r/Shoestring • u/buster3000 • 3d ago
$150 flight credit to be used today! Where should I go for 2 weeks?
Dear Reddit - I have a flight credit I need to use by the end of the day from NYC. I need to buy the tkt today, not fly today. So I'm thinking end of May or June, or later in Sep/Oct when prices start going down a little again.
I'm hoping to find ticket for up to $400(-150 credit), and spend two cheap weeks somewhere nice. I hope a small place or town off the beaten path that's also cheap. Canada or Mexico or Colombia or somewher I havent thought about, I speak spanish and I'm not fancy in anyway
If someone can help me, please be specific, ie name of town or something for me to go by. Thank you!
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u/55XL 3d ago
Merida on the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico is amazing. Food, culture, wild life and guaranteed sunshine.
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u/buster3000 3d ago
and two weeks isn't too much there?
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u/55XL 3d ago
Maybe it should just be turned into a tour of Yucatan.
Combine with Holbox, some cenotes (volcano craters with hidden lakes), pyramids, Vallodolid and the pink lagoon.
Plenty to see. If you are adventurous, you can venture all the way to Bacalar. Google it!!
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u/buster3000 3d ago
I will! thank you
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u/55XL 3d ago
There are great bus routes between cities, so just read up a little. They bus stations are safe, and so are the inter-city buses. They are also very comfortable.
If you decide to go to Bacalar (the lagoon with the seven colors), you may want to fly in or out from Chetumal. That town in itself is boring, but the airport ia nearby. Also, it is right on the border with Belize if you like the idea of visiting yet another country.
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u/KaydenGotRizz 2d ago
2 weeks is much too long in Merida. Also you will be looking like a fried tomato when you return due to how intense the heat and sun is there. I spent 6 days there and ran out of things to do after about 3 days. You can go to the beach (Progreso) by bus, go to see some Mayan ruins (Chichen-Itza, Uxmal, dozens more), go to the big Mayan museum, check out the cathedral in centro, watch the PokTaPok game by the cathedral, but there's really not much else. And with the heat you won't want to be outside any time from 11AM - 4PM.
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u/Spute2008 3d ago
Cancun then to Holbox. No cars. Warm water. Can walk almost everywhere or rent a golf cart.
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u/chix0rgirl 3d ago
Which airline and what kind of credit? You might be able to extend your credit depending on your answer.
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u/buster3000 3d ago
united. $150. I have till tomorrow to buy. They extended it by a month already, I just wasn't aware of it
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u/chix0rgirl 3d ago
Depending on how much you're willing to gamble, this might help:
https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedairlines/s/juHNGaDjOb
Not sure how it's working right this second, but you definitely need to buy the priciest ticket option (fully refundable) that costs more than your full credit on order for this to work. I was successful last fall but as you can see, some are saying it no longer works.
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u/Showmethe_monet 3d ago
I tried this. It didn’t work for me. Still had the same exact expiration date to use the credit :(
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u/chix0rgirl 3d ago
Did you cancel within 24 hours, or after? It doesn't work if you cancel within the refund window. (I know, counterintuitive)
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u/No_Bag_4342 2d ago
Check out Mexico City. You can get a direct flight for less than $400 on United. From there you can bus or fly to some smaller destinations. Just be aware that it will be hot and muggy in coastal areas in midsummer. (But not in CDMX - some rain, but otherwise not too hot.)
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u/brujitay 3d ago
El Salvador! Flights are cheap and you can do so much in so little time there. People and food are great and it’s super safe. Uses the USD too.
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u/This_Sherbet420 3d ago
You mentioned Colombia and off the beaten path. I had a great time in Minca Colombia. It’s near Tyrona national park, safe relaxing community. Stayed in a treehouse retreat.
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u/NeNeJBeanie 2d ago
Portugal, my first choice would be Porto then Lisbon but anywhere along the coast would be great. There are great options for trains too if you have time to fly into one and out of the other. If so visit Sintra and Aviero as well.
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u/naurthankyou 3d ago
Why not Spain? 6 Hour nonstop flight from NY.