Budget-savvy travelers and DINKs (dual income, no kids) are taking advantage of falling prices and booking fall getaways now, according to the Fall Travel Forecast released by Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo.
Fall is prime time for booking a getaway for less; as the peak summer season winds down and temperatures drop, so do prices for flights, hotels and other accommodations. Consequently, data shows an increase in searches for fall flights and hotels, up 15% and 20% respectively from 2022.
The average ticket price for domestic flights is 10% lower than peak summer season, while international fares are down an average of 5%. The week of October 24, according to Expedia, is the best time to travel, with average prices 20% cheaper on domestic flights and 15% cheaper on international flights. Travelers can find the biggest savings, compared to summer fares, on domestic destinations including Juneau (down 35%), Seattle (down 25%) and Los Angeles (down 20%), and international destinations including Oslo (down 40%), Ibiza (down 35%) and Tokyo (down 20%).
Where are people looking to travel this fall? Expedia flight searches show a growing interest in Savannah (searches up 155%), Seattle (up 75%) and Yellowstone National Park (up 50%) domestically, and Hong Kong (up 1500%), Frankfurt (280%) and Taipei (up 260%) internationally.
Prices for private accommodations drop during the fall as well. According to Vrbo, travelers can save up to 25% after Labor Day. Though the weather is still warm, prices for prime beach rentals drop. Top beach destinations where travelers can find the best deals include Outer Banks, South Padre Island, Gulf Shores, Rosemary Beach and Hilton Head. Vrbo also reports trending destinations for fall getaways that boast the splendor of the season, including Gatlinburg, Bar Harbor, Asheville and the White Mountains.
Data from Hotels.com shows a 90% decrease in searches for family-friendly stays in September, making way for couples who prefer fall getaways when they can fully enjoy hotel amenities and entertainment. DINKs have more disposable income, and thus spend more on travel, luxury accommodations and dining out. Hotels.com reports that couples are planning bigger trips this fall, with average stays of seven days. Trending destinations for couples, according to top searches on Hotels.com, include New York City, Paris, London, Las Vegas and San Diego.
Find the full report with more details on Expedia’s website.