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Wanna know where to go on the cheap this summer? Me too!

I don’t know about you, but Tax Day had me seeing red. Call me stubborn, but fewer commas in my bank account won’t stop me from seeing the world.

As you know, many of the global icons we’ve all fallen in love with, such as London, Paris, and our very own New York City, come at premium prices, driving us to venture off to the lesser-known.

Skyscanner just released its ‘Smarter Summer Report‘—emphasis on “smarter.” The truth is many travelers waste their hard-earned cash with spur-of-the-moment decisions, like waiting until the last second to book a trip or not looking at alternative dates.

But Skyscanner has done all the research for us, revealing that one of America’s most underrated beach towns has the cheapest flights in the nation.

Better yet, once you arrive, you won’t have to break the bank either with affordable stays and fun, low-cost activities.

Wilmington, NC: Average Summer Airfare Is Only $105

You can barely have a nice night out anymore without hitting triple digits. My last date night totaled $86 with a tip, and that was just happy hour!

When it comes to traveling, it’s hard to believe round-trip airfare anywhere can average a smidge over $100, but that’s the case for Wilmington, North Carolina, not to be confused with another cheap East Coast city, Wilmington, Delaware.

North Carolina’s coastal gem flies under the radar from the busy hub of Charlotte, the epic comeback of Asheville, and perhaps the trendiest coastline in the country, thanks to the popular Netflix show of the same name, The Outer Banks.

Isolated from the vast space of map-dot towns making up a swath of barrier islands, Wilmington is not an Outer Banks beach. It offers a more charming aesthetic and city feel, and its own cluster of beautiful beaches within close reach.

According to Skyscanner’s ‘Explore’ feature, these 10 cities have nonstop flights under $125 round-trip in June before summer temps hit their peak in July:

• Washington D.C. ($70)
• Nashville ($74)
• Detroit ($78)
• Tampa ($97)
• Rochester ($105)
• Orlando ($108)
• Houston ($112)
• Minneapolis ($113)
• New Haven ($119)
• Providence ($120)

Downtown Delights: A Blissful “Riverwalk” & Historic Attractions

Unless much of the Outer Banks, Wilmington offers visitors a balanced mix of urban delights and quintessential southern hospitality, all while being a stone’s throw from vibrant blue-water beaches.

To be frank, Wilmington’s skyline is a little lackluster, but don’t let the drab colors deter you from experiencing the joys of downtown.

The Riverwalk is downtown’s heartbeat with a bustling pedestrian promenade and scenic waterfront views snaking down the Cape Fear River with sensational seafood eats, killer breweries, boat tours, and some unexpected thrills like the Museum of the Bizarre ($3 admission).

All in all, the buzzing Riverwalk is home to 200 shops, restaurants, and attractions.

Of course, with such splendid summertime weather, there are ample ways to enjoy the outdoors, but locals’ favorite to simply grab a patio seat at such popular hangouts like Elijah’s Oyster & Fish Camp to enjoy a fresh catch and sweeping waterfront views.

Wilmington is far from flashy, so don’t expect prices to be out of control. For example, even a Wine Tasting Cruise along Cape Fear only costs $45.

In fact, Wilmington is one of the most under-appreciated cities in the South in terms of all the fascinating historical sites, whether it be the 230-plus block National Register Historic District or Battleship North Carolina.

Wilmington’s Wondrous Coast

Downtown may boast the scenic river, but going east of the city are the real gems of lesser-known beaches and unheard-of islands.

Wrightsville Beach is arguably the most sought-after and easiest to reach, but surrounding Wrightsville lies barrier island sanctuaries and celebrity-favored hideaways, known as the “Hamptons of the South”.

Wrightsville is the best choice for a nice beachfront stay if you want to wake up to views of the Atlantic rather than cozy cafes dotting downtown. However, coastal prices are a far cry from downtown’s double-digit rates for chain hotels.

4-star Trailborn Surf & Sound is going for $375 this June and July, 3-star Holiday Inn Resort Lumina on Wrightsville Beach goes for even more at $431 per night, compared to downtown’s 5-star Hotel Ballast Wilmington, Tapestry Collection going for just $108 this summer.

