It’s been frustrating this summer trying to find affordable tickets to southeast Asia. We were so spoiled last year with abundant rates in the $600′s to tropical cities such as Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh and Bangkok. We even found $588 to Manila from San Francisco.

Gone are those days. In 2010 you’re lucky if you can fly to southeast Asia for under $1,000. So when we see prices under $900, we have to mention them.

Below is Los Angeles to Bangkok for $877 on China Southern Airlines for travel next March. Try dates from September through March to Thailand (from the West Coast), before the temperatures in Siam start sizzling.

Go!

Fly non-stop from Los Angeles to Moscow for only $668 next May on Aeroflot.

Flights from San Francisco and Seattle are in the low $700′s.

Search!

Photo by Neiljs and displayed in accordance with CC.

With a just released Associated Press report detailing that domestic airfares in Q1 are up 5% over last year, it is only a matter of time until the same is reported about international airfares. Read more.

With that said, it’s been harder to find cheap rates to Asia these days. In 2009 it was commonplace to see prices in the $500′s to Japan, Philippines and Vietnam. However, that’s nearly impossible this year.

Flights to Seoul on China Air are in the low-800′s for November and mid-$800′s for October travel. It’s pretty wide open. We actually found the cheapest fare on Vayama. Air China’s website was slightly more expensive.

Search!

Mexicana has a Independence Day Sale running through July 7th. Fly to Cancun from $234 and Puerto Vallarta from $198 USD.

We just found San Francisco to Cancun (below) for $258 on Orbitz.

To book, visit here!

During the month of August you can fly non-stop from Los Angeles to Sydney (Australia) for $670 round-trip.

This flight is available on V Australia. Additional cities such as Melbourne and Brisbane are below $700 as well.

These low rates are available for most of August. For September travel, flights cost slightly more and from October on, they jump significantly. So, to maximize savings to Australia, August and September are your best months to travel in 2010.

This fare was found today on Sprit.com. Only $312 round-trip to Bogota from New York! We’re seeing this fare for August through November travel. Search here.

The perception that Colombia is cartel infested and kidnap prone is overstated according to many American tourists who’ve visited recently.

Apparently, even Medellin has undergone dramatic transformations and become a safe, stable and fascinating destination.

The ghost of Pablo Escobar still tarnishes the image of Colombia, but apparently that’s all it is…just a ghost.

Please read “Coming Attractions: Columbia” by Brenda Yun to help ease your fears.

Are you planning on visiting the northern part of South America? Hugo Chavez’s political restructuring of Venezuela and occasional backhanded comments about America has opened the door to nearby Columbia and Ecuador as better options for some. And, Ecuador is gladly accepting the American tourist dollar.

In case you need a refresher, Ecuador is home to the snow-capped Andes, historic town of Cuenca and critter crawly Galapagos Islands. It is within striking distance of Peru’s Machu Picchu, as well.

Currently, Avianca Airlines is offering airfare from Los Angeles to Quito and Guayaquil for $363 and $365, respectively. Travel from July through October.

Bien Viaje!

During the month of July, flights from Los Angeles to Honolulu are only $261 (round-trip) on Delta Airlines. These are non-stop flights as well.

These low rates only exist for the month of July. In August, prices balloon back up to $442 and then level off at $352 in the middle of that month. They remain at $352 through late November when they spike again to gouge Thanksgiving travelers!

Visit Delta.com to book.

This late October flight to Denmark from Los Angeles may be too good to pass up.

Even if Copenhagen isn’t your final destination, discount carriers AirBerlin and EasyJet can cheaply whisk you to other European cities.

Good luck!

Fly on Delta in early September from Los Angeles (LAX) to Melbourne (MEL) for only $685 round-trip.

Due to their Southern Hemisphere location, early September will be the end of their winter season. While it may still be a chilly, it is a great opportunity to visit Australia for a bargain basement rate.

Also, once in Melbourne you can hop on one of these three discount carriers, Jet Airways, Jet Star or Virgin Blue, to explore the rest of Australia, or even New Zealand and Singapore at cheap rates.