Two best weeks to travel this spring for cheap fares, low crowds

It’s called spring break, not spring break the bank.

Not content to sit idly by and wait a few more weeks for better weather, sun-starved Americans will be hitting the road in droves — with most of us not only seeking sun and sand, but savings too.

No problem on all three, travel experts say — even though the next couple of months can be some of the most popular on the annual travel calendar, there are more than a few great deals if you know where and when to look.

“By selecting destinations with affordable flights and low-cost accommodations, travelers can enjoy a memorable getaway for a fraction of what they might otherwise pay,” NerdWallet’s Sally French explained in a written statement.

And travelers have another major advantage this year — a strong U.S. dollar, which means that leaving the country could help you stretch your budget significantly.

According to booking site Expedia, timing is key when planning your trips — which should be booked three weeks to a month before your departure to save up to 25%.

Other tips from the in-house experts included avoiding holidays like Easter and Mother’s Day, as well as the last two Saturdays in March, which are expected to be extremely busy.

The week of April 28th will offer significant savings, the pros promised — while the week of May 19, before the Memorial Day crush, will be one of the quietest this coming season.

Expedia also recommended looking to countries like Japan, Mexico, South Korea and across Europe, where the dollar is currently enjoying a significant advantage over local currencies.

Meanwhile, NerdWallet recommended the five following cheap trips that can deliver the warmer (or at least more spring-like) weather your looking for — without landing you in financial Siberia.

Affordable spring break destinations in 2025

• Punta Cana, Dominican Republic – “Easily accessible to many travelers with 24 nonstop routes from the US and accommodations that can cost as little as $21 per night. A stay at a higher-end hotel can be more budget-friendly by redeeming rewards points instead of paying cash.”
• Orlando, Florida – “Easy to reach with direct routes to 112 airports in the US on several airlines that allow you to redeem miles for flights, potentially dropping flight costs to near zero. Yes, Orlando will be busy during spring break, but hotels are abundant and affordable.”
• Paris, France – “You don’t often see France and “cheap” in the same sentence, but because of low-cost airlines such as French Bee, flights are as low as $350 round-trip during spring break. Hotels tend to be a little more expensive, but you can still find some for under $100 per night; a better option is to redeem your rewards points.”
• Las Vegas, Nevada – “With direct flights to 172 airports across the US, visiting Las Vegas can be convenient and affordable.”
• Discounted cruises – “Another popular option for spring break is cruising, and there are plenty of discounts and deals on both coasts (generally the cheapest cruises depart from Florida).”