5 Tips for Scoring Cheap Summer Trips in 2025

Start planning now to guarantee cheap summer trips in 2025

A lot of students that travel over the summer take advantage of their extended break and go on a multi-week adventure. Want the numbers to back that up? 18 percent of students are traveling for 15-21 days and 15 percent for 22-30 days this summer alone.

When you're balling on a student budget, the last thing you need is something that's going to wipe out your entire bank account or leave you in the red come fall (you'll need some extra for football games and PSL come September!). That's why we've put together this handy article outlining EVERYTHING you need for grabbing your squad and coordinating your own cheap summer trips this year.

Snatch these deals fast in popular student travel destinations!

Whether you already have plans to study or intern abroad this summer and you’re just looking for ways to score a cheap flight, OR you're new to the trip planning game, read on, we’ve got you!

The most popular destinations for summer 2025 travel

Let’s start with the hot spots for summer ‘23. The following are the most popular destinations students are traveling to this summer (in order of popularity broken down by region). While many of these locations were top spots for previous summers as well, there are three new cities on the list this year— Lisbon, Reykjavik, and Toronto.

If you haven’t already started your “wanderlust wish list,” these international cities can be your first additions. From sun-drenched city streets littered with museums, shops, and cafes, to the cool mountain tops, waterfalls, and outdoor adventure dream destinations, this list runs the gambit for every kind of traveler. 

And guess what? There’s a great summer program for you to embark on in each locale. JACKPOT!

• Europe London, Lisbon, Barcelona, Rome, Dublin, Madrid, Reykjavik, Amsterdam, Athens, Milan, Frankfurt
• The Americas Toronto, Chicago, San Jose, Mexico City, Lima
• Asia Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei, Bangkok, Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh City, Delhi, Chengdu

With all of these incredible destinations to choose from, the hardest task of planning your entire summer travels might just be picking one! 

[Get Travel Program Recommendations in AMAZING—Yet Cheap—Destinations]

5 most effective ways to score the best summer flight deals

So, how do you get YOUR desktop or smart phone to display the best summer flight deal? Here are a few tips to help you score summer flight deals without wasting your time:

1. Use flexible search.

If you aren’t tied to leaving on a specific day, using a flexible search feature will help you determine which days you can leave/return to get the cheapest fares. Sometimes you can save a considerable amount of money just by leaving a day or two later (avoiding peak travel days of the week or dates) than the dates you may have been searching for. The flexible search feature will help you visualize this so you can make the best decision for your schedule and wallet!

2. Set fare alerts.

Not seeing a price you like today? Set a fare alert and get updates when the price drops so you can book with confidence that you are getting a great deal.

Summer adventures await!

3. Fly into smaller airports. 

In order to score the best deals, it’s often best to arrive in smaller, less popular airports. For example, if you were traveling to Europe, think Barcelona, Venice, Amsterdam, Milan, Budapest. Travel within Europe is so cheap that in some cases, it may be cheaper to fly into an airport further from where you are traveling and train into the city you are visiting. This is definitely something to consider as you price out different options and itineraries.

According to a 2017 survey of nearly 5k students (conducted by StudentUniverse), 60% stated that they would be willing to fly into a less-convenient airport to save money, and another 15% said they would be more willing to fly into a less-convenient airport than they would be to take a stop when direct flights were available. For 70% of the students, saving between $50-$100 would be enough to justify doing so. And honestly, not much has changed since then.

In the case of airports, smaller can be better.

4. Buy Early.

If you are reading this post and you haven’t booked a trip for summer yet, you're not alone. While it is generally advantageous to book at least 2-4+ months early for the best deals, we do see a lot of domestic flights within the US cheapest at the last minute. So take advantage of procrastination and look for a cheap, last minute flight to explore a new corner of the US!

Use GoAbroad's Financial Resources for Travel Planning 

Time to get planning for the best summer ever

We hope these tips will enable you to have a great Summer getaway! Be sure to keep an eye on our website for more travel tips, hacks for cheap getaways, and advice from other student travelers!