Best and Worst Airfare Deals Right Now

The top three destinations on your travel wish list right now should be: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Fortaleza, Brazil; and Paris.

But if you book with the wrong airline, you could end up paying hundreds of dollars more than you have to.

Here are the cheapest deals on offer…and the ones to avoid.

1. New York JFK to Puerto Vallarta

Best deal: Mexicana Airlines through kayak.com--$421 roundtrip, connecting through Juarez International, flying out March 31, returning April 2.

One to avoid: Delta--$1,064 for same dates and connection.

Why go? Mexican resort king maker Fonatur has set its sights on the Riviera Nayarit, a 100-mile stretch of coast that begins just north of Puerto Vallarta. Fonatur are responsible for turning Cancun from a sleepy fishing village into the mega resort it is today. If they repeat that success with the $1.5 billion they plan to invest in the Riviera Nayarit, IL readers who position themselves early could be well rewarded.

Bonus tip: The best way to explore this part of Mexico is on a special three-day discovery weekend where you get to meet the expats already living and working in the Riviera Nayarit. All your food, accommodation, cocktail parties…even a luxury yacht cruise…is included. Normally a trip like this would be expensive…but if you subscribe to the International Living Magazine right now with this link…you get the discovery weekend at Riviera Nayarit for just $185 (or $250 for a couple).

2. LAX to Rio de Janeiro to Salvador to Recife to Fortaleza to Rio

Best deal: Delta for the international flight (LAX to Rio)--$754 roundtrip, connecting through Atlanta, flying out May 24, returning June 4. TAM's Brazil Airpass for the four internal flights--$599. Total cost: $1,353.

One to avoid: Northwest for the international portion--$1,053 for same dates and connection. To get the internal flights without the Airpass, even booking the cheapest individual flights, would cost $915. Total cost: $1,968.

Why go?IL's International Real Estate Investment Forum takes place in Fortaleza, Brazil June 1-3. When you join us, you'll hear from Ronan McMahon and other experts about the best property investments around the world right now. If you book your place at the forum by Friday, you get $700 off the registration fee. By using TAM's airpass to fly around Brazil before and after the forum, you get to mix business with pleasure, and get a first-hand look at some of the markets that will feature at the forum.

3. New York to Paris direct

Best Deal: American Airlines 7.5-hour flight--$522 roundtrip, flying out April 12, returning April 19.

One to avoid: Air France--$682, plus an extra four hours as you connect through Dulles International.

Why go? Forget Paris in the spring--France's best-kept secret is 90 minutes from the City of Light. If you lived here, your neighbors make a world-famous white wine…on your doorstep is one of Europe's last wild rivers…and you can buy charming solid stone houses ready to move into for $84,000. You're bordered by the Loire river to the west…the Auvergne mountains to the south…and the vineyards of Beaune and Chablis ot the east and north. And Paris is an easy 90-minute drive. Yet few people (even the French) have heard of this little-known corner of Burgundy--the Nièvre department. Subscribers to the IL Magazine can read our full report on this part of France here. Otherwise, you can subscribe to the IL Magazine right now with this link…and get instant access to this article.

Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards

P.S. There is an easier way than juggling the airline websites to make sure you get the best airfare every time you travel--full details here.

To read more IL articles about getting the best airfares, see:

3 ways to get a low airfare on your next flight

How I flew to Italy for 1 cent

Get a cheap flight with a round-the-world ticket