Newsletter
Travel

Fall Travel Forecast Reveals International Destinations Heat Up While Summer Airfare Prices Cool

3 Mins Read

  • Fall Travel Forecast Reveals International Destinations Heat Up While Summer Airfare Prices Cool – Image Credit Expedia   

Searches for international trips are up year-over-year, with Tulum, Mallorca and Tokyo among the season’s top trending destinations

Flight searches surge for Indianapolis (+120%) and New Orleans (+40%) as Taylor Swift’s tour returns stateside in October

Travelers get ready to enjoy the off-peak perks of fewer crowds and lower ticket prices

As summer winds down, travel deals are heating up, and savvy U.S. travelers are embracing the chance to plan big getaways. According to the Expedia Fall Travel Outlook released today, international trips are top of mind for travelers, with flight searches up 15% year-over-year1 and destinations like Tulum, Mallorca and Tokyo trending.2 Meanwhile, the fastest-growing U.S. destination for fall, Indianapolis, is up 120%, with interest driven in part by the “Eras Tour” coming to the city in November.2

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.”

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.

Share.

Related Articles