You tried to deny it, but you can't anymore: Winter is coming – and in some places, it's already arrived. Snow has fallen, ski resorts are opening, sub-zero wind chills have been reported, and the pretty leaves you've been enjoying are starting to fall. My coats are out of the basement. I repeat: My coats are out of the basement. This is not a drill.
You can let winter happen to you this year … or you can take back control. And the best way to do that is to book your warm weather getaway on a cheap flight. You're in luck: In just the last two weeks, we've unearthed shockingly cheap flights to more than a dozen warm, sunny spots where you can replenish your vitamin D this winter.
Let me show you a few of our favorite flight warm weather flight deals that we've sent to Thrifty Traveler Premium members over the last week or two. Whether it's a sub-$250 flight to Florida, fares down to the U.S. Virgin Islands for under $300, or a great deal all the way to Thailand, you can get somewhere warm for less this winter.
Cheap Flights to the Best Warm Places
Let's start close to home and work our way out, because you can get a shot of sunshine without going very far in this country. And thanks to more than a dozen major airports dotting the state, Florida is one of the easiest and cheapest warm destinations you can fly to this winter.
While many travelers flock to Fort Myers and Miami, savvier travelers are heading to some of the nicest beaches Florida has to offer up north on the Florida Panhandle. Just a few days ago, we found flights from around the country under $250 to Destin (VPS), Panama City (ECP), and Pensacola (PNS). In every case, these cheap fares were flying nonstop routes – including a brand new Delta flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) to Destin.
Who needs a flight to a warm beach more than Minnesotans? But travelers living around Baltimore (BWI), Nashville (BNA), and St. Louis (STL) all benefitted from these cheap Florida fares.
You don't have to hit the beach to experience the sunshine state. Orlando (MCO) might be more your speed, especially if you're looking to entertain some young ones. The pools and parks of Orlando are a great way to warm up this winter, and you can get there without having to spend very much cash at all, thanks to this stunner of a Delta SkyMiles flash sale.
Get cheap cash flights and award alerts to use your miles, too! Sign up for Thrifty Traveler Premium!
Starting at just 10,000 Delta SkyMiles roundtrip, you could visit Orlando and save that cash to cover park entrance fees, hotels, or some mouse merch!
But it's time to get off the U.S. mainland and head down into the Caribbean for a few more sunny options, starting with the beautiful island of Cuba. Some Americans might be surprised to know that you can even visit Cuba at all. We're here to tell you that you can … and should!
If a beach vacation is what you seek, the beach town of Varadero is an amazing place to start. And thanks to a brand new American Airlines route there, we dug up some phenomenal fares to help you do just that this winter for less than $300!
Varadero seems like the hidden gem beach town your friends are going to get tired of hearing about. I'll check it out for you and report back – I've already booked my winter warm-up trip to Cuba for 2023!
A little further into the Caribbean, you can find a secluded island paradise that feels a world away from your snowy sidewalk, but you won't need to leave the country to get there. The U.S. Virgin Islands are a no-brainer for Americans looking for an easy trip. No passports are required for Americans to enter St. Thomas (STT) or St. Croix (STX), and cheap flights down to the islands aren't too hard to come by.
No passport, no problem: Check out more flight deals to the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico!
This one is a steal! From New York City (JFK), you could be in paradise in less than four hours … and for less than $224! This was just one fare from a deal that involved more than a dozen U.S. cities, too.
And if you love islands, we've got another idea for you: Cancún. Wait…wait! Don't get too worked up, yet. I know Cancún is not an island. Put your pitchfork down. But a cheap flight to Cancún (CUN) is the perfect way to start a visit two incredible islands nearby: Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy.
That's just what the Thrifty Traveler team did last month, checking out both islands during our annual retreat for a sun-soaked good time. You can read our full guide to our trip, including how to get there and how to book a day-trip to Contoy.
But like I said, it starts with a cheap flight to Cancun. You're in luck: It's one of the cheapest spots to get any year, and this coming winter is no different with fares like this $227 deal.
OK, we've touched on a bunch of easy trips you can book to escape the harsh winter this year. But I know there's an adventurous spirit reading this that is looking for something a little further off the beaten path. Challenge accepted.
Nothing beats Thailand.
These prices are gone now – get the next deal in your inbox with Thrifty Traveler Premium!
It's a fantastically cheap and always-warm travel destination that too many Americans overlook. Sure, it's a bit of a journey to get there, but it doesn't have to be expensive! This deal, primarily flying United and Delta partners, could get you there for less than $750. Mexico and Florida are great, but a trip to Thailand is bucket-list worthy.
Bottom Line
Whether it's a transpacific flight or a quick hop to Florida, you can warm up quickly this winter with a cheap flight.
Don't let winter get you down this year! It's coming fast, but nothing warms you up like a sunny trip on the calendar. Just because your coats are out doesn't mean you have to put your shorts away! Book a warm, sunny trip and change your winter fortunes this year.