Maybe Uber to the beach?

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.

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You don’t have to decide between Greece’s 6000 islands for gleaming whitewashed buildings, sinfully delicious seafood, and pristine beaches.

Heck, I’m happy attending San Diego’s Greek Festival every year, where I shamelessly close my eyes, stuff my face with gyros and galaktoboureko, and pretend I’m in Athens for the day.

As you’re surely aware, Greece has been surging in popularity for years with no signs of slowing down.

Even Santorini’s recent earthquake scares will likely be a distant memory this summer, as Greece’s most iconic island will undoubtedly be at maximum capacity when travelers use their vacation days the most.

To avoid said crowds, you don’t have to visit my favorite festival or even travel to an alternative Greek island for that matter.

Neighboring Turkiye is home to a secret paradise that’s a spitting image of Greece, and nobody ever talks about it.

The gatekeepers are typically Turkish and Greek vacationers who stay tightlipped about the Med’s best-kept secret for their own benefit, but it’s time to unveil the tiny yet mighty Bozcaada to the world.

Greek Vibes, No Crowds: Bozcaada Is The Ideal Hideaway No One Knows

Formerly known as Tenedos, this blip in the Aegean Sea packs a punch despite only having 500 people call this slice of paradise home.

Given its location, there’s a noticeable mix of Turkish and Greek influence, yet still a far cry from Istanbul or Athens.

This tiny island is the ultimate place to unwind, but also a delight to explore timeless streets to take in sweeping views of the coast and historic structures like Bozcaada Castle.

It’s no Acropolis, but the fact you can visit such an incredible landmark without having to wait in line isn’t a bad second best, right?

While much of Greece will be swarming with tourists, especially in summer, Bozcaada mostly only sees fellow Turks and occasional Greek travelers.

For Greeks, it still feels like home, with whitewashed buildings, stunning Aegean views, and similar meals to those found in Crete, Santorini, or Mykonos.

Stunning Beaches & Cozy Stays: No Curated Resorts In Sight

I’m the first person to snag a good deal at an all-inclusive resort any chance I can get, but I also appreciate authenticity when I travel.

You know, maybe fewer pool foam parties and Zumba classes and more local cuisine and homey rooms…

That’s what you’ll find in Bozcaada. This place doesn’t have to dress to impress. In fact, you could easily say it’s fashionably late to the tourism party as it’s remained unknown to most for this long.

But once you’re here, you’ll be welcomed to stunning shores such as Sulubahçe Beach, where one recent beachgoer in the know claimed, ‘the water was perfect’.

Other visitors, however, prefer neighboring Ayazma Beach, which unlike Sulubahçe, has nearby businesses and restaurants to visit.

For what it’s worth, Ayazma’s claim to fame is breaking a record number of Instagram ‘likes’ for its sheer beauty, so that’s got to speak volumes for what’s in store.

Numerous seaside hotels are available, most of which are near the town of Bozcaada, the biggest town on the island of the same name.

For prime real estate, Pelagos Hotel offers the best location, but comes at the highest price point. On the lower end, you can score vibrant boutique hotels oozing Mediterranean vibes, such as Martı Butik Otel Bozcaada, for about $50 per night.

Wine & Dine In The Mediterranean’s Most Underrated Paradise

Like Greece, and yes parts of Turkiye, Bozcaada makes for an incredible wine retreat. Turkiye isn’t just known for its traditional adult beverage, raki; it’s a great wine destination, too.

Bozaada offers multiple wineries and vineyards to visit as day trips, but perhaps no better than Corvus Vineyards tucked away from all the “action”, set along the sea.

More inland, though, is a secret winery even locals may not know of – the Old Stone Well Vineyard, a boutique winery off-the-beaten path for a truly unique and authentic wine tasting.

As for food, you’ll find mostly what you would find in Greece except for some Turkish twists and delicacies like the island’s famous varieties of marmalades.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 30 countries and written over 400 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.

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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

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Lining the coast of America’s most oddly-shaped state are 4 secret resort towns surely to peeve gatekeepers as I shine a spotlight on where locals go for a tranquil vacation without elbow-to-elbow crowds.

