Rio de Janeiro in $500s-$510s RT

Visions of sugarplums might be dancing in our heads, but down in Rio, the samba is bumping, the sun is sweltering, and all the summery celebrations loom on the horizon.

It's been a hot second since Chicago saw a great peak season fare like this, but it's even rarer for Houston — y'all have never once had a deal to Rio at all, and now you're getting a sweet summer bargain. There are even a few solid options from Hobby Airport, for our South Houston friends.

Fair warning: These are the busiest months in Rio, so you might want to come prepared with some off-the-tourist-track ideas in case the crowds at Ipanema get a bit too overwhelming. We've heard Prainha, a gorgeous little beach far from the main rush, tends to be much quieter and more local.

But you didn't hear it from us :-)