Choosing a destination
We publish no rankings we cannot source, so this is not a list of ten places. It is how to check a place yourself, in the order that saves the most money.
Start from the weather you want, not the map
"Somewhere warm in February" is a better starting point than a shortlist of countries — it is a question with a checkable answer, and it rules out the places that are warm on land and freezing in the water.
Pick a feeling, get destinationsStart from what your passport opens
Visa-free is not only cheaper, it is faster: no fee, no appointment, and no waiting on a decision before you can book anything. Shortlist those first.
Check your passport's requirementsThe season decides the price and the trip
The same country is two different holidays in June and in November, and the cheap month is often the rainy one. Check the season before the fare.
See a country's seasonsAvoid the local holiday weeks
Prices double and half the country closes when the place you are visiting is on holiday too. Checking the calendar takes a minute.
Public holidays by countryCheck the rules have not moved
Entry rules change with weeks of notice, and an old blog post is how people arrive without the document they needed. Look at the date on whatever you are reading.
Travel rules that just changedCount the health paperwork, not just the flight
Some destinations need vaccinations, a certificate at the border, or a letter for medicine you take every day. That is a cost and, more importantly, a lead time.
Travel health, module by moduleKeep score of where you have been
Seeing the map you have actually covered is the fastest way to notice the cheap region next door that you have never visited.
Scratch your map
The calculator takes your trip and returns the packs you actually need — weight, size, and the rules of the airline you are flying.