You might think you know Florida end to end as the “Sunshine State” is always reliable for a sunny beach getaway, but there’s still a handful of places to kick back and relax in luxury, including a brand new resort in a town you’ve likely never heard of before.

While most vacationers are scoping out quintessential Spring Break hotspots such as Panama City, Daytona Beach, and Miami (although, local authorities are cracking down on shenanigans), why follow the crowd when you can sprawl out starfish-style in paradise and best of all, you don’t have to wake up early to reserve a poolside lounger?

Kind of a jerk move anyway, no?

Port St. Lucie

Port St. Lucie is easier to reach than ever before lying between Palm Beach and up-and-coming Vero Beach, becoming a hotspot for budget flights with their very own Breeze Airways-anchored airport.

Home to multiple islands in arms reach that are more popular than Port St. Lucie itself, the beachside of town along the ‘Treasure Coast’ is breathtakingly beautiful, boasting conveniently spaced-out resorts like Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa, a far cry from Florida’s household name destinations.

But, Port St. Lucie also holds a secret all-inclusive resort too often overlooked since it’s not technically a beach resort per se.

Formerly Club Med, the 4-star Sandpiper Bay All-Inclusive Resort is nestled riverside along the St. Lucie River.

While you’ll have to skip it as a spring getaway, this resort is coming back bigger and better than ever after an extensive glow-up set to wrap up later this year.

Punta Gorda

While popular budget airline Spirit has found itself to be the butt of many jokes in 2025 due to well-documented bankruptcy filings, its competitors have made wise investments to expand their portfolio.

Allegiant Airlines not only hosts one of the coolest NFL stadiums, but also designed their very own resort in their growing Florida hub of Punta Gorda, an easy gateway to some of Florida’s top-rated beaches like Siesta Key, Clearwater, and one of my favorites, lesser-known Nokomis.

As Punta Gorda’s only resort as of now, highly-anticipated Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor is open and receiving rave reviews from guests who have been delighted by this surprising waterfront escape with epic sunsets over the harbor.

While Punta Gorda isn’t a beach town, it’s certainly a worthwhile resort destination. Once you see either of the two pools, one with ground-level harbor views and the other on the rooftop, you’ll understand the hype of this place.

Duck Key

We all know Key West, but you don’t have to venture all the way down when there’s an itty bitty resort town tucked away along the famous Overseas Highway.

Duck Key features 4-star Hawks Cay Resort, which has been around for decades yet remained relatively hush-hush.

Not to show up Sunseeker, but Hawks Cay boasts 5 pools on site! Better yet, they have Tiki Beach, a great spot for snorkeling, paddle boarding, and encountering wild dolphins and sea turtles.

Truth be told, that’s about all there is to Duck Key unless you’re into deep-sea fishing excursions. Speaking of fresh catches, don’t skip Angler & Ale at the resort for a variety of seafood dishes and scenic views from the patio.

Brooksville

“Brooksville? Where is that?”, you might be thinking, and I wondered the same thing. It’s located inland roughly an hour north of Tampa and their local economy just hit the jackpot with the grand opening of Cabot Citrus Farms, the company’s first venture on U.S. soil.

While primarily seen as a golf resort with 57 holes to exaggerate your handicap, there are posh amenities and activities that suit everyone.

For example, there’s axe throwing, bass fishing, and archery to name a few. Overall, the mission of Cabot Citrus Farms is to provide a serene escape in nature, which is why they describe their resort as a ‘walking village’ with ample nature trails.

You can’t beat the accommodations either. Not only is this unique Florida resort to escape the crowds, but guests can choose between very spacious 2-bedroom to 4-bedroom cottages.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 30 countries and written over 400 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.

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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 30 countries and written over 400 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.

↓ Elevate Your Travel↓

Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No ads, VIP Content, Personal Travel Concierge, Huge Savings, Daily Deals, Members Forum & More!

✈️Join Our Travel Off Path Community Forum: Where travelers unite, ask questions, share experiences and even find like-minded travel buddies!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS

Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path’s latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox.

This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.