Thinking of Traveling in 2025? Here’s Where Airfares Are Falling

Key Takeaways

• If you’ve caught the travel bug in 2025, you might find a better deal flying to international destinations this year, according to a recent report from online travel marketplace Hopper.
• Domestic flights are more expensive than they were a year ago, but many international airfares have dropped.
• January could be a good time to buy, the report found, with prices down from the busy holiday season, and expected to rise in the next six months.

If you’ve caught the travel bug in 2025, you might find a better deal flying to international destinations from the U.S. this year, according to a recent report from online travel marketplace Hopper.

Many international airfares are down this year compared to last, the report said. Some of the best deals can be found on long-haul trips to Europe, South America, Asia, and Oceania as airlines have added capacity to nearly every region. However, airfares to the Caribbean and Mexico are up almost 10% from last year. 

You may also be able to find a better bargain traveling to "off-the-beaten-track" destinations in Europe, the report found. While London and Paris remain popular choices, flights to São Jorge for example, an island off the coast of Portugal, are 25% cheaper than a year ago. You may not have heard of Oradea, Romania, but the city is famous for its hot springs and Art Nouveau architecture, and you could fly there for 21% less than last year.

Domestic Prices Rise

Meanwhile, U.S. airfares are up 12% from a year ago and could remain higher than 2023 and 2024 levels for at least the first half of the year, the report said. Hopper advises cost-conscious fliers to book their tickets early, with airfares down from the busy holiday season and projected to rise over the next six months.

If recent winter storms have you dreaming of a trip to a beach town, you aren’t alone. Coastal destinations like Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head, South Carolina have increased in popularity, Hopper noted, as have Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard off the coast of Massachusetts. 

Travelers are also booking tickets to see places where popular TV shows are set, a phenomenon known as "set-jetting." Demand for trips to Hawaii and Sicily popped after HBO's The White Lotus featured resorts there in its first two seasons, and interest in Thailand has increased ahead of the season three premiere in February, Hopper added.

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