Things are frosty for those of us in the northern reaches of North America, but nothing thaws us out like dreaming of cheap flights to Mexico. Right now, they aren't hard to find.
A brand new airport recently opened in the tourist hotspot of Tulum and Delta, American and others are going to fly there starting next month … at cheap prices, too! Meanwhile, nonstop flights to popular destinations like Cancún (CUN) and Cozumel (CZM) keep dropping in price, and we've even found some incredible points and miles deals flying down to Mexico this winter, too.
The rush to get down to Mexico is on. We've sent our Thrifty Traveler Premium members dozens of flight deals to Mexico recently, from roundtrip cash fares in the $200s to SkyMiles flash sales as low as 16,000 and many more.
From the west coast retreats of Puerto Vallarta and Cabo to Mexico's food capital in Oaxaca, there's a flight deal that can get you out of that sweater and into a swimsuit, even for spring break.
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Cheap Flights to Tulum
Ninety minutes south of Cancún is just far enough for some travelers to think twice about escaping to the beaches of Tulum. But a brand-new Tulum airport (TQO) recently opened, allowing travelers to head straight there from the U.S., skipping the chaos of the Cancún airport altogether.
Delta made the first headlines by announcing nonstop service to Tulum from its home hub in Atlanta (ATL) starting in late March, and American and others joined the party just a short time later.
All that competition eventually leads to one thing: Cheaper fares.
These cheap fares are gone now – start getting deals to your inbox for free with cheap flight alerts!
Airlines undercut each other with lower fares in hopes of enticing customers to fly with them. As soon as we saw those fares drop, we alerted Thrifty Traveler Premium members.
And it wasn't just nonstop routes either. With just one quick connection, you could have booked your trip to Tulum for as low as $ roundtrip!
Down in Texas, Houston (HOU) benefitted from the lowest fares. And while it's not the most perfect routing from Texas to Mexico, it will put you straight into Tulum without the hassle of the long drive down the coast from Cancún.
Nonstop to Cancún (Including Spring Break!)
Cancún is practically synonymous with a trip south of the border, and for good reason. It boasts endless sunny beaches and beautiful resorts that will make you feel pampered on your visit. You can go beyond Cancún itself and explore great cities nearby like Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Tulúm, or even Isla Mujeres.
And when it comes to cheap fares, Cancún (CUN) reigns supreme in Mexico. Just look at this deal offering nonstop flights to Cancún from all over the U.S. starting at just $222 roundtrip!
We sent out these delightful fares to our Thrifty Traveler Premium members last month. This deal included some cheap nonstop rides down to Cancún through peak winter when a Mexican beach is just what you'll need.
It gets even better, though. From many of these cities like Philadelphia (PHL), you could also book these fares for a spring break trip in March or April!
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And as we've seen cash prices to Cancún tumble, we've also seen some astonishing deals using your Delta SkyMiles to fly to Mexico for nearly free. This unbelievable Delta SkyMiles flash sale could get you to the beach and back this winter for just 16,000 SkyMiles roundtrip!
Only our Thrifty Traveler Premium members get discounted SkyMiles deals and other award alerts like this!
Once you get there, we think you'd love a stay at the new Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancún – near Puerto Morelos, too. What's better than pairing a dirt-cheap flight with an all-inclusive resort you can book using points? Nothing.
Cheap Flights to Cozumel
Just off the coast of Cancún, Cozumel is often overlooked as a phenomenal Mexican destination. Let's change that.
Scuba and snorkeling fanatics have known about the island off the Yucatan Peninsula in the Gulf of Mexico for years, but it's just as attractive as a destination for everyday beach-goers and sun-seekers, too.
Think it's expensive to get there? Think again: The flight deals for a trip in 2024 have been plentiful afte Delta added new nonstop flights to Cozumel from Atlanta (ATL) and Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) this winter, opening the cheap flight floodgates.
About a week after we sent that flight deal, airfare to the island dropped even more – as low as $290 roundtrip this winter and spring – including during spring break!
West Coast of Mexico, Too!
On Mexico's west coast, you'll find two other popular seaside getaways: Puerto Vallarta (PVR) and Cabo (SJD). And lucky you, flights to both destinations can be cheap, too.
A few weeks ago, we unearthed these low fares for a winter trip to Cabo for $398 or even less.
Due to their proximity, these two cities typically have very similar fares. Many of the same rates you might find for flights to Cabo are often close to the same in Puerto Vallarta. Take your pick!
This particular flight deal is from a few months ago now, but airfare to Puerto Vallarta doesn't fluctuate too much. We were still seeing similar rates as of this morning for a flight as soon as next week!
Skip the Beach: Head to Oaxaca
Who needs a beach? Mexico has plenty to offer beyond its beaches and resorts and Oaxaca is one of our favorite cities to visit. The birthplace of mezcal, the southern Mexico city has a long and rich tradition of food and drink.
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Sub-$400 roundtrip airfare to Oaxaca is rare. Hopefully, some of our subscribers based in Chicago (ORD), Detriot (DTW), Minneapolis (MSP), Los Angeles (LAX), and more snagged one of these flights and is sipping some mezcal in Mexico right now.
Bottom Line
If you need a tropical getaway to look forward to without breaking the bank, Mexico is your best bet. We just keep finding dirt-cheap fares down south for the winter, spring, and beyond.
Whether it's a scuba diving trip to Cozumel or a mezcal-tasting tour in Oaxaca, Mexico has something for your travels in 2024. And with the recent trend of airfare down south in the $200s (or just 16,000 miles!) roundtrip, it can be cheaper than your quick trip to Chicago or Denver.
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Cheap Flights to Mexico FAQs
Which airlines fly to Mexico?
Airlines that fly direct to Mexico include Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, Aeromexico, Air Canada, Frontier, Spirit, Sun Country, Swoop, WestJet, and more.
What is the cheapest month to fly to Mexico?
While not always true, on average the month with the cheapest flights to Mexico is August. The peak season tends to be January, November, and December. However, you can find cheap flights to Mexico any time of year, including peak season, if you are signed up for cheap flight alerts.
What is the cheapest day to fly to Mexico?
There is no cheapest day to book flights to Mexico, or anywhere for that matter. This is a common myth about air travel – you can learn more about why there aren't really any cheapest days to book flights. However, the cheapest days to fly anywhere are typically Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays.
What is the cheapest airport to fly to Mexico?
Some of the cheapest airports to fly to Mexico non-stop from are:
- Cancún
- Puerto Vallarta
- Cabo San Lucas
- Mexico City
- Cozumel
- Tulum
Merida. What a wonderful city plus it feels as safe as any place we’ve been in Mexico.
We are not into hanging out at the beach sites. We prefer the old colonial cities. Some
others are a tad more interesting than Merida but it is truly an old colonial city and easy to
get to if you fly into Cancun by taking a bus from the Cancun bus station to Merida.
There’s much to see in Merida in the way of churches and museums plus there is a more
modern side for shopping. It’s a large city so there are plenty of places to stay and dine.
In addition it’s easy to get to other old towns like Valladolid and Campeche. Merida is
also very close to the ancient ruins at Chichen Itza and Uxmal. The ruins at Uxmal are
just about as great as Chichen Itza plus they are not crowded.
Love it, Lowell. We haven’t yet visited Merida and it’s on our short list. Over the weekend we were discussing a Thrifty Traveler retreat there later this year. The airbnb options are fantastic for larger groups.