12 Direct Flights From LAX, Starting at $193 Round-Trip

But it isn’t just direct flights from LAX that can take you abroad. With John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana and Hollywood Burbank Airport nearby, nearly everyone in the Los Angeles area is within half an hour of an airport (assuming the I-5 is actually moving). That means jetting off to a new and exciting country is remarkably easy.

The destinations below are listed from least to most expensive, though keep in mind that prices can fluctuate based on when you book, what day you fly, and whether you’re traveling during a destination’s peak season.

Calgary, Canada

• Flight time: Three hours
• Airline(s): WestJet
• Lowest round-trip price in 2025: $193 (September)
• Where to stay: The Best Airbnbs in Calgary For City Life and Mountain Escapes

Canada might not top the usual list of exotic destinations, but it’s not to be overlooked. Calgary is just outside Banff National Park, which means it’s ideal for winter travel if you want to get an adrenaline rush at Banff-Lake Louise or Sunshine Village ski resorts, or would rather do a summer trip hiking in the mountains and enjoying the lively nightlife scene in the evenings. Or you can skip the city entirely, hiking on trails like the Fairview Lookout, canoeing on the Bow River, and camping in Clearwater Tipi Park.

Getting around Calgary is easy, as it’s also home to one of the largest urban bike path networks in North America. There are also a number of beautiful parks nearby, such as Prince’s Island Park, where you can ice skate on a frozen lake come winter (and attend awesome festivals in the summer).

Los Cabos, Mexico

• Flight time: 2 hours 30 minutes
• Airline(s): Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, United Airlines
• Lowest round-trip price in 2025: $273 (August–September)
• Where to stay: 22 Airbnbs In Cabo San Lucas for a Perfect Beach Escape

Los Cabos is the perfect sunny escape just a short hop from Southern California. Perched at the tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, it’s actually two destinations in one: lively Cabo San Lucas and laid-back San José del Cabo. Whether you want to dance all night in beach clubs or lounge at a luxury wellness resort with a green juice in hand, Los Cabos has you covered.

Most come for the beaches — and you’ll find plenty, from the famous Arch of Cabo San Lucas to Medano Beach’s golden sands. But beyond the surf and sand, you’ll find a thriving culinary scene, sailing tours, and world-class whale watching from December to April. If you love adventure, you can try everything from deep-sea fishing to ATV rides in the desert.

Summer is the low season, when you’ll find some of the best deals (and fewer crowds), though winter and early spring bring pleasant weather and lively events. And since it’s only a two-and-a-half-hour direct flight from LAX, it’s easy to turn a long weekend into an unforgettable getaway.

Liberia, Costa Rica

• Flight time: Six hours
• Airline(s): Alaska
• Lowest round-trip price in 2025: $284 (August-October)
• Where to stay: 9 Airbnbs in Costa Rica for a Tropical Summer Escape

Winter is the best time to visit Costa Rica, as it’s the dry season, so most attractions are open and accessible. Liberia is the place to base yourself if you want to reach many of the best Guanacaste beaches, and it’s known for being a gateway to the region. Take a direct flight from LAX to Liberia, and you’ll be near some of the best beachfront resorts on the west coast of the country. Liberia is also a great home base for exploring top spots along the Pacific Ocean shoreline.

If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, Costa Rica is probably already on your bucket list. You can hike past volcanic pools at the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano, trek to La Leona waterfall for a swim, or visit Parque Nacional Palo Verde. It’s also one of the best spots to see tropical birds and monkeys in Costa Rica.

Cancún, Mexico

• Flight time: 4 hours 45 minutes
• Airline(s): Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, United Airlines
• Lowest round-trip price in 2025: $298 (September–October)
• Where to stay: The Best Airbnbs in Cancún for a Beachfront Getaway

Cancún is one of the most popular vacation spots in Mexico for good reason. Situated on the Caribbean coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, it’s famous for bright turquoise water, white-sand beaches, and all-inclusive resorts that make it almost too easy to unplug. But there’s more here than lounging by the pool — Cancún is also a gateway to Mayan ruins, world-class coral reefs, and some of the best nightlife in Latin America.

You can swim in natural cenotes, snorkel with sea turtles, or explore ancient cities like Chichén Itzá and Tulum, all within a couple of hours of downtown. In the Hotel Zone, you’ll find miles of beachfront bars and restaurants, plus shopping and entertainment that run late into the night.

