7 Late-Summer Airfares You Just Can’t Beat

Traditionally, this is the best and worst time of the year to go away: optimal weather, optimals vibes … but the worst prices. But we found seven killer fares to points near (Denver, Lake Louise) and far (Hong Kong, anyone?) to get you out of town before summer’s end. Just don’t wait: like most wonderful things, these prices won’t last.

denver (3 images)

You’re going to: Denver
Round trip: $115 on Frontier
Briefly: Everyone you know is moving there (or Austin), so why not see it for yourself?
Stay at: The Ramble in the artsy RiNo neighborhood
Must do: There are 15 distilleries and craft breweries within a one-mile radius of the hotel, so order some libations over a leisurely lunch while scrolling through the Zillow listings. Start at the Ironton, opening this month. July 11th the RiNo Art District is sponsoring a night for their neighborhood revitalization fund; more info can be found here.

hong kong (4 images)

You’re going to: Hong Kong from SFO
Round trip: $533 on Air China
Briefly: A majestic entry point for exploring farther into China or hubbing it to southeast Asia.
Stay at: The 90-year-old Peninsula — the oldest hotel in Hong Kong and one of the oldest (and most luxurious) in Asia.
Must do: The Peak Circle Walk, with killer views of Victoria Harbor.

calgary (2 images)

You’re going to: Calgary
Round trip: $286 on United
Briefly: Lake Louise is 90 minutes away.
Stay at: The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise — you can’t get any closer while still being inside.
Must do: Ride horses around the iridescent lake’s edge and into the surrounding forest. Also, update your Instagram every 20 seconds.

toronto (3 images)

You’re going to: Toronto
Round trip: $422 on Delta
Briefly: The best time of year to visit the best city in Canada (and yes, we know about Vancouver and Montréal).
Stay at: The Four Seasons: Toronto’s the brand’s HQ, so you know this, their flagship offering, will be top notch.
Must do: Plan to be in town for the city’s agenda-setting film festival. When not in screening rooms, check out the vintage furniture scene — never has so much teak 20th-century furniture been in one place at such excellent prices.

miami (3 images)

You’re going to: Miami
Round trip: $238 on United
Briefly: If S.F.’s version of “summer” has you down, you’ll find plenty of proper August weather in Miami.
Stay at: Sure, there’s the cheapish, Art Deco side of Miami Beach. Then there’s the dripping-in-gold version. The Faena is decidedly the latter.
Must do: Head to the ICA Miami for the exhibition honoring Walter Darby Bannard, the Color Field master artist, and then do a quick shopping tour of the Design District. (Then spend all your remaining time at the beach.)

tel aviv (2 images)

You’re going to: Tel Aviv
Round trip: $475 on Wow
Briefly: $302 will get you to Reykjavik, Wow’s home. Then just tack on the connecting flight for an unbelievably low price. Our pick: Tel Aviv.
Stay at: You can spend more (like at the five-star Norman), but those in the know spend around $200 a night at the extremely mod Poli House boutique hotel.
Must do: Party. Start at the Imperial, and work your way across the city from there.

aruba (2 images)

You’re going to: Aruba
Round trip: $394 on Delta
Briefly: The Caribbean in August? You can do it in Aruba, which is far south of the traditional hurricane belt.
Stay at: Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, on Eagle Beach
Must do: The only desert in the Caribbean is on Aruba, and seeing it is trippy, with cactus in the foreground and the ultramarine of the Caribbean in the background. Tour it by Jeep.