Deal alert: Cabo, Puerto Vallerta, Cancun, Mexico City or Cozumel from $162 round trip
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
¡Viva México! Whether it's "Beach, please" for you or foodie paradise calling your name, you can now squeeze in a weekend getaway to Mexico's most sought-over vacation spots for less than the cost of the average domestic one-way flight.
The cheapest fares originate out of Texas; Houston and San Antonio, specifically.
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Some of these fares may book into basic economy, which means different things to different airlines, but often means you may not have free use of the overhead bins for a carry-on bag. You probably also won't be able to select your seat, get an upgrade or earn PQM/PQS/PQDs. However, it's possible to defeat many of basic economy's negative aspects by having elite status or a cobranded credit card.
To find a deal, head to Google Flights and enter your origin and destination cities. Scroll through the calendar function to find dates and prices that work for you. Finally, click through to book directly with the airline or an OTA like Orbitz or Expedia.
Airline: United, Volaris, Frontier
Routes: IAH/SAT and more to CUN/MEX/SJO/PVR/CZM
Cost: from $162 round trip
Dates: February — March 2020
Pay With: The Platinum Card® from American Express (5x on airfare booked directly with the airline), Citi Prestige® Card (5x on airfare), Citi Premier® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve (3x on airfare), American Express® Gold Card (3x on airfare when booked directly with the airline) or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2x on travel)
The information for the Citi Prestige Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Here are some examples of specific flights that are available:
Houston (IAH) to Cancun (CUN) for $162 round trip on United:
Houston (IAH) to Cabo San Lucas (SJO) for $190 round trip on United:
San Antonio (SAT) to Mexico City (MEX) for $219 round trip on Volaris/Frontier:
San Antonio (SAT) to Puerto Vallarta (PVR) for $249 round trip on United:
Houston (IAH) to Cozumel (CZM) for $274 round trip on United:
Maximize your purchase
Don't forget to use a credit card that earns additional points on airfare purchases, such asThe Platinum Card® from American Express (5x on airfare booked directly with the airline), Citi Prestige Card (5x on airfare), Citi Premier® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve (3x on airfare), American Express® Gold Card (3x on airfare when booked directly with the airline) or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2x on travel). Check out this guide for more on maximizing airfare purchases.