at $478 for a flight and hotel room package. If you want to stay downtown, check out Le Méridien Denver Downtown or Grand Hyatt Denver, both of which are currently offering nightly rates of just over $100 for the week of Thanksgiving. Renting a car will increase your travel expenses, but it’s worth it if you want to explore outside of the downtown area. Boulder and Colorado Springs make great day trips, and the larger Denver area is filled with hikes — even in the early days of winter.
San Diego, California
Balboa Park in San Diego, California.
Chelsea Loren/Travel + Leisure
Skyscanner has flights to sunny San Diego starting at $76, though hotel prices can be a bit higher. We did, however, find a couple of Travel + Leisure-approved hotels with lower-than-average rates. Pendry San Diego is offering up to $190 off a night for rewards members, and Andaz San Diego and Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego have rooms starting from $215 and $211, respectively. Thanks to the city’s amazing year-round weather, you’ll be able to spend the holiday in the great outdoors, whether you plan to golf in La Jolla, learn to surf at Mission Bay Aquatic Center, or explore San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
Dublin, Ireland
Street in Dublin.
Griffin Ungar/Travel + Leisure
Dublin has been having a moment in 2024. Not only is it one of the easier European destinations to get to from the East Coast — in March, JetBlue launched daily flights to the capital city from New York’s JFK and Boston’s Logan airports — but it’s also one of the more affordable, even over Thanksgiving. Kayak found flight and hotel deals for $937, and highly-rated Dublin Airbnbs start from just under $100 a night. The walkable city can be easily explored in a day or two, but there are plenty of nearby places to check out while you’re in Ireland. The seaside town of Howth, for example, is a short train ride away and a great spot for fresh seafood and stretching your legs (the Howth Cliff Walk offers amazing views).
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas Strip.
Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure
Both Skyscanner and Kayak found some amazing travel deals for Thanksgiving in Las Vegas. If you have flexibility in your schedule and can travel between Nov. 26 and Dec. 3, the former booking site says you can get a round-trip flight starting from $45. The latter also noted travelers can find hotel and flight deals from $485 — even some of Vegas’s best hotels have decent nightly rates over the holiday. Fontainebleau Las Vegas, for example, starts at $211 per night, and Wynn Las Vegas has rooms from $227 a night; to access both deals, you’ll need to sign up for Hotels.com’s free rewards program. While you’re in Vegas, be sure to check off all the classic activities: gambling at a casino, admiring the Fountains of Bellagio, and seeing a show at Sphere, which has “The Sphere Experience” running throughout the week of Thanksgiving.
Mexico City, Mexico
Xochimilco in Mexico City.
Stephanie Pollak/Travel + Leisure
Travelers who want tacos instead of turkey should consider booking a flight to Mexico City over Thanksgiving. Kayak found flight and hotel deals from $678, so you can spend the rest of your travel budget on street food tours, tickets to Casa Azul, and shopping at Mercado de Artesanias La Ciudadela or the Barrio Alameda. If you found a particularly good deal on airfare, you might feel comfortable splurging on a night at one of Mexico City’s best hotels — maybe Casa Polanco or The St. Regis Mexico City.
Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina
Downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.
Stephanie Pollak/Travel + Leisure
Serving the Research Triangle, the Raleigh–Durham International Airport is the perfect place to fly into for a holiday spent exploring some of North Carolina’s best cities. Skyscanner has round-trip flights between Nov. 26 and Dec. 3 from $52, and Kayak shared Raleigh flight and hotel bundles from $508. Thanksgiving is a week known for its food, and this part of the state has been making a name for itself in the culinary world for the past few years — so you’ll want to arrive hungry. In Raleigh, have brunch at Hummingbird, lunch at Beasley’s Chicken and Honey, and dinner at Ajja. If you’re in Durham, don’t leave without trying Saltbox Seafood Joint or stopping by Durham Food Hall.
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Doctor's Cave Beach in Montego Bay.
Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure
Craving sunshine and relaxing days on the beach? Skyscanner has round-trip flights arriving in Montego Bay on Nov. 26 and departing on Dec. 3 from $232, and Kayak found flight and hotel bundles from $973 for travel between Nov. 22 and Dec. 1. Before December’s holiday hustle and bustle begins, relax by the pool at one of Jamacia’s all-inclusive resorts. Breathless Montego Bay and Hotel Riu Palace Jamaica both have impressive guest reviews on Hotels.com, and rewards members can access discounted nightly rates at each property.
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