For budget-minded travelers, fall is primetime for deals, as airfare historically drops 10% compared to the summer months.3 For many destinations, it’s “shoulder season,” the sweet spot between tourist high season and seasonal low season when the weather is nice, the crowds have dispersed, and hotel rates are more wallet friendly. Tips and trends from Expedia’s Fall Travel Outlook include:
- Top fall destinations for U.S. travelers include Las Vegas, Cancun and Paris, while Indianapolis (+120%), Cape May (+60%), Tulum (+70%) and Mallorca (+70%) are among the season’s top trending hotspots.2
- For the best deals, domestic travelers should target the week of Sept. 3, when average ticket prices (ATPs) are nearly $100 cheaper than during the peak of summer. Meanwhile, international ATPs are nearly $260 lower the week of Oct. 20 versus summer.3
- Honolulu, Seattle, London and Dublin are some of the destinations seeing a 15% or more drop in average ticket prices for fall compared to summer, offering travelers significant shoulder season savings.3
- Japan and New York City are top destinations this fall. See the best the season has to offer by exploring leaf-peeping paradises like Yamaguchi, Japan, a hidden gem just a few hours from Tokyo, and Hudson Valley, New York, a quiet escape outside bustling NYC.
“During the spring, the top destination was driven by the solar eclipse, and this fall it’s another force of nature – the bucket list ‘Eras Tour,’” says Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group Brands public relations. “Regardless of the destination, fall is a fantastic time to travel and there’s still time to plan a getaway. The week following Labor Day is the best time for domestic airfare deals, while Oct. 20 is the best for international trips – and for the start of leaf-peeping season.”
Destination Insights2
- Expedia’s search data highlights Las Vegas and Cancun as the most popular destinations overall for fall. European cities like Paris, London and Rome are also a big draw, as the off-peak season promises lighter crowds frequenting the tourist attractions and lower airfare and hotel prices.
- The destination seeing the biggest year-over-year spike in flight interest is Indianapolis (+120%), a fall hotspot due to the “Eras Tour” coming to the city in early November. The Tour Tourism effect is also boosting interest in New Orleans (+40%).
- East Coast leaf-peeping locales, nature and international beach destinations round out the list of hotspots attracting U.S. travelers this fall.
Best and Busiest Times to Travel This Fall4
For both domestic and international travel, the Thursday and Friday following Labor Day are the busiest days of the season. Many travelers are returning from an extended holiday weekend, while others are seizing the opportunity for a quick getaway and enjoying shoulder season savings before the holiday rush begins.
- Cheapest Travel Dates (Domestic): Week of Sept. 1, when average ticket prices (ATPs) are nearly $100 cheaper than during the summer peak
- Cheapest Travel Dates (International): Week of Oct. 20 when international ATPs are nearly $260 lower than summer
- Busiest Travel Dates: Week of Sept. 8 is the busiest week; Sept. 5 and 6 (Thursday and Friday after Labor Day); Thursdays
- Lightest Travel Dates: Week of Nov. 10 (approximately two weeks before the week of Thanksgiving; Tuesday, Nov. 12); Mondays
Cheapest Day of the Week to Fly4
To maximize savings, depart on a Monday instead of a Thursday for domestic flights to save around 15%, and on Saturday instead of Tuesday.
Shoulder Season Steals3
These are just a few of the destinations where ATPs are currently down 10% or more compared to summer:
- Domestic: Seattle (down nearly 20%), Honolulu (down 15%), Houston (down 10%), Denver (down 10%), Los Angeles (down 10%)
- International: Toronto (down more than 25%), Santo Domingo (down 25%), London (down nearly 15%), Oranjestad (down nearly 15%) and Calgary (down 15%)
1Based on Expedia.com flight demand from Sept. 3 – Nov. 15, 2024, as of July 17, 2024, compared to the same time period in 2023.
2Most popular and trending destinations based on Expedia.com flight searches for travel during the weeks of Sept. 3 – Nov. 15, 2024, as of July 17, 2024. Trending destinations are based on comparisons to the same time period last year.
3Based on average ticket price changes for travel during Sept. 3 – Nov. 15, 2024, compared to May 24 – Sept. 3, 2024, as of July 2024.
4Based on Expedia flight demand for travel during September, October, November 2023 compared to the same time frame in 2022.
Tags:Melanie Fish, Expedia Group Brands, Fall Travel Outlook
