Hey Colada crew,
This week it's all about cold-weather fun: $38 to Columbus the weekend German Village lights up, $92 to Boston for a late-January week that starts with Jaylen Brown's return to TD Garden, and a Denver week built around the Dolphins playing the Broncos.
Plus: American just put more than a million award seats on sale, and it ends Wednesday night. It's really hard to tell from the sale page where the good ones are, so we searched AA.com from MIA ourselves and found the 5 best, starting at 7,000 miles each way. Jump to the award deals ↓
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This week's deals
Columbus for German Village lights: $38 round trip
Sat Dec 5 – Sat Dec 12 · FLL–CMH · Frontier nonstop · about 3 hr
This is the deal of the week. Google says this trip usually runs $135–345, so $38 is about 79% off. It's a week in early December before holiday fares climb, so it works for a family visit in Ohio or a cozy cold-weather getaway. Frontier's lowest fares don't include a carry-on, so budget for bags.
What we'd do
Village Lights: On Sunday, Dec 6, thousands of lights line the brick streets of German Village, with live music from Opera Columbus, shops open late and free admission, per Experience Columbus.
Wildlights: The Columbus Zoo's holiday lights run Nov 20 – Jan 3, 5 – 9 pm (10 pm Fri and Sat), with a new Starlight Safari and LEGO builds in Bricktopia. It's included with zoo admission, per the Columbus Zoo.
Hanukkah: You're there for almost all of it. Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown Fri Dec 4 and ends at nightfall Sat Dec 12, per Universal Time Date.
Blue Jackets: The Jackets host the Minnesota Wild Thu Dec 10 at 7 pm at Nationwide Arena, per TickPick.
Where to stay (Trip.com, per night)
Hilton Columbus Downtown: $264, rated 9.6, across from the convention center and a short walk to Nationwide Arena
Graduate by Hilton Columbus: $185, rated 9.0, in the Short North
The Westin Great Southern Columbus: $159, rated 8.0, a historic downtown hotel a short ride from German Village
SpringHill Suites Columbus OSU: $110, rated 9.2, near Ohio State
Boston for Jaylen Brown's return: $92 round trip
Thu Jan 21 – Sat Jan 30 · FLL–BOS · Allegiant nonstop · about 3.5 hr
This trip usually runs $95–260, so $92 is a low fare for late January. It's a week of real winter for anyone with family in New England, or anyone who just wants to see snow.
What we'd do
Celtics: You land the day the 76ers and Lebron James come to TD Garden, Thu Jan 21, Jaylen Brown's first game back in Boston, per NBC Sports Boston. The Celtics also host the Clippers Wed Jan 27 at 7:30 pm, per TickPick.
Frog Pond: Skate on Boston Common with views of the State House, then warm up with French hot chocolate at Thinking Cup, per New England With Love.
Boston Public Library: It's free to explore, from the Bates Hall reading room to daily art and architecture tours, per the same guide.
Where to stay (Trip.com, per night)
Hotel Commonwealth: $197, rated 9.4, in Kenmore Square by Fenway
The Dagny Boston: $144, rated 9.2, downtown
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston - Downtown: $143, rated 8.9, in the Theater District
Cambria Hotels Boston Downtown - Seaport: $133, rated 8.7, in the Seaport
Denver for Dolphins at Broncos: $205 round trip
Fri Dec 4 – Fri Dec 11 · MIA–DEN · Frontier nonstop · about 5 hr
This one was $103 on Friday and it's back up to $205, but that's still near the low end of the $180–350 Google says this trip usually runs. The timing is the fun part: the Dolphins play in Denver that Sunday, and the ski mountains are already open for the season.
What we'd do
Dolphins at Broncos: Sun Dec 6, 2:05 pm MT at Empower Field at Mile High. Pack a real coat and some hot hands.
Ski day: Breckenridge opens Nov 6 and Vail Nov 13 for the 2026–27 season. Both are about a two-hour drive from Denver.
Blossoms of Light: Denver Botanic Gardens' holiday lights run Nov 20 – Jan 10, 4:30 – 9 pm, with timed tickets, per Uncover Colorado. For more ideas, Denver local Meg Atteberry keeps a great list of winter things to do in Denver on her blog.
Where to stay (Trip.com, per night)
The Rally Hotel at McGregor Square: $299, rated 9.5, next to Coors Field and Union Station, the splurge
The Maven Hotel at Dairy Block: $210, rated 9.3, steps from Union Station
Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver: $182, rated 8.8, downtown
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Denver: $91, rated 8.3, the budget pick
Got AAdvantage miles? The 5 best award deals from MIA
If you've looked at American's winter award sale, you know how hard it is to figure out where the deals are actually hiding. So we did the legwork: we searched AA.com from MIA this morning, date by date, and found the 5 best. The sale ends Wednesday night (12:59 a.m. ET Thursday, Nov 12) and covers travel Jan 11 – Feb 28. Prices are one-way in economy, plus about $5.60 in taxes.
Chicago (ORD): 7,000 miles, nonstop. 7K every day we checked from Jan 22 to Feb 3, with several nonstops a day. Our top pick.
San Juan (SJU): 8,000 miles, nonstop. The 6 and 7 a.m. nonstops are 8K on most dates from Jan 29 to Feb 8, but skip Feb 1 and 5, which cost more. The warm-weather pick, and no passport needed.
New York (LGA): 8,000 miles, nonstop. Lots of morning nonstops Feb 6 – 18, which covers Presidents' Day weekend. Feb 15 is the exception at 10,500.
Philadelphia (PHL): 8,000 miles, nonstop. 8K every day from Jan 16 to Jan 28, with nonstops all day.
Las Vegas (LAS): 8,000 miles, 1 stop. 8K nearly every day from Feb 1 to Feb 13 with one connection. The nonstop is 11,500 and up.
We only checked flights out of Miami, and return flights can cost more, so search your way home before you book. Award seats go fast once a sale like this gets attention.
Want the details? Our full guide has the exact flight times, what we skipped and where to stay in San Juan and Vegas: read the AA award sale guide.
More fares we spotted
DC / Baltimore weekend: $68 round trip, Thu Dec 3 – Mon Dec 7, MIA–BWI, Frontier nonstop
Pittsburgh: $92 round trip, Sat Jan 16 – Mon Jan 25, FLL–PIT, Allegiant nonstop
Not record lows, but solid prices if you've been meaning to get up there.
Got family in Ohio, Colorado or New England? Forward this. Your next visit just got a lot cheaper.
New here? Get deals like these every Tuesday: coladaflightdeals.com/subscribe
Even paradise needs a getaway.
Prices checked Nov 9 and can change fast. Some links earn Colada a small commission at no cost to you.