If you're planning to travel in 2026, you're probably asking yourself: How much do I actually need to be prepared to spend on flights?
How do I know you're asking yourself this question? Because I'm asking myself too. For a few years now, I've put some big trips on hold, like hiking Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, kicking back on Lake Atitlán in Guatemala, and seeing the Northern Lights. Will next year be the year? Time will tell-or rather, the deals will tell.
If I'm going to stack all of these trips into 2026, the price has got to be right. (My boss has also got to sign off on my PTO request.) So while we're crunching numbers, I thought I'd help you out.
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Earn the most on hotels with Gondola
Gondola is a free hotel booking app built for frequent travelers. With Gondola you can:
- Track your flight & hotel reservations and automatically save money when prices drop
- See all your loyalty points and when they expire in one place
- Compare hotels points and cash rates simultaneously
Gondola books directly with all the major hotel chains and independents so you get all your hotel points, credit card points, status nights, and hotel perks. On top of that, Gondola adds 3-7% cash back so you triple dip on points every time you book.
Gondola is running a Status Challenge through January 31st to help you earn the most points possible every time you book hotels:
- Book 5 nights, get 5% cash back for all of 2026
- Book 10 nights, get 7% cash back for all of 2026
Earn more points and save money on the trips you're already taking.
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Where do you want to travel in 2026? |
Got your answer? Nice. Below is a table outlining how much you can expect to pay to get there on a plane if you're cool flying in economy. (Want to fly in premium economy, business, or first class? Check here for the right price.) |
These are average roundtrip fares, meaning $760 to Asia, $513 to Europe, $308 to the Caribbean, and so on would be deals worth pouncing on-but we regularly see deals below these thresholds. If you haven't set up flight alerts to the destinations you're eyeing in 2026, this is your sign. It's the most reliable way to get those fares delivered right to you.
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Protect your trip in 60 seconds with Faye travel insurance.
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How much to spend for places everyone hates to love |
Now, this may get a little awkward. I'm also going to tell you the prices you should pay for destinations that travelers hate to love... or love to hate. One of the two.
Either way, we asked Going's Instagram followers which destinations they thought were overrated. All of these destinations appeared on the list-yet travelers are still flocking there. How do I know? Going looked into the top destinations that travelers searched for in 2025, and these were the top 5.
So whether you're traveling during the off season or peak seasons in 2026, these are the deals you should aim for if you're heading to Tokyo, London, Paris, New York City, or Rome.
As a rule of thumb, add ~25% to the off-season price to estimate what a solid peak-season fare should be.
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Top tips for travelers who want great fares in 2026 |
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Mind the Goldilocks Window: That means aim to book 1-3 months ahead of departure for domestic flights and 2-8 months ahead for international.
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Book earlier than you think for peak season: Summer, winter holidays, winter Olympics in Italy, Taylor Swift in Stockholm. True deals during these times are scarce. Look early. More like 3-5 months for domestic and 4-10 months for international.
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Use flight alerts: I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Alerts are your best friend. And even if we don't send the deal, your alerts will catch fare drops that hit within a reasonable price window.
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Shift your dates a bit: 1-2 days here or there, even a few weeks for summer travel. You can lock in fares $100s cheaper with a little flexibility.
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Embrace the off-season: Want Paris for $400? Rome for $500? Tokyo for $600? You'll find those prices-but not in July.
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Consider alternative destinations: If Rome is surging, Florence or Bologna might not be. If Paris is sky-high, Marseille or Lyon might be half the cost. Our favorite tip: Let the deal decide where you'll go.
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Save on years of Going
Lock in up to 1,826 days of flight deals! Save up to 40% on 1, 3, or 5 years of Going Premium or Elite.
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Written by:
Brooke Vaughan
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Brooke Vaughan is a St. Louis-born writer and editor who splits her time between Portland (OR) and London. She graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism with a master's degree and has contributed to publications including AFAR, Tripadvisor, Time Out Barcelona, and Huckberry. |
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