CNN –
Sure, a trip to the beach, into the cooler mountain air or into the arctic air conditioning of a museum doesn’t come too soon when summer gets really hot.
But if you can wait until the season ends, the rewards can be significant – both in savings and experience. And after the summer the world has endured – with record heat, uncomfortably warm sea water, devastating forest fires, huge crowds and high prices – the relative calm of travel in September and October comes at just the right time for many travelers.
Is fall a better time to travel than summer?
“Yes, absolutely,” says Hayley Berg, senior economist at travel app Hopper.
If you can reschedule any type of travel – be it domestic or international, one-off trips or weekend getaways – into September and October, you’ll pay less than you would for peak summer travel, she said. And if you have something extravagant in mind, you should wait until autumn.
“I always say if you want to take a trip, what we call ‘bucket list trips’ – so a honeymoon, a big family vacation, a trip where you’re interested or willing to make a really big investment – then now is the time to book and take this trip because you will get so much more for your budget,” said Berg.
And getting more for your money isn’t the only benefit. In many popular travel destinations it is still warm – but not scorching hot. It’s also less crowded, which is positive in several ways.
“Overcrowding is a real problem during peak season,” says travel consultant Jim Bendt, owner of Pique Travel Design in the Minneapolis-St.Paul area. “By traveling in the low or low season, you not only benefit from fewer crowds, but you can also feel confident in helping local communities benefit from a lasting economic impact and reduced burden on the places you visit.”
Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer and the start of a great time for next-level travel—if you have the flexibility.
Here’s the latest from Hopper on where airfares stand for early fall travel, as well as suggestions from travel experts on places that are better in the fall than in the summer — whether because of price, weather, low crowds, seasonal offerings, or a combination of these factors.
In the next few months, domestic flights in the USA will be significantly cheaper than this summer.
According to Hopper data, average domestic flight prices in the fall are 29% lower than the average price in peak summer (June, July and August). Fall prices this year are 9% lower than last fall and 10% lower than pre-pandemic prices in fall 2019.
Hopper data shows average fall prices to Los Angeles are 40% lower this year than summer, while prices to Orlando are down 32%. That equates to $179 for Los Angeles and $137 for Orlando.
International tariffs are also falling compared to the high level in summer. According to Hopper, average prices to Europe are down 31% compared to summer. That’s a discount of nearly $330 per ticket, supporting Berg’s suggestion of taking expensive trips in the fall.
“If you multiply that across two people or a family of four plus accommodation etc, that’s thousands in savings. And at a time when families are definitely tightening their belts and getting a little worried about inflation, wages, layoffs, etc., I think that’s invaluable. So if you can do one of these big trips in September and October, I recommend you book it now.”
While international fares are declining from their summer highs, tickets from the US to some regions (particularly on long-haul routes) are still significantly more expensive than before the pandemic. Berg said tariffs in Europe are currently still about 18% higher than before the pandemic, and in Asia they are about 57% higher.
Asia remains “extremely expensive,” but price falls in the fall were sharper than usual, Berg said. Case in point: Tickets to Shanghai in fall 2023 cost about $1,523, which is $902 or 37% cheaper than summer.
Many popular destinations that were sweltering in July – the world’s hottest month on record – will finally cool down. In parts of Italy, Spain and Greece, temperatures have exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit (about 38 °C) this summer. In early September, temperatures in Catania, Sicily are in the high 80s (upper 20s C).
In addition to the lower temperatures, “you may also notice that prices are significantly lower,” said travel consultant Ashley Les, founder of Postcards from…, which is based in Lisbon, Portugal. The cost of stays in many popular summer vacation spots is beginning to fall as masses from Europe and abroad return to work and school.
“Typically January, September and October are the cheapest months of the year to travel because these are the three months when most people don’t travel,” Berg said.
For locals, there is also the benefit of spending their money in off-peak destinations.
Alex Bentley, head of product at Audley Travel, a UK-headquartered tour operator, mentioned that places like Nepal, South Africa and Indonesia are worth considering for a fall vacation.
