Traveling in 2025 has become both more accessible and more expensive.
As travel budgets increase, travelers have begun to find ways to secure affordable flights.
And they discovered that strategic planning can unlock affordable flight opportunities to amazing countries.
This guide will show you how to find flights to budget-friendly countries without overspending based on key factors like flight prices, online deals, booking strategies, airline routes, and seasonal trends.
At the end of this post, you will be able to know the top 10 budget countries and how to find cheap flights to explore these beautiful destinations in 2025.
So let's get started!
1. Mexico: A Hotspot for Budget Travelers
Mexico steals travelers' hearts with its vibrant culture, amazing beaches, and ancient ruins.
This hot and beautiful country is also known for its warm hospitality, affordable and delicious street food—tacos el pastor and mole, and unique landscapes.
There are also top spots that savvy travelers recommend:
- Cancun and Tulum: This place is popular for its unique turquoise waters, and Mayan ruins like Chicén Itzá will blow your mind, literally!
- Mexico City: You will find World-class museums like Frida Kahlo’s Casa Azul and crazy markets like Mercado Ciudadela.
- Oaxaca: If you visit here on November 1 or 2, you will see Dia de los Muertos celebration—Day of the Dead. Did you watch the Coco animation from Pixar? If you haven't, watch it and you'll know how unique this experience will be.
What about flights?
If we talk about flight cost analysis, we can say that currently, round-trip flight tickets from US hubs are around 200-500 dollars between May and October, which is the low season.
On the other hand, one-way tickets can be found for as cheap as $89 on Spirit and Frontier.
But you have to use some booking strategies and cost-saving tips for finding budget-friendly flights:
- Best booking window for U.S./Canada to Mexico is 1-3 months in advance for domestic flights.
- Flying in midweek is typically $56-$100 cheaper than weekends, especially Tuesday or Wednesday.
- Always use comparison tools like Skyscanner.
- Also, use Google Flights’ price tracking to monitor routes between your home and the airport.
- If you want the lowest fares, travel during the rainy season. Cheapest travel dates are usually late August to early September.
- Lastly, consider buying tickets from the top budget Airlines like Volaris, Viva Aerobus, and Aeromexico.
- Or, you can think about lesser-known airports like Leon(BJX) for better deals.
2. Colombia: South America’s Affordable Gem
Colombia will captivate you with its salsa rhythms, coffee regions, Cartagena’s pastel streets, and must-try foods like Arepas, bandeja paisa, and exotic fruits like lulo.
It also has a real-world paradise like Cocora Valley for hikers, nature lovers, and budget backpackers.
Let’s talk about some of the top spots and the famous activities:
- Bogotá: You should check out the fascinating street art in La Candelaria and the Gold Museum.
- Medellín: It’s popular and well-known for its vibrant nightlife and innovative public transport.
- Tayrona National Park: Like I said, if you are a hiker, the jungle-meets-beach in here will be your best experience.
What about flight trends, seasonal advice, and money-saving tips?
- Average round-trip airfares on Spirit Airlines and JetBlue range from $300 to $400.
- The best seasonal advice I can give you is to avoid the December-January peak and consider planning your trip in April-May or September-November.
- You can find even $138 flights to Cartagena in June and September.
- Airlines may run promotions for local festivals such as Medellín's Flower Festival in August. So keep in mind!
- The top budget airlines are usually Avianca, Spirit Airlines, and JetBlue.
- By the way, Avianca frequently offers “South America Pass” deals for multi-city travelers.
3. Turkey: Europe's Budget Gateway
Why do travelers love Turkey? I mean, how could they not?
Turkey is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Most people know Turkey because of its capital, Istanbul.
Istanbul is a multicultural city famous for its Hagia Sophia and Sultanahmet Mosque, offering dreamy experiences.
But we should not forget the Grand Bazaar, where you can find everything you are looking for, from spices to various pickles, from clothes to souvenirs.
The other most famous cities are Pamukkale for its Thermal terraces and Antalya for its turquoise Coast resorts.
And of course, a mixed breakfast with Turkish tea, spicy kebabs, and the famous dessert baklava are the must-try foods.
In short, be prepared for flavors you never even knew existed:)
So, what are budget-friendly booking hacks?
