December might drain your bank account, but I’ve got great news: January flights are surprisingly cheap right now. After spending an embarrassing amount of time comparing flight prices (seriously, my screen time report is concerning), I’ve found destinations that are both affordable and amazing for winter travel.
These are the best places in January that won’t break the bank. Just last winter, I paid $350 round trip to Mexico City, where I spent mornings drinking perfect café con leche in Roma Norte and afternoons exploring colorful art galleries. Whether you’re craving warm beaches or vibrant city life, I’m sharing the destinations where you can actually find flight deals right now. No spam, no clickbait, just real prices I’ve found while obsessively tracking flights.
#1 tip for finding cheap flights in January
Looking for cheap flights in January? Before diving into all the top cities and airports to fly in January, I want to share a quick tip on how to save money on airfare.
For the past 5 years, I’ve used Scott’s Cheap Flights (now called Going) to get amazing flight deals. All you have to do is enter your home airport and where you want to go, and from there, they’ll send you mistake fares and other ridiculously cheap flight deals. And the coolest part? It’s 100% FREE! In 2024, I’ve saved thousands of dollars from their email alerts. This includes most recently, a $123 roundtrip fare from Boston to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
There’s a free and a premium version – the free one has pretty much everything you’ll need. Though if you’re like me and travel a lot, it’s worth upgrading to the paid version for $49 per year. I recommend signing up for the free trial (you can cancel at any time) to try it for yourself. And if you like it, use my coupon code JON20 to save 20%!
Now without further ado, here are the best flights in January in 2025.
Cheapest Places to Fly in January 2025
Looking for the cheapest places to fly in January 2025? Visit Puerto Rico for stunning beaches and rich culture, Florida for warm weather and theme park adventures, Ontario for winter festivals and scenic landscapes, and El Salvador for beautiful coastlines and vibrant history. Whether you’re interested in history, culture, or cuisine, these destinations offer budget-friendly escapes in January 2025.
1. San Juan, Puerto Rico ($123–$220 roundtrip)
- 🛫 Airlines: JetBlue, Spirit, United (usually nonstop or with 1 stop)
- 🔥 Perfect for: Beach lovers, history buffs, urban explorers, winter escapees
San Juan is one of the easiest warm-weather getaways you can book in winter. With direct flights from major cities and no passport required, it’s a budget-friendly way to trade snow for sunshine.
Old San Juan is insanely Instagrammable with those iconic blue cobblestones and buildings painted every color of the rainbow. Just a quick Uber away, Condado Beach serves up perfect golden sand and clear water vibes where you can go from swimming to sipping cocktails in like two minutes. Feeling adventurous? El Yunque rainforest is nearby with sick waterfall hikes and natural pools that’ll blow up your social feed.
January weather is perfect at 80°F with barely any rain. For flights, JetBlue consistently offers the best deals with fare sales dropping prices below $150 roundtrip when you book 6-8 weeks ahead.
- Read Next: Cheap Flights from San Juan
2. Miami, Florida ($89–$180 roundtrip)
- 🛫 Airlines: American, Spirit, Frontier (usually nonstop or with 1 stop)
- 🔥 Perfect for: Beach enthusiasts, nightlife seekers, art lovers, warm weather refugees
Miami is basically summer in January with insanely cheap flights that make escaping winter totally affordable. This city is like two vacations in one with its insane beaches by day and legendary nightlife after dark.
South Beach is exactly what you’ve seen on TV but somehow even better IRL with its white sand, turquoise water, and Art Deco buildings in every shade of pastel. Just across the causeway, Wynwood Walls turns street art into an outdoor museum where you can snap the most fire content for your feed while hopping between craft breweries and food trucks.
For flights, Spirit and Frontier frequently battle for the lowest fares, often dropping prices below $100 roundtrip from East Coast and Midwest cities when you book 4-6 weeks ahead for midweek travel.
Looking to save BIG on airfare? I recommend signing up for Dollar Flight Club. Thanks to DFC, I’ve saved $5,000+ on travel this year…so I couldn’t recommend it more!
3. Toronto, Ontario ($110–$210 roundtrip)
- 🛫 Airlines: Air Canada, Porter, United (usually nonstop or with 1 stop)
- 🔥 Perfect for: Urban explorers 🏙️, winter enthusiasts ⛄, food scene lovers 🍽️, hockey fans 🏒
Toronto might sound crazy for a January trip, but the insanely cheap flights and winter festival vibes make it an epic cold-weather getaway. The city transforms into a winter playground with indoor and outdoor attractions that locals actually get excited about when temperatures drop.
The PATH network is an underground city with 30km of connected walkways where you can hang out without freezing your butt off. Nathan Phillips Square turns into a huge skating rink with the Toronto sign lit up for killer photos. Kensington Market stays buzzing in winter with food halls and warm cafes to duck into, and the Royal Ontario Museum lets you check out dinosaurs and art without fighting through crowds.
For cheap flights, book with Porter Airlines 4-6 weeks ahead and fly midweek to score fares under $130 roundtrip. Air Canada usually matches these deals during their Tuesday sales if you’re flexible.
