5 Best Websites for Finding Cheap Flights Without A Specific Destination
This post has been updated as of October 2023
Let’s face it, we’ve all had those moments where we just want to get the heck out of dodge. Just say “Screw it!” pack our bags, book the cheapest one-way ticket to the middle of west Podunk nowhere, change our names, and start anew.
Ok, maybe that’s a bit dramatic.
Perhaps you’ve wanted to just book a flight to some random, far away beautiful place, because, why not; but your bank account was more like, “Mmmm…how about you take a stroll to the park instead?” Trust me, I’ve been there, felt that. Given that, I am absolutely one of those people that lets price dictate my travels instead of the destination. I LIVE for a good deal! A $69 flight to the Islands of Vanuatu? Never heard of it, but sign me up!
However, all too often airfare search engines want you to be decisive (which I’m not), and select your destination. Womp womp. If you like a little randomness and you’re balling on a budget, like me, then this is not ideal. So, for all my wanderlusting, budget traveling, kindred spirits out there, this post will tell you all about the best websites for finding cheap flights without a specific destination.
1. Skyscanner
Skyscanner cheap flights without a specific destination
This is ALWAYS my first stop when booking any flight, ever! I don’t want to say that Skyscanner is the end all to be all, but it is pretty darn close! Not only does Skyscanner often have the cheapest prices, but also it shows smaller budget airlines (which many search engines don’t), AND it allows you total flexibility. You want to book a trip, but don’t have a destination in mind? No problem. No specific dates for your trip? Even better. You want to search the cheapest month to fly? They’ve got you covered. To find cheap flights to any city just enter your departure city, and enter or select ‘Everywhere’ in the “To” field. You can choose specific dates, or if you’re completely flexible, search the cheapest months.
Results from Skyscanner search New York to Everywhere in August
Skyscanner’s interactive tool allows you to view your results in calendar format (which I love, because you can see the price of flights for each day), or in a chart format.
Calendar view results from Skyscanner search New York to Everywhere in August
There is also a free app available that allows you to set alerts for whenever the price changes for your flight.
***Note: Skyscanner is an airfare search engine and NOT the actual booking site. Which means, once you select your flight you will be redirected to the actual booking/airline site. Given this, the prices may vary from your initial search, as airfare prices can fluctuate at any given moment.
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2. Kiwi.com
“Book cheap flights other sites simply can’t find” — is what Kiwi.com is all about. I love this site because while they, hack the system so you can fly less they also provide resources to help you hack your way to cheaper travel yourself. Kiwi makes it super simple with easy-to-follow videos, unique search options, and customizable filters. Ready to book your cheap flight? Enter your “From” city and in the “To” field, click the drop down and select “Not sure where to travel next?”. If you’re not sure of your dates, you can even select “Anytime” for true flexibility.
Kiwi will populate popular round trip flights around the world for you to browse through or you can explore trending destinations on the Explore Map. Once you’ve found a city that interests you, select the card or location on the map and Kiwi will show you the list of prices based on the best deal, cheapest price, and fastest routes, based on the cheapest dates (if you have not selected your dates).
One thing to be aware of when booking cheap flights with Kiwi is that flight options may include things like self-transfer, where it is your responsibility to transfer between flights, checking in again and going through security again. Flight options may also include things like hidden-city fares (keep reading as I’ll get into that a little later with another booking site).
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3. Kayak.com
Kayak.com is something kinda wonderful. Although you may not have a clue where you want to go, they’ve generated some amazing tools that may point you in the right direction. For example, you can explore your options with the Anywhere search feature to find a cheap last-minute flight. Simply start by entering your departure city, and in the Destination field you can choose from an array of options or “Can’t decide where to go”. Next, select your dates; you can choose between specific dates, weekend, or month where you can enter a range of how many nights you would like to travel.
What I love about Kayak is how straightforward and convenient everything is. There is a sliders where you can adjust your budget and the duration of the trip, and you to narrow things down even further, you can select from a range of options the type of trip you are interested in; i.e. city, beach, family, outdoorsy, etc.
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4. Skiplagged
Skiplagged is known for its “Hidden City Ticketing”. Not sure what that is? Basically, you book a flight with a layover as your target destination, and get off at said destination instead of flying the complete route. For example, booking a flight from New York to Miami, with a layover in Atlanta (your target destination). Instead of flying all the way to Miami, you just hop off in Atlanta. Skiplagged shows these hidden city deals. But, there are risks and inconveniences with this method. You can only book one way, or you risk your return flight being cancelled due to various reasons, and you can’t check a bag because it will be transferred to the final destination (Miami, in this scenario). With that being said, book these types of flights at your own risk.
So, why am I listing Skiplagged here? Because they also offer standard flights, without hidden cities. You can still find cheap flights without a specific destination.
How does it work?
Enter your city of origin, leave the destination blank, enter your dates of travel, and then click Search. Below, a grid of cheap flights will appear, ranking the listings by price. Select a city. A list of flights will appear. To make sure you are viewing “Standard” flights only, unclick the “Hidden-City” option in the right side bar. Also, in that sidebar you will find various options to tailor your needs and preferences.
Results from Skiplagged search for New York to Anywhere
Select options/preferences in right side bar
Note: Skiplagged is not a booking site. You will be redirected to the actual booking/airline site to purchase your tickets.
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5. Google Flights, Explore Destination
Google Flights is another great tool for finding cheap flights without a specific destination. Simply plug in your departure city and dates if you have them. If you’re more flexible you can choose a specific month or time frame; for example, 1 week, 2 weeks, or even just a weekend getaway and Google flights will find the best fares for you.
Google Flights search Bangkok to Anywhere
Results from Google Flights search Bangkok to Anywhere
Use the Explore Destinations map to compare prices from city to city, and if you’re feeling really adventurous click the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button and let Google choose your destination for you based on your previous searches and what’s popular.
Google Flights, Explore Destination interactive map
***Note: Google Flights is not a booking site. You will be redirected to the actual booking/airline site to purchase your tickets.
Honorable Mention
Airfare Watchdog
Airfarewatchdog.com
I love Airfare Watchdog because they’re usually one of the first ones on the scene for a great flight deal (like the $187 deal I nabbed from New York to Abu Dhabi. Click Here to see how I did it). However, as noteworthy as they are, I’m only giving them an honorable mention because this site is only for those departing in the U.S. and Canada. Want to find cheap flights? Just enter your city of departure and dates and Airfarewatch Dog generates a list of cheapest cities to fly to. You can also search by Fares from a City and Popular Destinations.
Results from Airfare Watchdog search Atlanta to Anywhere
So, the next time you feel like skipping town, but don’t know where to go, bookmark and refer back to this list of amazing sites that will help you find cheap flights without a specific destination in mind
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