The warmer and longer days make August one of the busiest times of the year for traveling, but it also makes it one of the priciest.  For some tourists, it’s a time to squeeze in last minute vacations before school starts, and for others, it’s a great time to visit some colder places experiencing milder temperatures. Even though August is deemed as a peak travel month, there are still some affordable places to visit if you’re looking for a last-minute vacation before fall rolls around.

 

Costa Rica

 

Costa Rica is considered one of the happiest places on earth. In fact, for the third year in a row, Happy Planet Index has ranked Costa Rica among the happiest places to live because residents have a better quality of life than residents of rich nations.

 

If you’re looking to absorb that good energy, American Airlines has tickets priced as low as $363 from the Washington D.C. area and Google Flights has round-trip flights priced even lower from Houston later this month.

 

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Ireland

 

With the hot and humid temperatures across the country, Ireland is a great place to escape the summer heat. With temperatures averaging 62 degrees, August is considered one of the country’s warmest months, making it easy to explore without being too hot or too cold. If you’re not sold on the weather, another reason to consider Ireland this August is to enjoy up to 15 hours of daylight this month.

 

Ready to take flight? Wow has flights from $490 round-trip from New York and $500 from Chicago.

 

 

Thailand

 

From its beaches, temples, and good food, Thailand is a top destination for tourists looking for a change of pace. August marks the high rainy season in Thailand, which means low season in tourism. If you don’t mind a little rain, August is the perfect time to see the best of Thailand while avoiding heavy crowds due to travel. AirChina has deals from Los Angeles and New York for as low as $485 round-trip!