If you had to change your travel plans due to recent weather-related catastrophes across North America, you are not alone.
As wildfires rage across B.C., a pair of tropical storms continue to wreak havoc across parts of the United States, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. And only a couple of weeks ago, fires in Maui, Hawaii, claimed the lives of at least 115 people, making it the deadliest wildfire in the nation's history.
While there aren't travel bans in place for all destinations affected by severe weather, you might not enjoy a holiday in a place dealing with natural disasters and storms. More importantly, it may also be irresponsible to travel to areas that are struggling to rebuild following a tragedy.
If you are unsure of the safety of a specific destination, check the most up-to-date travel advice from the Government of Canada.
And, if you are looking for a place to visit in the coming weeks, here are some alternative and economical options to consider that you can get to with flights departing from Vancouver International Airport (YVR). You can also check out these new Vancouver routes for holiday ideas.
New York
If you're looking to enjoy a sprawling U.S. metropolis without wading through flooded streets (Downtown Los Angeles received a record amount of rainfall over the weekend), the Big Apple might be calling your name.
Tickets to New York cost a bit more over the next couple of weeks, with prices falling into the $500 to $600 range starting after Sept. 7. Travellers will need to wait until the end of September to take advantage of flights under $500, with flights dropping below $450 after mid-October.
Orlando
Lynx Air, a budget carrier based in Calgary, will offer a direct route from YVR to Orlando International Airport (MCO) starting Nov.18. The once-weekly service will operate on Saturdays, with the outbound flight departing from Vancouver at 8 a.m. and the return flight from Orlando departing at 5:40 p.m. EST.
Tickets from the low-cost carrier are drastically lower than tickets offered by competitors. For example, a flight that departs Vancouver on Nov. 25 and returns from Orlando on Dec. 2 costs $292 including all taxes and fees, and both flights are direct.
Before then, however, tickets to the "Beautiful City" cost significantly less than flights to most major cities across the U.S. Starting at the beginning of September, there are multiple dates showing prices between $300 and $400.
Cancun
Travellers looking for a vibrant tropical getaway should look no further than Cancún. The paradisaical destination is Mexico's most popular city, welcoming throngs of sun-starved visitors to its glistening white sand beaches and stunning turquoise waters.
Starting in September, there are some dates offering the route for $400, provided you are willing to make one stop on your journey. If you are looking for direct flights, September travel will climb over $550 return from YVR. Prices for nonstop options drop later in the fall, down to $400 with Flair Airlines in November on select dates.
Paris
Tickets to the City of Love cost a pretty penny during peak tourist season, with return tickets from Vancouver climbing well over $1,000 return.
Travellers can find cheaper options as the weather starts to cool off, with prices falling as low as $667 return with a stopover or two on several dates in November. For direct flights, the cheapest options start at $885 with Air France.
Miami
Flights to vibrant Miami start for just over $400 in September, but prices stay low for several months after that, meaning you can visit its sun-soaked shores when the weather cools down in Vancouver.
Air Canada's nonstop option on the popular YVR route starts at $742.
Canadian options
If you had a flight booked to the B.C. interior and still want to take advantage of other low-cost options in Canada or B.C., there are several low-cost alternatives.
You can skip the chaos at the ferry for a flight with Air North to Victoria on Vancouver Island, with prices starting at just $110 round-trip in October.
For flights outside of the province, the cheapest option is to Edmonton, with some jaw-dropping prices available through Flair Airlines ($38), and, for a limited time, Swoop.
Other low-cost Canadian options include Toronto and Montreal, with the former starting at $167 and the latter starting at $174 for return, direct options from YVR.