“There are not as many visitors, which can help a client’s budget be higher. “Visitors can still enjoy pleasant weather, there are plenty of incredible sights and locations to explore, and visiting helps extend the season and generate valuable tourist dollars outside of peak travel times,” Bentley said.
Here are eight ideas for the lucky travelers who get to travel this fall:
Italy’s Piedmont region
“This summer the number of travelers visiting Italy broke all records. But if you really want to feel like a local, visit the Piedmont region in October and November to enjoy the wine harvest,” suggested Bendt.
It is also the season for white truffles, which Stanley Tucci found out about in “Searching for Italy”. The mountainous Piedmont region of northern Italy lives up to its gourmet reputation.
Yellowstone National Park in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming
Bendt said September is the best month to visit Yellowstone National Park, which welcomed more than 3 million visitors last year. One of the most visited national parks in the USA, the summer hustle and bustle subsides here in autumn.
“Gone are the long lines of cars and wildlife viewing can be spectacular when you hear the echoes of elk horns during the rut,” Bendt said.
Northern California
San Francisco, the Carmel Valley and Big Sur are best in September and October, Bendt said.
“The “June gloom” and foggy summer months have passed and it is the best weather of the year to enjoy the city and nature of the North Coast,” he said.
“June Gloom” combines terms like “No-Sky July” and “Fogust” to describe the dreary weather typical of the summer months.
Fall is also harvest time in Napa, which has its pros and cons, says Les. “You can be an active part of the Napa Valley harvest, which is not possible at any other time of year. Hotel prices are significantly higher, but the weather is more pleasant,” she said.
North Fork, New York
New York offers a US wine country experience less well-known than Napa or Sonoma.
“There are several other areas in the United States that have some great wineries, and one of them is the North Fork, a 30-mile-long peninsula on the East End of Long Island in New York,” said Marilyn Clark, owner of Lighthouse Travel In Huntington Beach, California.
You can enjoy the harvest, fall colors, and water views all in one place. For growing beyond grapes, Clark recommends stopping at Harbes Family Farm for apples and pumpkins and hayrides.
Lisbon, Portugal
Les is based in Lisbon, where she says water temperatures are best in early fall and visitors will miss the worst of the summer crowds and heat.
The hilly, sun-drenched town is just a short drive from a number of charming beach towns, including the seaside resorts of Estoril and Cascais.
Outer Banks, North Carolina
Warm water without crowds is also a draw on the Outer Banks, a chain of barrier islands that stretch 175 miles along North Carolina’s coast.
“If visitors are there at the right time, they can participate in the Outer Banks Marathon [November 12] or enjoy events like the Outer Banks Seafood Festival [October 21] and the Bluegrass Island Music Festival [October 19-21]Clark said.
Hawaii
Clark, a Hawaii specialist, says she typically visits the state in the fall, after the summer crowds have disappeared, when availability at hotels, restaurants and attractions increases and prices are lower. Which island you should visit depends on your interests and she generally advises clients to stay on the leeward side of an island.
“Although I usually recommend staying on a side of the island where it is less likely to rain [leeward]One of the big attractions in fall is visiting the lush, green side of the island [windward] and seeing all the waterfalls when they’re actually flowing. Since Hawaii is known as the “Rainbow Capital of the World,” fall is also a great time to see them, she said.
Clark noted that most of Maui, which was recently hit by devastating fires, is open.
According to an Aug. 31 update posted on the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority website, West Maui is closed to visitors. The organization encourages travelers to visit other parts of Maui and the rest of the Hawaiian Islands and to “be especially mindful and respectful of our island home.”
South Africa
According to Alex Bentley of Audley Travel, October – spring in the Southern Hemisphere – is one of the best months to combine regions.
It falls before the peak season, which runs from November to February, and visitors can spot whales and wildlife in opposite parts of the country.
“Temperatures are starting to rise across the country, but there has been no rain in the north yet, meaning safari areas such as the Kruger are still dry. This makes wildlife easier to spot as animals congregate around vital water sources,” Bentley said. “Along the coast, humpback whales and southern right whales have yet to migrate south, so customers can have the chance to see them breaching offshore.”