While flights to most popular destinations are more expensive over Memorial Day weekend this year than last year, there are two hotspots that have seen a big drop in prices: Las Vegas and Chicago. According to online travel agency CheapOair, the average airfare cost to Sin City fell 12 percent to $365 round-trip, while flights to the Windy City are down 14 percent to $296.
And those are just average prices; our Travel Search price comparison tool turned up round-trip flights starting from $68 in May. Unfortunately, weekends are one of the worst times to find hotel deals in Vegas, particularly during a holiday period. However, with a little careful planning and some flexibility – avoid a Saturday night stay if at all possible – you can still find rates that aren’t through the roof.
There was no need to sell us on Chicago: We picked it as one of our Top 10 Memorial Day Getaways even without the low-cost airfare. This year promises to be an even bigger thrill, as the city is celebrating its 175th anniversary. Over the holiday, take advantage of free events like the Saturday Memorial Day Parade and the kickoff concert of the the Downtown Sounds summer series on Monday. While many of the hotels that are offering 175th anniversary rates, like the InterContinental Magnificent Mile, have blacked out Memorial Day weekend, we found rates of $205/night at that hotel.
For general trip-planning information, see our Chicago and Las Vegas destination guides.