Compare Cancun flights

Cancún has something of a double life: on the one hand, it's an upscale coastal resort on Mexico's Yucatán peninsula; on the other, it's a magnet for hard-partying US (and sometimes British) college kids. That wide appeal might explain why flights to Cancún are so easy to find, and why you can pick up some pretty cheap direct ones.

In fact, you can sometimes fly to Cancún for only a little more than it would cost you to reach some of Europe's big beach destinations. With white sand beaches, turquoise waters, great scuba diving and – yes – plenty of lively bars awaiting you, that's a pretty appealing prospect.

The cheapest flights to Cancún tend to come between September and November, when temperatures are high but the weather can be rainy. If you're looking for the best value, that comes in spring – flights are slightly more expensive, but not much, and the weather is better.

That said, bear in mind US college spring breaks fall in February, March and April, and that brings the party crowds into town. If that's not your thing, May and June flights are good buys. Unfortunately, you'll pay much more if you want to fly during the UK school summer holidays. For the best Cancún flight prices, the times to avoid are Christmas, mid-July and August.

In some cases, you can save money by choosing an indirect flight over a direct one – for instance, flying out of Manchester on a direct flight, and back with Eurowings via Dusseldorf. From London, direct flights are often cheaper, but options like Air Canada via Montreal or Swiss via Zurich can be worth a look.