Dubai: Skyscanner's latest travel data has identified several destinations offering some of the most affordable return airfares from the UAE this summer, while also highlighting value-for-money destinations for September travellers and lesser-known locations for those seeking alternatives to traditional holiday hotspots.The travel platform said that as the school holiday season comes to an end, travellers not tied to the academic calendar have an opportunity to plan late-summer breaks at competitive prices.Cheapest summer destinationsAccording to Skyscanner data, Muscat topped the list of the most affordable destinations this summer, with average return airfares from the UAE costing around AED672.Other low-cost destinations include:Larnaca – AED811Madinah – AED982Baku – AED1,174Budapest – AED1,358Goa – AED1,383The data shows that travellers seeking a European holiday can still find competitively priced options in destinations such as Baku and Budapest.Best-value destinations in SeptemberFor travellers planning trips during September, Riyadh emerged as the most affordable destination analysed by Skyscanner, with average round-trip fares of AED607.Other budget-friendly September destinations include:Salalah – AED648Mumbai – AED748Istanbul – AED836Karachi – AED944The platform also found average return fares of around AED1,000 to destinations including New Delhi, Cairo, Madinah and Larnaca.Alternatives to popular holiday hotspotsFor travellers looking beyond the most searched destinations, Skyscanner highlighted a number of less-explored locations offering unique travel experiences.These include:Krakow, PolandSantorini, GreeceFaro, PortugalDa Nang, VietnamAlmaty, KazakhstanTbilisi, GeorgiaSkyscanner noted that Budapest, Giza, Krabi and Zanzibar stand out as they appear on both its list of the cheapest summer destinations and among its less-searched destinations, offering travellers a combination of affordability and lower popularity.Flexibility key to finding dealsThe company said airfare prices remain subject to availability and demand and encouraged travellers to compare live prices before booking.It also advised travellers to remain flexible with travel dates and destination choices to maximise savings.Ayoub Al Mamoun, travel expert at Skyscanner, said: "The return to school offers a different travel opportunity for people not bound by the school calendar, and young travellers, couples and groups of friends may have greater flexibility to compare a wider range of destinations and departure dates when planning a trip in late summer."He added: "Our data shows that good value is not limited to the most popular destinations. Looking at destinations that register less search interest can help introduce travellers to options they have never considered, while comparing live prices across different dates allows them to find the trip that best suits their plans and budget."Skyscanner said the findings highlight growing opportunities for UAE travellers to secure affordable late-summer holidays while exploring a broader range of international destinations.