While Cancún stays warm year-round, fall is the best season to score deals and avoid the winter crowds. And with nonstop flights from LAX taking less than five hours, it’s easy to swap the California coastline for the Caribbean whenever you need a change of pace.

Barcelona, Spain

• Flight time: 13 hours, 10 minutes
• Airline(s): Iberia
• Lowest round-trip price in 2025: $511 (September-October)
• Where to stay:  The 7 best Barcelona hotels with amazing views

Barcelona is my favorite city in Europe. The culture here is all about bright colors, high energy, and late-night socializing, and there’s always something happening for visitors to experience. It’s one of the best direct flights from LAX for travelers who want an energetic vacation mixed with history. The city was established in the Roman era, but it also has a large medieval quarter and an impressive collection of buildings and parks from the 18th- and 19th-century Neoclassical and Neo-Gothic periods.

While there are must-see monuments throughout the city — from Gothic cathedrals to the Sagrada Familia to Park Güell — it’s the lesser-known quirks that give Barcelona its real charm, like a cursed skull and bones, a dubious letter box, and the mysterious “13 geese of the cathedral cloister.” (Google them — really.)

In September, La Mercè Festival is celebrated for about five days at the end of the month. The streets fill with events, dances, and parades for residents and visitors alike, plus even a fire run or two. And don’t forget that Barcelona has excellent beaches, so you can easily combine a city visit with a beach vacation.

Tokyo, Japan

• Flight time: 11 hours, 45 minutes
• Airline(s): ZipAir
• Lowest round-trip price in 2025: $528 (October)
• Where to stay: These Tokyo Ryokan Make for the Perfect Traditional Stay in Japan

Tokyo is Japan’s cultural melting pot, filled with arts, sumo tournaments, historical sites, and pop culture. Visit the Shibuya District — one of Tokyo’s most popular shopping areas — which is packed with restaurants, massive shopping complexes, and a stunning cityscape, plus some of the best department store food courts you’ll ever experience. While you’re there, take in panoramic city views from the Shibuya Sky rooftop observation deck, then witness the organized chaos of the famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing at street level.

October is also when Japan’s fall colors come to life, and exploring the outskirts of the city gives you the chance to experience this magical season in the country’s forests. Called momiji or koyo in Japanese, autumn leaf viewing has been a beloved tradition since the days of emperors and shoguns. You can see this colorful scenery in Tokyo’s surrounding areas and throughout the urban jungle of the capital itself.

Centuries-old performing arts still play on stages, and sumo tournaments draw large, diverse crowds of both locals and visitors. If you visit in spring, you can join throngs of Tokyoites heading outdoors to appreciate the cherry blossoms — a tradition older than the city itself.

Georgetown, Grand Cayman

• Flight time: Six hours
• Airline(s): Cayman Airways
• Lowest round-trip price in 2025: $536 (July)
• Where to stay: Vacation in a Dreamy ‘Summer House’ at the Grand Cayman Marriott Resort

Grand Cayman Island is known for its sparkling Caribbean waters and powdery, white beaches, checking all the boxes for a classic Caribbean getaway. If you’re looking for a beach vacation with amazing water activities, you can reach on a direct flight from LAX, this is the place for you.

Scuba divers can explore an underwater shipwreck, dive with sharks, and encounter an abundance of sea life like nurse sharks, parrot fish, and stingrays. For non-divers, activities from snorkeling to snuba to catamaran tours and banana boat rides abound.

Back on the mainland in a tropical forest in Northside, Cayman Crystal Caves is one of the island’s newest nature attractions. The caves formed over millions of years and were under the sea at one point, as evidenced by fossilized shells and animals inside. As sea levels changed, the caves became drier and rooms formed from erosion, creating what is now a three-chamber cave.

London, England

• Flight time: 10 hours 30 minutes
• Airline(s): British Airways, American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines
• Lowest round-trip price in 2026: $552 (February–March)
• Where to stay: 23 Airbnbs in London’s Trendiest Neighborhoods

London hardly needs an introduction. The British capital is one of the most dynamic cities in the world, blending centuries of royal history with innovative food, art, and culture. You can stroll past landmarks like Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace before diving into neighborhoods filled with eclectic markets and cutting-edge galleries.

