It's officially the last season of 2018. What are you planning for your season finale? December is almost here, and it's easy to shrug off the rest of the year hiding under our parkas, praying for spring--but, why not finish strong and celebrate that you survived another year? Celebrate the good times you had, and shake off the stuff you're glad to leave behind you in 2018. Even in the midst of the holidays, December is actually one of the best times to travel. It's an opportunity to get away before the new year begins and clear your head--possibly somewhere on a beach, possibly drinking something with an umbrella in it. We've put together a list of super cheap flights to help you get away for a true wanderlust adventure before your next season begins! *Prices may vary based on times and dates booked. Las Vegas, Nevada Price: $90 round tripSpirit Airlines @vegasembedded via Depending on how you felt about 2018, you might want to decompress in quiet reflection with a glass of Chablis by a roaring fireplace, or you might want to go to a desert casino and drink Cosmos by a poker table of strangers who don't know that your British accent is fake and your name's not really Blanche. Hey--you do you. This is Vegas, baby. Everyone comes to play, and you can make up the rules as you go. Book your flight here. @vegasembedded via San Fransisco Price: $116 round tripAlaska Airlines @meowiahembedded via Experience the chill of the winter without the full-blown Seattle freeze. This insanely cheap flight to San Fransisco is a perfect low-cost option for getting out of town on the quick and on the cheap. Book an Airbnb and hunt for Christmas gifts around Union Square. Stroll by the waterfront, or get your steps in on a winter hike. San Fransisco is prime for getting the best of both urban and rural options for however you want to unwind. Book your trip here. @aarash175embedded via Portland, Oregon Price: $120 round tripAmerican Airlines @adventureadrenaline.coembedded via A visit to Portland can be refreshing for even just a short staycation. You know you can find some quirky AF ideas for holiday gifts down there too. Hit up their eclectic bar scene, see a holiday show, or check out their Holiday Ale Festival. Even just strolling through the neighborhoods here to see the Christmas lights would be a low-key option for a visit. Have dinner in town, then swing by a bar for live music. Book your trip here. @portlandembedded via @portlandembedded via Santa Fe, New Mexico Price: $249 round tripAmerican Airlines @cityofsantafeembedded via Sante Fe has been among America's most overlooked vacation destinations, but it was recently named one of the Top 15 Cities in the US by Travel + Leisure for 2018. Readers Digest has also called it one of the best weekend getaways. The city has a comprehensive website that offers a mass of resources for easy planning from accommodations to activities like culinary walking tours. Pick from their 72-hour itineraries or check out their events calendar to curate your perfect vacation. Book your trip here. @cityofsantafeembedded via Phoenix, Arizona Price: $171 round tripAlaska Airlines @hollirayannembedded via In Phoenix, you can enjoy some seasonal winter events like ice skating, zoo lights, and crafts fairs without the need for layers of Patagonia. The weather is about 60-70 degrees, so you can pack light. Check out a full calendar of events here. Book your trip here. @sheclicksphotosembedded via New Orleans, Louisiana Price: $253 round tripAmerican Airlines @visitneworleansembedded via New Orleans is one of the most colorful and vibrant cities in the US, and during winter takes on another festive level of flare with holiday events. Luna Fête is one of the city's most unusual traditions. Presented by the City of NewOrleans, this annual event is a celebration of art, light, and photography. Taking on the feel of a large-scale and well-funded art walk, this creative community effort projects light installations on large, even significant and historic buildings at night. The buildings act as a canvas, and against the architecture, the lights take on an intriguing liveliness. Book your trip here. @visitneworleansembedded via San Diego, California Price: $156 round tripAlaska Airlines @visitsandiegoembedded via Hit the surf, hit the taco stands, and hit up the sexy nightlife in this beautiful beach town. The community celebrates the holidays with a wide variety of events as well--so take a peek at the events calendar for details! Or, you can always just stay on the beach. Book your trip here. @jeffginoginoembedded via New York, New York Price: $297 round tripAmerican Airlines @bunsabroadembedded via New York in the winter is magical. Throw snowballs in Central Park, go ice skating at Rockefeller Center, and see a holiday show on Broadway. It's a good thing you're saving money on your flight because this city isn't the cheapest! Book your trip here. @rockcenternycembedded via Phuket, Thailand