Osaka, Japan.
Tam Ka Lok | Moment | Getty Images
As we head into the new year, many travelers are thinking about their vacation plans for 2025 and how many vacation plans there are These trips may cost.
About half (51%) of Americans say the cost of flights will determine their choice of destination this year, according to survey Skyscanner. 50% said restaurant costs were a factor.
Ordinary people are paying more for travel these days: Air ticket prices rose 8% year-on-year in December, and hotel bills rose 2%, according to the National Bureau of Statistics consumer price index.
But experts say travelers can still find deals.
They may find the best bargains Go abroad Especially visiting the Asia-Pacific region in 2025, experts say.
A recent report shows airfares for international travel are down 4% this year compared to 2024 canoe analysis. About two-thirds of all travel searches in 2025 will be for international flights, the study found.
Instead, Kayak said airfares for U.S. flights will rise 3% in 2025 compared to last year.
Kayak’s analysis examined internal search data for 2025 travel between May 1, 2024, and October 31, 2024.
According to travel website Hopper, domestic air ticket prices rose about 12% in January compared with the same month last year. They are expected to remain above 2023 and 2024 levels until at least the middle of this year.
“Overall, domestic travel will be more expensive this year than last year,” said Haley Berg, chief economist at Hopper.
Berg said this was largely due to cheaper domestic flights in 2024 as airlines “flooded the market” with seat inventory.
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“Prices this year are very similar to prices in 2023,” she said. “And in 2024, it really surprised us how low they were.”
Meanwhile, long-haul airfares to Europe, South America, Oceania and Asia were flat or lower at the start of the year, Berg said.
Of course, traveling abroad can be more expensive than leaving home in U.S. dollars: The average cost of a round-trip flight to the U.S. in January was about $300, compared with $685 for a flight to South America, $750 for a flight to Europe, and $750 for a flight to Asia Flights are approximately USD 1,100.
Kayak data shows average hotel prices abroad and in the United States will be similar to 2024.
The report said international and domestic car rental rates were 8% and 4% higher respectively.
Why Asia is “The Cheapest Place”
Sapporo, Japan.
Sergio Formoso | Moment | Getty Images
Prices largely depend on when one books and plans to travel.
For example, Kayak found that the cost of traveling to Asia is the lowest it has been in three years. According to the report, the average air ticket price to the African continent has dropped by 7% year-on-year.
“Year after year, Asia looks to be the cheapest,” Berg said.
Even some places popular with tourists – including Sapporo and Osaka in Japan – will become more affordable.
For example, according to Kayak data, searches for Sapporo increased 31% year-over-year, but the average ticket price dropped 19% to $1,230. Flights to Osaka, Japan’s “food capital,” dropped 14% to $1,233.
Tokyo is the most searched international destinations By 2025, it said.
According to forecasts, hotel advertised room rates in the Asia-Pacific region are expected to drop 11% in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024 lighthousea hotel market research company.
The “New Market Equilibrium” for Air Tickets
Daniel Garrido | Moment | Getty Images
Berg said airfares to Asia-Pacific destinations are coming down from their highs in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Asian countries have generally been slow to reopen borders and lift COVID-19 restrictions relative to other countries. Now airlines are adding routes, increasing supply and lowering seat prices, Berg said.
“We have to see what the new market equilibrium is,” Berg said.
Hopper said jet fuel prices – a major input cost for airlines – were down 11% in January from last year.
Like Asia, travel to the Caribbean is also the cheapest in three years, with airfares down 17% from 2024, according to Kayak data.
Traveling in the off-season is more likely to get hotel deals
Melanie Fish, vice president of global public relations for Expedia Group, said hotel prices vary widely around the world, with established cities such as Paris and London and parts of Asia such as Tokyo and Bangkok, Thailand, “expected to reflect Strong demand,” wrote in an email.
“At the same time, emerging destinations or less crowded locations may offer lower prices,” she said.
Fish said hotel deals are “more likely” to run during the off-season than during peak periods like spring break, summer or the holidays, especially in areas where demand continues to be high.
Another factor that’s good for outbound travelers’ wallets is: Strong dollar Against many international currencies, she said.
Argentina, Japan, Mexico, Brazil and Hungary are the popular destinations where the dollar has appreciated the most, “making activities, dining and lodging more affordable,” Fish said.
Tips to save money on travel in 2025
Colton Stifler | Moment | Getty Images
There are some ways consumers can reliably save money on travel.
1. Flexibility is “key”
“Flexibility is really the key to saving money on travel,” Berg said.
Experts say this applies to many aspects of travel, including the destination, the time of year the location is visited and the days of the week.
For example, flying midweek is often cheaper. A similar dynamic exists for hotel accommodations. Bottom line: Weekends can be more expensive.
“Moving (hotel) stays to mid-week rather than weekend or off-season travel can result in significant savings,” Sally French, travel expert at NerdWallet, wrote in an email.
Seasonality has a “huge impact” on flying costs, Fish said.
Berg says a bucket-list trip to Europe in August will be very expensive and crowded, but you can save 30% in September or October. Fish recommends skipping a trip to the beach during spring break and instead exploring the city or waiting until the fall to head to Europe.
Experts also advise travel “scammers” Alternatives that are off the beaten path but similar to popular destinations.
French said it should also be open to other airports.
“Many cities are served by multiple airports,” she said. “Instead of flying into San Francisco International Airport, consider flying into Oakland International Airport, which is within a similar distance to most of San Francisco.”
2. Book at the right time
French said it’s often cheaper to buy domestic flights one to three months in advance. International travelers should book two to eight months in advance.
She said last-minute airfare deals are rare, so book early to get maximum supply and lower prices.
Fish said restaurants’ logic isn’t always the same: Travelers can sometimes find last-minute room deals in certain markets.
3. Book directly with the hotel
Many hotels offer price-match guarantees or loyalty discounts that aren’t available on third-party booking sites, French said.
“Third-party booking sites are great for browsing and comparing hotels on the site, but once you’ve narrowed down the hotel you want to book, check its prices elsewhere (including direct hotel sites and even bank travel sites). website),” she wrote in an email.
4. Set flight reminders
French says to use tools like Google Flights or Hopper to monitor prices and snag deals when fares drop.