4. San Salvador, El Salvador ($135–$240 roundtrip)
- 🛫 Airlines: Avianca, Spirit, American (usually nonstop or with 1 stop)
- 🔥 Perfect for: Volcano hikers 🌋, coffee fanatics ☕, budget travelers 💰, culture seekers 🏛️
San Salvador is totally worth it in January when you get perfect weather without the holiday crowds. This city is the real deal: affordable, authentic, and surrounded by epic volcanoes you can actually climb without hardcore hiking skills.
The El Boquerón crater at the top of San Salvador Volcano is just 25 minutes from downtown and gives you insane views of the entire city. Mercado Nacional de Artesanías is packed with colorful crafts where you can score handmade souvenirs for cheap. For coffee snobs, El Café serves beans from local farms that’ll blow your mind compared to your usual Starbucks fix.
Score deals on Avianca by booking 2 months out and flying midweek for fares around $175 roundtrip. Spirit runs flash sales if you don’t mind basic seats and bringing just a backpack.
5. Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands ($148–$260 roundtrip)
- 🛫 Airlines: American, Spirit, JetBlue (usually nonstop or with 1 stop)
- 🔥 Perfect for: Beach lovers 🏖️, snorkeling enthusiasts 🐠, island hoppers ⛵, duty-free shoppers 🛍️
Saint Thomas is a total beach paradise that’s actually affordable in January after the holiday crowds clear out. The island has crystal clear water, no passport requirements, and flight deals that make the Caribbean actually doable on a budget.
Magens Bay is that postcard-perfect beach you’ve seen on Instagram with powder-white sand and turquoise water that’s so clear you can see fish from shore. Mountain Top gives you ridiculous views of neighboring islands plus they serve the original banana daiquiri that’s actually worth the tourist trap vibes. For snorkeling, skip the crowded spots and head to Coki Beach where you can swim right off shore and see more fish than people who paid for boat tours.
American Airlines’ hub connections offer the best deals, frequently dropping below $200 roundtrip from East Coast cities when you book 6-8 weeks ahead for midweek travel.
6. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic ($140–$250 roundtrip)
- 🛫 Airlines: JetBlue, American, Spirit (usually nonstop or with 1 stop)
- 🔥 Perfect for: History buffs 🏛️, foodies 🍽️, nightlife seekers 🎵, beach day-trippers 🏖️
Santo Domingo offers the perfect mix of Caribbean beaches and rich colonial history with January flights so cheap you’ll have plenty left to spend on experiences. The city gives you that ideal home base for exploring the oldest European settlement in the Americas along with day trips to some of the Caribbean’s best beaches.
The Colonial Zone has buildings from the 1500s that look straight out of a history book but without boring tour groups. Boca Chica Beach is just 30 minutes away with shallow turquoise water perfect for wading and swimming without big waves. And then there’s the city’s Malecón oceanfront promenade that comes alive at night with locals hanging out at outdoor bars and food stalls.
Visiting in January means temperatures are around 80°F and minimal rainfall, making it perfect for both city exploring and beach days. For flights, JetBlue consistently offers the best value with fares frequently dropping below $180 roundtrip.
7. New York City, New York ($88–$170 roundtrip)
- 🛫 Airlines: United, American, JetBlue (usually nonstop or with 1 stop)
- 🔥 Perfect for: Urban explorers 🏙️, Broadway fans 🎭, museum buffs 🖼️, winter magic seekers ⛄
New York City is shockingly affordable in January when airlines slash prices after the holiday rush and hotels offer their lowest rates of the year.
Central Park looks awesome covered in snow, especially when locals come out to sled and skate. The Met and MoMA are perfect for escaping the cold while seeing world-class art collections. You can grab same-day Broadway tickets for half price at TKTS since January is low season. Brooklyn spots like Williamsburg and DUMBO are less packed, so you can finally try those trendy restaurants without the ridiculous wait times.
The post-holiday slump brings rock-bottom airfares, with prices frequently dipping below $100 roundtrip when you book 4-6 weeks ahead. United and American constantly battle for the lowest fares, while JetBlue typically offers the most comfortable experience with competitive pricing.
- Read Next: Best Areas to Stay in New York City
- You may also like: Epic Things to Do in New York City at Night
8. Paris, France ($300–$450 roundtrip)
- 🛫 Airlines: Air France, Delta, Norse Atlantic (usually nonstop or with 1 stop)
- 🔥 Perfect for: Art lovers 🎨, fashion hunters 👗, food fanatics 🧀, romantic vibes ❤️
Paris is surprisingly budget-friendly in January when airlines offer their absolute lowest transatlantic fares of the year. The city takes on this magical winter vibe with fewer tourists crowding the streets, letting you experience the real Paris that locals actually enjoy.
The Louvre becomes worth visiting when you can actually see the Mona Lisa without hundreds of phones blocking your view. Eiffel Tower lines are practically non-existent, and neighborhood cafés in Le Marais serve perfect hot chocolate to warm you up. The massive winter sales happen in January, turning Galeries Lafayette into a bargain paradise where you can score legit designer stuff at prices that won’t destroy your credit card.
Grab flights under $350 roundtrip by booking 8-10 weeks ahead and flying midweek. Norse Atlantic often has the cheapest basic fares, sometimes as low as $300.
- Read Next: Cheapest Airlines in Europe