Beyond the classic sights, you can spend a morning exploring independent bookshops in Bloomsbury or taste your way through Borough Market, where vendors have been selling everything from fresh oysters to curry pies for hundreds of years. If you’re craving green space, pack a picnic for Hyde Park or wander along the Regent’s Canal all the way to Camden’s colorful street art.

Winter and early spring tend to bring lower airfares and fewer crowds, making it the perfect time to explore the museums, pubs, and West End theaters without the summer rush.

Paris, France

• Flight time: 11 hours
• Airline(s): Air France, Delta, American Airlines, United Airlines
• Lowest round-trip price in 2026: $569 (February–March)
• Where to stay: The 16 Best Airbnbs in Paris’ Top Arrondissements

Paris is the definition of timeless romance. Whether you’re wandering along the Seine at sunset or sipping espresso at a sidewalk café, it’s easy to see why travelers have been falling in love with the City of Light for generations. But beyond the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, Paris is also a city of vibrant neighborhoods, each with its own personality.

Spend your days exploring the cobbled streets of Le Marais, browsing vintage shops and tucked-away boulangeries. In the evenings, head to Montmartre for sweeping views over the rooftops or find a wine bar in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. And if you need a break from the city, the manicured Luxembourg Gardens and the Tuileries are perfect spots to recharge.

Winter and early spring often mean lower airfares and shorter lines at major attractions, so you can see the masterpieces at the Musée d’Orsay or climb the Arc de Triomphe without the summer crowds. With direct flights from LAX clocking in at around eleven hours, Paris is closer than you might think.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Flight time: 10 hours 30 minutes
• Airline(s): KLM, Delta, United Airlines
• Lowest round-trip price in 2026: $587 (March–April)
• Where to stay: The Most Luxurious Amsterdam Hotels Close to All Major Must-See Sights

Amsterdam is a city that feels effortlessly cool. Famous for its winding canals and 17th-century gabled houses, it pairs centuries of heritage with an easygoing, creative energy. You can spend your days pedaling along the waterfront, exploring hidden courtyards, or browsing art museums that house everything from Van Gogh’s self-portraits to Rembrandt’s masterpieces.

Beyond the postcard-perfect scenery, Amsterdam has a thriving culinary and nightlife scene. Stop for a plate of fresh stroopwafels at a street market, then hop between craft breweries in the old warehouses of Amsterdam-Noord. When the sun sets, the city glows with cozy cafés, jazz bars, and atmospheric brown pubs known as bruine kroegen.

Seoul, South Korea

• Flight time: 13 hours
• Airline(s): Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Delta
• Lowest round-trip price in 2026: $689 (February–March)
• Where to stay: The Coolest Seoul Airbnbs Across the City’s Top Neighborhoods

Editors at Matador voted, Seoul as one of the best places to go in 2025. Blending ancient palaces and centuries-old markets with skyscrapers, K-pop, and a buzzing food scene, whether you’re wandering the lantern-lit streets of Insadong or shopping in Gangnam’s sleek boutiques, there’s something here to surprise you around every corner.

Start your day with a stroll along the Cheonggyecheon Stream, a reclaimed urban waterway that winds through the city center. Then explore Gyeongbokgung Palace and its colorful changing of the guard ceremony before diving into the street food stalls of Gwangjang Market for fresh mandu dumplings or savory bindaetteok pancakes. When night falls, head up to Namsan Tower for panoramic views or discover hidden speakeasies and neon-lit karaoke rooms.

Spring is one of the most beautiful seasons to visit Seoul, when cherry blossoms bloom across the city and temperatures are comfortably mild.

Helsinki, Finland

• Flight time: 11 hours
• Airline(s): FinnAir
• Lowest round-trip price in 2025: $705 (November)
• Where to stay: These Helsinki Airbnbs Provide Classic Scandinavian Accommodation

The absolute best thing to do in Finland during the winter is to chase the northern lights. In northern Lapland, the aurora borealis is visible more than half the time between September and March, provided it’s a clear night. In southern Finland, it’s visible only about 10–20 nights a year. So head north if the night sky looks clear and starry, because you probably have a good chance of seeing Mother Nature’s most colorful show (well, one of them).

But there’s so much more this beautiful country has to offer, such as visiting the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, strolling around the central market, eating traditional dishes like karjalanpiirakka (a rye-crusted rice pie) and salted herring, and taking in the sights at the harbor on the Baltic Sea.