Why 2024 Might Be The Best Time To Book A Mexico Vacation

If a Mexican getaway has been on your bucket list for a while, you're in luck: 2024 is set to become one of the best years for travel to the Latin American country, especially if you're on a budget. According to Yahoo! Finance, Mexico was one of the top destinations among American travelers in 2023. However, airfare to Mexico also saw some of the highest price increases between 2022 and 2023, at 40%. Thankfully, that's all about to change just in time for 2024.

First, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration announced in September that it had returned Mexico's aviation safety rating to Category 1 status — the highest rating — after downgrading it to Category 2 in 2021. With this status, Mexico is allowed to add new routes to and from the U.S., giving American travelers more flights to choose from. The change is expected to drive up competition and allow more budget airlines to start selling tickets, potentially translating to major savings for tourists.

The Mexican government and airport operators also reached a deal in October to adjust operation fees, Bloomberg reported. This update is expected to cut airfare by up to 12%, according to Miguel Vallin, the head of the Federal Civil Aviation Agency, and will go into effect in January.

With fee reductions and competitive pricing set to take place, 2024 could be the perfect time to visit Mexico — the only issue is narrowing down where to go. If you're eager to find the best flight deals, Cancun Sun notes that several new routes to Mérida, Yucatán, are expected to be added to flight tables soon, meaning flights to the city may come at a bargain. Moreover, Travel Lemming ranked Yucatán as its top spot to visit in 2024, when the state's Maya Train is set to open.

Tulum is another Mexican city to keep an eye on when looking for flight deals. Previously, travelers were forced to fly into a neighboring city, such as Cancun, and then drive to Tulum. In 2024, however, visitors will be able to book flights directly to Felipe Carrillo Puerto Airport, Tulum's first international airport. According to the airport's website, the site is still under construction but is expected to open by the end of 2023.