10 International Trips Under $500 from NYC and Miami (2026)

A night out in Manhattan costs $150. A weekend in the Hamptons costs $800. A trip to Colombia costs $500.

The math makes no sense until you do it. Then you realize: international travel from the East Coast is cheaper than most domestic options. Here are 10 trips that cost less than $500 total — flights, hotel, food, everything.

From NYC

1. Santo Domingo, DR — $380–480 total (3 nights)

• Flight: $180–250 RT (JetBlue/Spirit)
• Accommodation: $30–45/night ($90–135 total)
• Food: $15–20/day ($45–60)
• Activities: $20–30
• The move: Zona Colonial, Malecón at sunset, merengue clubs

2. San Juan, Puerto Rico — $350–450 total (3 nights)

• Flight: $150–220 RT (no passport needed)
• Accommodation: $40–60/night ($120–180)
• Food: $20–25/day ($60–75)
• Activities: Free–$20
• The move: Old San Juan, Piñones beach + food stalls, El Yunque

3. Cancún, Mexico — $400–500 total (3 nights)

• Flight: $200–280 RT
• Accommodation: $25–40/night ($75–120)
• Food: $15–20/day ($45–60)
• Activities: $20–40
• The move: Skip Hotel Zone. Isla Mujeres ($15 ferry), cenote swimming, downtown tacos

4. Reykjavik, Iceland — $420–500 total (2 nights)

• Flight: $250–350 RT (PLAY Airlines)
• Accommodation: $50–60/night ($100–120)
• Activities: $30–50 (Golden Circle self-drive is free with rental)
• Food: $25–30/day ($50–60 — groceries, not restaurants)
• The move: Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, Northern Lights (Sep–Mar)

5. Medellín, Colombia — $450–500 total (4 nights)

• Flight: $250–320 RT (Spirit)
• Accommodation: $20–30/night ($80–120)
• Food: $12–18/day ($48–72)
• Activities: $20–30
• The move: Comuna 13, Laureles nightlife, coffee farm day trip

From Miami

6. Nassau, Bahamas — $300–400 total (2 nights)

• Flight: $130–200 RT (45 min flight!)
• Accommodation: $50–70/night ($100–140)
• Food: $25–30/day ($50–60)
• Activities: Free–$15
• The move: Fish Fry on Arawak Cay, Rose Island beach, snorkeling

7. Havana, Cuba — $350–450 total (3 nights)

• Flight: $150–220 RT (1 hour)
• Accommodation: $25–40/night casa particular ($75–120)
• Food: $15–20/day ($45–60)
• Activities: $10–20
• The move: Walk the Malecón, Fábrica de Arte Cubano, Old Havana, vintage cars

8. Cartagena, Colombia — $450–500 total (3 nights)

• Flight: $250–320 RT
• Accommodation: $25–40/night ($75–120)
• Food: $15–20/day ($45–60)
• Activities: $25–40 (Rosario Islands boat trip)
• The move: Walled city walk, Getsemaní street art, Café Havana live salsa

9. Guatemala City → Antigua — $400–480 total (3 nights)

• Flight: $200–280 RT
• Accommodation: $20–35/night Antigua ($60–105)
• Food: $12–15/day ($36–45)
• Activities: $20–30 (volcano hike, coffee plantation)
• The move: Antigua's cobblestone streets, Pacaya volcano, Lake Atitlán day trip

10. Kingston, Jamaica — $380–480 total (3 nights)

• Flight: $180–260 RT (1.5 hours)
• Accommodation: $35–50/night ($105–150)
• Food: $15–20/day ($45–60)
• Activities: $10–20
• The move: Bob Marley Museum, jerk chicken at Scotchies, Blue Mountains coffee

The Pattern

Every trip follows the same formula:

1. Cheap flight to a country where the dollar is strong
2. Local accommodation (not resort, not Hilton)
3. Street food + local restaurants (not tourist restaurants)
4. Free or cheap activities (walking, beaches, markets, parks)
5. One splurge (a nice dinner, a day trip, a unique experience)

The $500 budget isn't about deprivation. It's about spending smart in places where $500 goes 3–5x further than at home.

The Upgrade That Costs $25

Book a Local Friend on Roavi for a few hours on your first day. For $20–30/hr, they compress days of research into one walk. They take you to the restaurant you'd never find, the bar with no sign, the viewpoint tourists miss.

In a $500 trip, that $50–75 for a Local Friend is the highest-ROI spending you'll do.

Browse Local Friends on Roavi in every destination above.