- Normally, the average round trip is approximately $400 to Istanbul, but Pegasus Airlines offers intra-Europe one-way flights to Turkey for as low as $50.
- Cheapest travel periods are usually in winter months (December-March) and April.
- And also, top budget airlines are Pegasus Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Atlas Global.
- As always, book your flight ticket months in advance, 4-9 months for summer travel in Istanbul.
- To save extra money, you can prefer morning departures.
By the way, local costs in Istanbul are really low, under $50 per day.
Also, public transportation is extensive, easy to use, and cheap—under $1 per metro ride.
4. Thailand: Asian Budget Paradise
If I had to describe Thailand in three words, it would be smiles, temples, and islands.
Travelers love Thailand for its affordable prices and beautiful destinations like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi, and idyllic islands like Phuket and Koh Phi Phi.
While Bangkok is mostly known for its gorgeous, vibrant floating markets and Wat Arun, Chiang Mai is famous for its elephant sanctuaries and night markets.
Krabi, on the other hand, is all about limestone cliffs and snorkeling. So there’s something for everyone in Thailand.
You should also try some of the local must-try foods like Pad Thai, mango sticky rice, and tom yum soup.
- Average round-trip airfare usually ranges from $600 to $1000 globally.
- For Thailand, the cheapest travel months are the rainy season, which is May to October.
- Especially late January, the Chinese New Year period, is the most expensive season to book.
- However, considering the weather/value balance, November and April will be shoulder months.
- And, you can consider booking early for the best deals around the Songkran Festival.
- Also, top budget airlines are Thai Airways, VietJet Air, and AirAsia. These airlines are low-cost carriers, so you can find tickets for under $100.
- As always, you need to book cheap flights in advance, but in this case, 2-3 months will be enough.
- Lastly, use Skyscanner’s “Everywhere” search to find the cheapest Southeast Asia gateways.
5. Kenya: Africa’s Cost-Effective Travel Hub
The next budget country is Kenya, the heart of Safari and coastal bliss.
Wildlife safaris are a big deal in Kenya, especially the Maasai Mara—The Great Migration. If you want to experience the ultimate adventure and adrenaline rush, this is it!
The other top stops in Kenya are Diana Beach for its white sands and kite surfing, and Amboseli Park for its elephant herds with Kilimanjaro views.
And like always, don't forget to try local foods like Nyama choma (grilled meat) and ugali.
- The average round-trip airfare is $321 to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, and averages $500 round-trip from Europe.
- Choose off-peak seasons, April-June or February, to avoid crowds and high prices.
- And, balanced good weather/prices shoulder seasons are September-October and January-February.
- The top budget airlines are Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines.
- For extra saving strategies, you can look for “open jaw” tickets flying into Nairobi and out of Dar es Salaam.
- Book in advance!
6. India: A Budget-Friendly Destination
Indiana, the country of spice, spirit, and splendor, will overwhelm your senses with its Goa’s beaches and Rajasthan’s places.
With a strong recommendation, you should get lost in the chaos of Delhi at the Red Fort and try street food like Chandni Chowk.
Also see the most famous places like the Amber Fort and the pink-city charm in Jaipur, and backwaters and Ayurvedic retreats in Kerala.
You may have tried these delicious Indian dishes before, like butter chicken, dosa, or masala chai, but you should try them from the real masters.
- The average round-trip airfare is around £331 (~$420) from the UK.
- Roundtrips from the Middle East can be under $250 for primary gateways like Delhi(DEL) and Mumbai(BOM).
- Except for major festival periods, the hot seasons (April-June) and the monsoon months are the cheapest travel periods.
- Top budget airlines are IndıGo, SpiceJet, and AirAsia India. In fact, you can find domestic flight tickets under $50 on IndiGo.
- Other booking advice is to try to use Cleartrip or MakeMyTrip for local flight deals, and also consider flying via secondary airports like Hyderabad for better rates.
- You can also subscribe to airline newsletters to find better deals.
7. Portugal: Western Europe’s Budget Stop
Let's ask the same question. Why do travelers love Portugal?
Well, the answer is old-world charm and new-world deals!