Price: $780 round tripAir China @phuketattractionsembedded via Sometimes you just have to say "Phuket, I'm out" and get on a plane to somewhere exotic. Thailand is a dream destination for travel lovers. It's famously cheap once you arrive, but the ticket there can run you some serious coin. However, this flight is an insanely good price for a roundtrip ticket. In fact, this would be a fabulous price for a one-way ticket. So, this might be the finale you're looking for! @phuketelephantsanctuaryembedded via Be sure to visit and support the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary while you're there. Regarded as the first ethical elephant sanctuary, this special place works tirelessly to protect elephants against local poachers. Each elephant there has been rescued from a dangerous environment, and now in the sanctuary, they are free to enjoy happy and healthy lives with plenty of good elephant company, regular mud baths, and a constant flow of adoring visitors. Book your trip here. @phuketattractionsembedded via Reykjavik, Iceland Price: $748 round tripIceland Air @weliveweexploreembedded via Iceland might actually be colder than Seattle, but at least there will be hot springs to soak in and breathtaking nature views all around. While you might still want to pack your layers, it's worth it if you get to check the Blue Lagoon off your bucket list! @miaadarnaembedded via Book your trip here. @somewhere_samembedded via Stockholm, Sweden Price: $605 round tripBritish Airways @visitstockholmembedded via Christmas is big in Sweden, and they have a fun mix of familiar and unique traditions on their event calendar. In December, you can visit Swedish Christmas markets, see festive lights around the city, and watch the annual Lucia Celebration. Book your trip here. @visitstockholmembedded via Houston, Texas Price: $260 round tripSpirit Airlines @nathynbrazembedded via Houston goes hard on the holidays, so a trip in December can offer some exciting options. See Christmas with a spin in the theatre production of Christmas is Comin' Uptown. Book your trip here. @houstoncityembedded via Kailua, Hawaii Price: $361 round tripUnited Airlines @gemmwattsembedded via This one might not feel like Christmas at all, and that might be perfectly fine with you! Pick your perfect itinerary from an island-style list of options. Book your trip here. @mykailuaembedded via Guanacaste, Costa Rica Price: $579 round tripAmerican Airlines @travelmycostaricaembedded via December in Costa Rica is the transition between the rainy season and the dry season, and while ticket prices are lower, you'll want to make sure to book your accommodations right away after getting flights as this time of year gets busy. See this guide for help. Book your trip here. @travelmycostaricaembedded via Dublin, Ireland Price: $579 round tripAir Canada @irish_dailyembedded via Go big for your 2018 finale in this bucket-list trip to Ireland. See the massive hills, drink pints of beer in the pubs, and maybe even learn a few Irish holiday songs from the locals. Book your trip here. @irish_dailyembedded via @irish_dailyembedded via Missoula, Montana Price: $262Alaska Airlines @visitmissoulaembedded via Celebrate time-off under the big sky of Montana. This time of year you can bet on snow days, so pack appropriately. Check out some of their winter events here. Book your trip here. @visitmissoulaembedded via @visitmissoulaembedded via Los Cabos, Mexico Price: $336 round tripAmerican Airlines @leopardcouture8embedded via Trade your wintertime Baileys and coffee for lime and tequila on a beach in Los Cabos, Mexico. This stay in paradise is for pure relaxation. Go paddleboarding snorkeling, or just find a spot on the beach and stay there. Book your trip here. @leopardcouture8embedded via San Antonio, Texas Price: $256American Airlines @rovingjoembedded via San Antonio can have pretty mild weather in the winter, making it a refreshing change from Seattle. You'll still get to wear some winter gear, as the temperature can drop a bit in the evenings. Look into local favorites for holiday events here. Book your trip here. @melissastravelsnearandfarembedded via Los Angeles, California Price: $186 round tripAlaska Airlines @hollywoodembedded via Escape to Hollywood for sun and the Sunset Strip. The outdoor shopping center The Grove is a must if you're there in December. It hosts a historic farmers' market that been around since 1934, and one of the biggest lit Christmas trees in LA. There is even "snow" that falls in the evenings. Book your flight here. @thegrovelaembedded via Denver, Colorado Price: $146 round tripFrontier Airlines @visitdenverembedded via Denver is a full-blown winter wonderland in December. It's cold and likely to snow, and there are holiday events every weekend. From markets to train rides, to ice skating and caroling, you can get your fill of winter festivities. @visitdenverembedded via Book your trip here. @estesparkcoloradoembedded via
