Cheap flights to North America

From the imposing Manhattan skyline and the colonial architectural gems of Cuba to the lush rainforests of Panama, North America is a land of glorious contrasts. The biggest countries, USA and Canada, are as diverse as their landscapes.

Travellers visting North America have a huge range of destinations to choose between. Colourful Mexico effortlessly blends old and new with its Mayan ruins and thriving modern cities. In the central part of the continent, Costa Rica has evolved into a prime eco-tourism destination, while Panama has some of the region’s best bird-watching and hiking opportunities.

The Caribbean islands within North America – Puerto Rico, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago – are a travellers’ paradise. Unspoilt beaches, coral reefs and world-class resorts define these laid-back towns and the most popular of all the islands, the Bahamas, draws millions of travellers to its islands each year

North America climate

North America’s climate varies throughout the continent. The US and Canada have four distinct seasons while most of the other countries including Cuba and Mexico have two. On the other hand, the islands closer to the Caribbean Sea – Jamaica and the Bahamas – are year-round destinations. 

When is the best time to fly to North America?

Depending on the time of year you plan to visit North America and the purpose of your trip, the two biggest countries in the continent, America and Canada, both have diverse weather conditions. During winter the eastern part of the US gets considerably colder than the West Coast and in Canada the weather is bitterly cold throughout the country. The best time to visit both countries is late spring (April to May) and early autumn (September to early October).

Mexico and Panama have two seasons: dry and wet; the dry season lasts from mid-December until mid-April and the rainy season is from May to November. The Caribbean countries enjoy warm weather all year round with a few rainy spells in summer from May to November.

What is the best way to travel around North America?

After you book flights to North America, you may want to consider your travel options throughout the continent. If you wish to use public transport, the Amtrak rail and Greyhound Bus services will connect you throughout most states and regions of the United States, however, it can be lengthy in duration. Canada also has excellent urban and inter-regional rail services with Via Rail. A road trip is a great way to experience the changing landscapes in the freedom of your own vehicle and highway networks are very well connected in both Canada and the US. An easy and quick way for transit however in the US is to fly between states as prices are affordable and served by numerous domestic airlines including American, United and Delta airlines. You can find widespread and cheap bus services throughout all of Jamaica which connects all regions.

What are some things to do in North America?

If you intend to do a road trip when flying to North America, make sure to take in the legendary Route 66 in the US, especially the historic route and Arizona desert stretches. You may also want to visit some spectacular landscapes in Jamaica such as The Dunn's River Falls & Park or the Rocky Mountains of Western Canada. A visit to the Statue of Liberty in New York is a must or the Hollywood Hills of California.

What is good to know if travelling to North America?

• Visit the captivating Grand Canyon in the US, with the Grand Canyon Skywalk you can inspect it from a glass walkway, 21 metres from the canyon’s rim.
• If you’re a lover of the great outdoors then head to Canada’s British Columbia. Its snowcapped summits, rivers and forests, and quaint villages will leave you in awe.
• Take a trip to Mexico’s Calakmul Biosphere Reserve on the Yucatán Peninsula. Inside this 1.8 million-acre lush jungle you’ll find the walled city of Calakmul with a spectacular pyramid: the tallest in the Yucatán.
• In Cuba the Valle de los Ingenios can’t be missed. Scattered throughout the valley are 12 sugar mill ruins from the 19^th century and the Manaca Iznaga estate, a hacienda owned by Pedro Iznaga, a notorious slave trafficker.
• Reggae fans, or anyone visiting Jamaica, should head to the Nine Mile Museum in the village of Nine Mile, Bob Marley’s birthplace and resting place. The museum houses all sorts of paraphernalia including the inspirational Mt Zion Rock where he learned to play the guitar.
• The Hacienda Beuna Vista in Puerto Rico’s colonial city Ponce is well worth a visit. Built in 1833, it was once one of the most successful coffee, corn and citrus plantations on the island. There’s also a two-story-tall waterwheel, turned by water from the river.
• While visiting the Bahamas, take a break from the beach and walk along the trails leading to the pine trees, mangrove swamps and large caves of the Lucayan National Park.
• Watch sugar cane carefully transform into refined sugar at the Santa Rosa sugar refinery in Panama’s agricultural town, Aguadulce. The best time to go is during grinding season from the middle of January until the middle of March.
• Deep inside the rainforest in Trinidad and Tobago’s Northern Range is the Asa Wright Nature Center, a former cocoa and coffee plantation and home to a huge number of native mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and butterflies, as well as more than 2,200 species of flowering plants.
• Take a scenic drive past contrasting landscapes and coffee plantations up to Costa Rica’s Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal. Hike across the lava fields of the active Arenal Volcano or take a sunset boat tour around the Laguna de Arenal.

How long is the flight to North America?

Flights to North America can be found from Auckland Airport (AKL) in New Zealand to New York (JFK) Airport in North America with a flight duration of around 37-42h including a stopover in Dubai Airport (DXB). You can also find cheap flights to North America from Auckland to Montego Bay Sangster (MBJ) and Kingston Norman Manley (KIN) in Jamaica with durations between 43-57h, including stopovers in Singapore Changi (SIN) and London Heathrow (LHR) airports. Book flights to North America from Christchurch Airport (CHC) in New Zealand where you can find North America flight deals to Vancouver BC Airport (YVR) with North America airfare durations between 41-67h. There are no direct flights to North America from New Zealand airports to compare flights to North America.

What do I need to do before my flight to North America?

Before booking cheap flights to North America, check any necessary visa requirements you may need. An electronic travel authorisation (ESTA) is needed in most cases for the US and Canada, however, a visa is not necessary to travel to Jamaica for purposes of tourism up to 90 days. If you are planning on using internal flights in the US or Canada, LoungeBuddy is very good for booking one-off entry fees with no subscription charges. The Busbuddy app will be useful for bus travel in Jamaica and Uber is widespread in the United States so this app would also be convenient there, as well as Roadtrippers for navigation, and the Maven Car Rental app for good deals.