In Portugal, your first stop should be Lisbon, which is known for its trams, Belém Tower, and pastéis de nata.
Then move on to Sintra for fairytale palaces, and the Algarve’s cliffs for Benagil Cave kayaking—they are also budget-friendly.
- The average round-trip plane ticket to Lisbon is around $254. For the US, that figure jumps to $443.
- Spring (March-May) and fall (September-October) are the cheapest travel months.
- If you are considering a summer trip, you should make a reservation 3 to 5 months in advance.
- And the top budget airlines are Ryanair, easyJet, and TAP Air Portugal. Ryanair and easyJet can offer intra-Europe flights under $50.
- In 2025, the most affordable destination is the Algarve region.
- However, from time to time, there may be surprise opportunities in the Azores (Ponta Delgada), keep that in mind.
8. Vietnam: Southeast Asia’s Cheap Flight Center
Vietnam is literally Southeast Asia’s rising star. It's all street food and scenery.
Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, has its own unique chaos in the Old Town, famous for its egg coffee.
The list goes on with Halong Bay’s karsts, Hoi An’s lanterns, tailor shops, and riverside cafes; Sapa’s rice terraces and hill tribes; and the Golden Bridge on Ba Na Hills.
And of course, Vietnamese dishes like Pho, banh mi, and fresh spring rolls deserve to be hyped!
- The Average round-trip flight tickets to Vietnam range from $100 to $250 with airlines such as VietJet Air.
- You can also find affordable flights from Asia and Europe to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
- September is the cheapest travel month.
- The top budget airlines are usually VietJet, Bamboo Airways, and Vietnam Airlines.
- From time to time, VietJet Air offers regional flights under $30.
- For extra savings, watch for promotional sales during the Vietnamese New Year.
- Additionally, the average price of street food is 1-3 dollars, hotel prices per night are 5-10 dollars, and the price of renting a motorbike is 10 dollars per day.
9. Egypt: Affordable Flights to the Pyramids
Every corner of Egypt should be on your budget list because of its pyramids and Red Sea magic.
But if we choose the most amazing ones, they would be Giza’s pyramids, Luxor’s temples, and Sharm el-Sheik’s diving.
There are other great stops like the Egyptian Museum and Khan el-Khalili in Cairo, or Abu Simbel and Nile cruises in Aswan.
You can also go diving at affordable prices in Dahab and visit the Blue Hole.
And yes, as always, try local dishes like Koshari, falafel, and hibiscus tea.
- The average round-trip airfare is around $300 from Europe.
- To avoid peak summer prices and high temperatures, choose low season months like June to September.
- The top budget airlines are EgyptAir and Nile Air. Especially, EgyptAir frequently runs promotions!
- Additionally, package tours can be cheaper than booking them individually.
10. Philippines: Budget-Friendly Asian Travel Hub
The last budget country we will talk about is the Philippines, where you can have an island vacation on a budget.
In here, you’ll find a paradise: Palawan’s lagoons, Boracay’s powdery sand, and Cebu’s waterfalls.
You can also island-hop in El Nido, enjoy the surf and coconut forests in Siargao, and explore the history of Intramuros, Manila.
Also, try some of the local dishes such as adobo, lechon, and halo-halo.
- The average round-trip airfare is around $587, and $350 from Australia.
- You can find more available tickets at low prices from Japan and Korea.
- The rainy season is the cheapest season to travel, so try to book between June and September.
- The top budget airlines are Cebu Pacific, AirAsia Philippines.
If you are going to attend local festivals in the Philippines, make sure to book early and keep an eye out for seat sales.
As you can see, choosing a budget country for cheap flights in 2025 is easier with these top options.
They offer low prices and are amazing destinations for making travel affordable.
Smart planning and being flexible with your dates will not only save you money but also make your trip more enjoyable.
In summary:
- Keep an eye on airline deals and seasonal discounts.
- Focus on early booking.
- Use comparison sites or flight forecasting tools like AirHint.
- Know historical price trends and seasonal pricing with FareDetective.
Keep these tips in mind when planning your next trip!
Check out my previous post here: What To Pack For A Northern Lights Trip (Thermal Layering Hack)
See you in the next post—xoxo!
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