How to find cheap flights to anywhere with Explore

Do you ever get the sudden urge to pack your stuff and go somewhere? You could be bored at work or even coming off your last trip and BOOM!

You suddenly feel the need to know where in the world you can go. Enter KAYAK Explore – your tool for finding cheap flights when you don’t even have a particular destination in mind.

1. How to find cheap flights to anywhere using KAYAK Explore on desktop

This feature lets you browse cheap flight options around the map based on filters like budget, desired dates, or type of trip. Whether you’re looking for a weekend adventure or a multi-week journey, here’s how to find cheap flights to anywhere using our Explore tool.

– John Walton, independent aviation journalist –

Step 1: get on the map.

Start at our homepage, then head to the globe icon on the left-hand navigation bar where it says ‘Explore‘. You can also make it easy for yourself by copying and pasting kayak.co.uk/explore directly into your browser. Whatever works for you. Then, enter your preferred starting airport. If you have a KAYAK account, this part might already be filled in based on your account preferences. If you’re not setting out from home, go ahead and input in the airport or city into the first search field.

Step 2: play with the dates.

Next, you’ll want to skip over to the right and select the ‘Any time, Any duration‘ search field. This is where you figure out the length and timing of your trip. You can choose from a range of months or select ‘any time’ to see all the possible options. If you have exact dates in mind, switch to the second tab on this window and select your dates. You can also select the number of days you’d like to be away. The more flexibility you have, the more options you’ll reveal.

Step 3: experiment with filters.

Now it’s time to have some fun with Explore by utilising our search filters. Try all of them or none of them – it’s up to you. Just remember, the more specific you are about your trip, the more focused your results will be. Here are the 4 different filters that you can use to narrow down your flight results:

Stops: This is where you can narrow down your results based on the number of stops and flight duration. Select from direct flights, routes with single stopovers, or flights with any number of stops.

Budget: Trying to save on your next trip? This filter is for you. Slide the budget scale to see flights that are within your determined range.

Flight duration: Find a destination that’s not too far from home – just select the maximum length of time you’re willing to be in the air.

Type of trip: Sometimes we need to go on a certain type of trip. Whether you’re in need of some beach time or are seeking something romantic, you can narrow down your flight results based on one of these themes.

Step 4: search it up.

Time for the magical moment we’ve been waiting for – press ‘Apply filters‘ and voila! The map will automatically update with your chosen selections. Use the cursor or zoom tool to browse the map and find destinations around the country and the world.

If you’d prefer to sort your options based on price, scroll down past the map to see which flights we were able to find within the last 48 hours, arranged from least to most expensive.

Step 5: make your selection.

Choose whichever option suits you. By browsing the map, you’ll be able to see prices pinned to different locations. More of a list person? Scroll past the map, where you’ll find a list of destinations with trip information including price, travel dates, and location. Changed your mind? Modify your results by adjusting the filters on the left-hand side.

Once you’ve found something of interest, click on the destination. You’ll then be presented with the option to save this destination to your Wishlist, check for flight prices, or see direct flight options from various airlines. Depending on the location, you may also get a quick summary of your destination. The further you scroll down, the more information you can reveal such as data on flight trends.

If you’re flexible with your dates, this graph can help you find cheaper flights for the selected destination. You can also adjust the number of days you’re away to see how that affects the price. You may also find information about the top reasons to visit that location, must-see attractions, and ways to get around.

Ready to take the next step? Select ‘Check flight prices‘ on the right-hand side. You’ll then be directed to any fares we’ve found that match your search. From there, you can seal the deal and make your trip official, or set a Price Alert. That’s how it’s done, folks.

2. How to find cheap flights to anywhere using the KAYAK Explore map

Step 1: head to the app store.

If you don’t already have our app, hop over to the app store and download it because… well, duh. Once you’ve created a KAYAK account or have signed in, go to the icon on the bottom left where it says ‘Explore’. There, we’ll autofill your home airport. If you’re starting from somewhere else, no sweat – you always have the option to change the starting location for your search.

Step 2: use those filters.

At the very top of the window underneath your starting location, you’ll see 4 search filters. These filters function much like the ones that appear when you’re using Explore on your desktop. Here’s how you can use them to help narrow down your flight results:

Budget: Trying to save on your next trip? This filter is for you. Slide the budget scale to see flights that are within your ideal spending range.

Dates: If you have specific travel days in mind for your trip, you can enter them here. Otherwise, you can slide this scale to include the range of dates you’re willing to consider for your next trip. The more flexibility you have, the more results you’ll reveal.

Distance: Decide on the kind of flight you’d like to take based on direct routes, routes with one stop, or routes with any number of stops. This is also where you can determine the length of your flight – just select the maximum number of hours you’re willing to be in the air.

Themes: Sometimes you’re craving a certain type of trip. Whether you’re in need of some beach time, family time, or something a little more adventurous, this filter can help you find flights to destinations that are aligned with your preferred type of trip.

Step 3: check out the map.

Once you’ve played around with the filters, it’s time to make your way around the map. Zoom in and out to see prices pinned to different locations and browse destinations across Europe and around the globe.

If you’d prefer to sort your options based on price, select the button at the bottom of the screen that says ‘List view‘. There you will see which flights we were able to find within the last 48 hours, arranged by country. Want to see more results? Hit ‘Map view‘, zoom out, then switch back to the list. The more zoomed out you are, the more options you’ll have. Be sure to move around the map, too – this is how you’ll find options for other regions.

Step 4: shop around.

When you’ve found something of interest on the map, select the pinned price and swipe up. First, you’ll be presented with information about the destination, such as where the destination is located, proposed travel dates, and an option to add the destination to your Wishlist by tapping the heart icon in the right-hand corner.

Further down, you’ll see the cheapest flight prices we could find for this particular destination in the last 48 hours. If you hit ‘See flights‘, this will launch into a search to see all your options for the cheapest travel dates we suggested. You’ll also see a bell icon in the right-hand corner of the destination image – use this to create a Price Alert, in case you’re not ready to commit to booking just yet.

Keep scrolling and you’ll find a bar graph with details about average flight prices by month. Switch over to the right-hand tab – here’s where you can find weather information for this destination, including average monthly temperatures and precipitation. Curious how these stats compare to the rest of the year? Swipe left to get more data about average flight costs and weather throughout the year.

Not 100% sold on when to take your trip? Scroll down even more and you’ll be able to toggle the days of the week you’d like to travel and the length of your trip. Here, you can also adjust the number of days you’re away to see how that affects the price. You can also see how travelling on certain days of the week can make your flights more or less expensive. Be sure to check the ‘Nonstop only‘ box if you’re not willing to make any stops along the way.

Now that you’ve reached the bottom of the page, you have a couple of choices. One: you can select ‘see more dates’ to have a look at other cheap options that are out there for this destination. Two: you can select ‘Find more flights‘ to start a flight search for this destination. Three: you can swipe through the ‘Popular stays‘ section to get inspo for where to stay at this destination. Or four: you can launch a search for more possible stays at this destination. Want to go back to the map? Swipe down to get back to where you left off.

Step 5: make it official.

Found ‘the one’ – i.e. your next holiday destination? Tap the destination picture or ‘See flights‘ to start scrolling through all your possible cheap flight options on our site. From there, you can seal the deal and make your trip official, or set a Price Alert. Consider your wanderlust cured… for now.

– Luciana Bellini, travel writer –

The post How to find cheap flights to anywhere with Explore appeared first on KAYAK Blog UK.