Summer is only a flight away: Check out these spots in the Southern Hemisphere
Recently, the winter season has hit the U.S. hard, especially in the South, which has experienced record levels of snowfall.
However, summer might be closer than you think! While winter weather will linger until late March in the U.S., those yearning for warmer weather can escape to the Southern Hemisphere now without overspending.
“There are several flight bargains still up for grabs for those of us wanting to escape the cold,” shared Melanie Fish, Vice President of Global Public Relations for Expedia Group, in an email to YSL News. Here’s what you need to know about snagging a vacation deal south of the equator during winter:
What are the top destinations south of the equator?
Data from the travel site Hopper indicates that the most popular Southern Hemisphere locations booked from February to April include:
- Sydney
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Santiago, Chile
Other cities that made the top 10 list are Melbourne in Australia, SĂŁo Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, and Buenos Aires in Argentina.
Reports from Hotels.com show that during December to March, the most favored cities were Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, and Cape Town in South Africa, as noted by Fish. Hotels.com is a subsidiary of Expedia Group.
Top Southern Hemisphere countries—either entirely or partially—also include Ecuador, Tanzania, the Maldives, Colombia, and Fiji, Fish added.
Most affordable flights to southern destinations
Several U.S. hubs are offering flight deals, according to Hopper:
â—ľ From Boston, round-trip flights to SĂŁo Paulo are available for as low as $462.
â—ľ New York travelers can find round trips to Santiago for around $575; to Rio de Janeiro for $588; and to SĂŁo Paulo for $632.
â—ľ From Newark, New Jersey, round-trip tickets to Rio de Janeiro start at $607; to Santiago at $612; and to SĂŁo Paulo at $629.
â—ľ From Dallas, round-trip travel to Rio de Janeiro begins at $640.
Fish noted that the Expedia app also displays discounts for flights to Brazil, South Africa, Australia, and Peru for the January to March period.
“Flights from Los Angeles in February and March to Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane can be found for up to 55% less than average prices—starting at just $718 for a flight from LAX to Brisbane during the last week of February,” she added.
Ticket prices for January and February from New York to either SĂŁo Paulo or Rio de Janeiro were recorded as up to 60% lower than expected, with starting prices at $644, while flights to Johannesburg in March could be found for up to 50% off, starting at $856.
Most economical hotels in southern destinations
According to Hotels.com, Brazil and Ecuador offered the lowest nightly rates between January and March.
In Rio, some four-star hotels have rooms starting as low as $60 per night. “Ecuador is one of the most budget-friendly destinations listed. However, places like the Galapagos Islands can be pricier,” Fish explained. “Well-rated three-star accommodations in Quito begin at just $35.”
Nathan Diller is a travel consumer reporter based in Nashville.
