Our travel picks: The best places to visit in August

Like all summer months, August is a busy time for travel. In Europe, cities like Paris can be so crowded with tourists that locals take off on their own vacations for the month. And with legions of Canadian families looking to get in a summer getaway before sending the kids back to school and returning to a rigorous autumn schedule, prices to popular destinations can be high. Enter Cheapflights.ca. We’ve crunched the data, done the research and identified a handful of the best destinations to visit in August or later. Whether you’re looking to get ahead of the crowds, get the best price, the best weather, or a bit of both, read on to find out where you should be travelling to in August. And if you’re looking to book in August, we’ve thrown a bonus spot in there for you, too.

For budget travellers: Tampa, Florida

It’s an unwritten rule than vacations taken in August should result in a nice, even tan. And where better to catch some rays than in a beachside city in the Sunshine State? August is Tampa’s warmest month, with temperatures ranging from the mid-20s to mid-30s Celsius. And airfare prices for August are equally appealing. With airfare from Canada to Tampa down 12 per cent over the average price, August is the single most affordable month to travel to the city. While you’re there, visit the nearby beaches of Fort De Soto Park, Clearwater Beach and Caladesi Island State Park, each of which is often cited as among the country’s nicest beaches. And when you’ve had enough of the sun and heat, cool off with one of the Bay area’s craft beers at Tampa Bay Brewing.

For weather watchers: Lima, Peru

If the idea of sizzling in the sun with a mindless beach read isn’t cutting it for you, turn your sites south to the milder warm and richer culture of Lima, Peru. August temperatures in this seaside city are generally in the mid to upper teens, Celsius, making it a warm and popular time to visit. Lima offers a little bit of everything: museums, commanding architecture and outdoor activities like going for a hike or to the beach. And, with August prices down six per cent from the average price, late summer is a great time to go. Since you’re making the trip all the way to Peru, hop on a quick flight from Lima to nearby Cuzco to check out Machu Picchu. At these prices, it’s a bucket list bargain.

For the best of both: San Diego, California, U.S.

Looking for both a nice even tan and a cultural vacation? Split the difference with a trip to San Diego, California. This surfer city sees peak traveller numbers in July, so August is the perfect month to catch great weather, fewer crowds and, with airfare down seven per cent from the average price, a great deal on flights. There are dozens of events keeping both locals and visitors busy in San Diego in August: everything from the Oceanside International Film Festival (running from August 7-14) and the Farm to Bay Food & Wine Classic (August 6) to the San Diego Zoo Summer Safari Festival (running from mid-June through August 14) and the Annual World Bodysurfing Championship (August 20-21).

For trendsetters: Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei, Taiwan, might not be a traditional summer vacation destination, but it it’s an increasingly popular one. We are seeing a big spike in searches for travel to Taipei for August. And there’s certainly plenty of reasons to use your August break to explore this corner of Asia. A variety of festivals and celebrations will keep you occupied during your visit. The Riverside Festival (from mid-June through August 26) brings events like concerts to the river banks every Saturday through the end of August, the Water Festival (from the beginning of July through the end of August) aims to raise awareness of the importance of health, ecosystems, arts and humanities through water-friendly activities, and the Guandu Flower Festival transforms the Guandu Plain — a popular area for bird watching — into an artful floral landscape to promote lifestyles of health and sustainability.

For advanced planners: Autumn in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Even though summer has barely begun, it might already be a good time to set your sights on autumn travel (or at least to begin thinking about it). Allow us to recommend Halifax in October. Book your flights in the last week of August for a mid-October trip to Halifax to score the lowest airfare of the year, on average. October brings lovely autumn foliage but fewer visiting crowds to Halifax, and with pleasant, mild weather, it can be a great pre-Halloween treat.

Want to find out our picks for months other than August? Check out June, July and September. Where will you be heading to this summer? Let us know in the comments below.