Cheapest Beach to fly from Chicago
 

If I were wanting to fly to a beach location in Mexico in May or June, which location would generally have the cheapest airfare from Chicago?

You can go to http://www.kayak.com/buzz and stick in CHI (all Chicago airports), then pick Mexico/C.America from the drop down and choose dates - great way to research. Happy trails!

I would check Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, and Puerto Vallarta to give you an idea of what's available.

Check CUN and SJO (Costa Rica). I've purchased tix in May and June to CUN for as low as $252 (American and United) and for $208 to SJO (on Mexicana) r/t total in the past 2 years. These aren't standard fares but gives you some idea of how low fares can be if you're lucky. Being in a hub city is great.

One of the cheapest beach destinations from Chi is FLL or MIA, often $180 r/t total.

That's very helpful! Thanks so much!

Yes, being in a hub city is VERY helpful! Not to mention it's a really cool city ... but that's another forum, I guess. :)

Check your Sunday newspaper travel section for charter airlines from Chicago. That is usually your cheapest way to go and they don't show up on a Kayak search. Most will fly out of Midway. Look for Air Tran or Sun Country. I agree that Cancun is most likely the best for price. Its the closest, the most popular and has the most competition for flights. All things that bring down the price.

That's how I used to always do it, back when I got a newspaper! I feel like there ought to be some kind of website that has that same information as the Sunday paper - you know, the map of the world with flight prices from Chicago on it, but I haven't found it yet.

This is very helpful though - looks like cancun is my best option to keep the flight cost low! I don't mind - I do love the blue water of the Caribbean!

You might have to run out to your local newsstand and buy a paper this weekend. ;) I do think that Air Tran and Sun Country have web sites that you could tap.

You can try www.smartfares.com. They list some of the smaller airlines. A random search for first week in Feb, Chicago to Cancun, shows Spirit Air $264, Air Tran $326, and Jet Blue $553.

I really miss dream maps on travelocity, I used it all the time to decide where I'd land next.

Fishee, I think its still there. Just under a new heading.

www.travelocity.com/dealsonamap

Oh, wow - you can do that on kayak.com - go to kayak.com\explore!