Travel
July on the Fly: The Quick and Dirty on Non-Stop Flights to the Caribbean
We've rounded up 11 sunny spots, each easier and cheaper to reach from Houston than you may think.
An aerial view of the Great Blue Hole off the coast of Belize
Image: Shutterstock
Still haven’t planned that summer vacation you meant to book months ago? Don’t worry—there’s still time, and you’ve come to the right place. IAH and Hobby have multiple direct flights to the Caribbean, and we've done the digging to show you what’s out there for a last minute July vacation.
Below, 11 sunny spots you can easily reach without the hassle of changing planes—because you don't want travel time to cut into that valuable island time:
Belize City, Belize (BZE)
Flight time: 2h 25m
It’s hard to plan a last-minute trip without breaking the bank, but if you’ve got the Caribbean on your mind, Belize will likely be your best bet. With round trip fares around $357* on Southwest, a trip from Hobby down to Belize will not only be your cheapest option, but also one of the quickest.
Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ)
Flight time: 3h 20m
Likely to be your second cheapest option, this flight takes you a little further away from home. Choose either IAH or Hobby for flights down to Jamaica with round trip tickets starting at $384 on United and $500 on Southwest—but remember bags fly free courtesy of SWA.
San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)
Flight time: 4h 30m
Southwest and United tag-team it down to this Caribbean culture spot as well. Fares start around $449 to San Juan and leave from both airports daily.
Pretty pastel houses on the water in Nassau, Bahamas
Image: Shutterstock
Nassau, Bahamas (NAS)
Flight time: 3h
Leave any day of the week for about the same price on a United flight to Nassau. Round trip fares start at $537 and rarely spike above $600.
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (GCM)
Flight time: 3h
Unlike most island destinations, your cheapest flight options for Grand Cayman depart just before—and on—the weekends—making it an ideal weekend getaway. With prices starting at $497 on United, make sure you plan your trip for early in July. Non-stop flights from Houston to GCM get harder to come by beginning July 23.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ)
Flight time: 4h 20m
Another spot you’ll want to try and get to early in July. Non-stop flights to Punta Cana start to decrease Monday, July 24. Round trip rates start around $617.
Dazzling blue waters surround Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
Image: Shutterstock
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (POS)
Flight time: 5h 40m
This IAH non-stop flight gets you almost to South America. Head down to Trinidad and Tobago for around $517 round trip on United.
Aruba, Dutch Varibbean (AUA)
Flight time: 4h 40m
The only non-stop flight to get down to Aruba leaves on Saturdays. Both United and Southwest will take you down there with round trip fare starting at $536.
Havana, Cuba (HAV)
Flight time: 2h 35m
If you’re hoping to get to Cuba before the rest of the world, you’re in luck that you’re a Houstonian. United offers round trip flights on Saturdays at around $554 a pop.
The sun sets over Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.
Image: Shutterstock
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (PLS)
Flight time: 3h 45m
Another spot you’ll have to stay for a least a week—oh darn. United only offers flights to Turks and Caicos on Saturdays with round trip tickets starting at $604.
Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (STT)
Flight time: 4h 50m
You might want to stay away from making St. Thomas your weekend getaway. Flights start at $578 some days during the week, but come Friday and Saturday round trip fares start to creep up into the thousands.
*all flight prices as of day of publication
