Five international cities that could be bargains for summer flights

If you've yet to make your summer travel plans, several attractive international destinations are reachable at a discount. In Singapore, pour a cocktail at the Neon Pigeon. (Lauryn Ishak/The New York Times)
If you've yet to make your summer travel plans, several attractive international destinations are reachable at a discount. In Singapore, pour a cocktail at the Neon Pigeon. (Lauryn Ishak/The New York Times)

If you are still planning your summer vacation travel, it may already be too late to lock in the most affordable rates if you are staying within the United States.

According to the travel website Hipmunk, April would have been the cheapest month to buy a round-trip domestic flight, based on its data analysis comparing booking from last year to this year.

However, travelers may still be able to score a huge discount this summer by looking abroad.

"We've been seeing lower prices to international cities where new flight routes have opened, or low-cost carriers have expanded, and competition has increased," said Adam Goldstein, Hipmunk's chief executive.

To identify which international cities are trending cheaper, Hipmunk analyzed booking data from flights departing the United States and purchased in a window from Jan. 1 to April 14 - with a departure and arrival date in June, July or August - and compared them with the same booking window from last year.

Overall, average round-trip international airfare rates are slightly higher compared with last year - up 1 percent - but Hipmunk found several international cities where there are bargains to be had. Based on Hipmunk's estimates for average round-trip airfare, flights from the United States to the following five international cities are available to book this summer for rates well below last year's average.

Singapore

Round-trip price this year: $1,169, down from $1,659 last year.

More travelers are singling out Singapore than ever, as evidenced by record-setting arrival numbers of 17.4 million in 2017, according to the Singapore Tourism Board. Getting there has become increasingly affordable, in part because of new air routes coming from Singapore Airlines (New York and Los Angeles) and Norwegian Air (London). Food lovers thinking about a summer visit, take note of the annual Singapore Food Festival (July 13 to 24).

Ottawa, Ontario

Round-trip price this year: $446, down from $616 last year.

The Ottawa Art Gallery recently unveiled its new space, which covers 5,500 square feet and five floors and includes two outdoor rooftop terraces.

The inaugural exhibition runs through Sept. 16 and explores the Ottawa-Gatineau region's 6,500 years of history and art.

Elsewhere, the new art-focused boutique hotel Le Germain Ottawa is now open and highlights artwork from Canadian photographer Julie Couture.

Scheduled for later this year is the opening of the Confederation Line, the first phase of Ottawa's new light-rail line.

Hamburg, Germany

Round-trip price this year: $1,017, down from $1,349 last year.

One of The New York Times' 52 Places To Go in 2017 is still generating buzz. The Elbphilharmonie concert hall, which officially opened early last year, is the latest architectural highlight in Germany's second city, joining a list of perennial favorites like the Warehouse District and the Church of St. Michael.

Additional routes from Irish airline Ryanair are helping to drive prices down, Hipmunk said.

Beijing

Round-trip price this year: $1,109, down from $1,358 last year.

Getting to Beijing from the United States got a whole lot easier late last year when American Airlines added a much-anticipated direct flight from Los Angeles.

Art lovers taking advantage of this new route for summer should consider the annual Croisements Festival, which runs through June 24 and celebrates the French arts with special events and exhibitions, and the always-vibrant 798 Art District, the hub of Beijing's contemporary art scene.

Sydney

Round-trip price this year: $1,547, down from $1,822 last year.

There is no getting around the fact that flying from the United States to Australia takes a significant amount of time. But a new direct route (17 hours 30 minutes) from Houston to Sydney on United Airlines has made the long haul slightly less painful.

If food is a main driver of your travels, Sydney's culinary scene, while not as heralded as that of Melbourne, has emerged - including chef Paul Carmichael's creative combination of Caribbean flavors and local ingredients at Momofuku Seiobo, and Saint Peter's inventive take on seafood.

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