Although fall is here, it’s not too late to reserve a trip this season, often at great rates.

The period right after summer is an excellent time for affordable travel. Hayley Berg, Lead Economist at Hopper, shared with YSL News, “You can still snag last-minute fall travel deals. The season from Labor Day until the holiday rush features some of the best discounts available all year.”

Looking for ideas? This year, certain destinations are especially popular among travelers, both domestically and internationally. Let’s explore where people are booking their trips and some tips for planning.

Which destinations are favored this fall?

“Major cities are the top choices for fall travel this year,” said Berg. “Las Vegas and Los Angeles lead the list of booked domestic locations, along with Orlando, Florida.” Data from Hopper includes flights set for September and October.

For international travel, Cancun and Mexico City are trending, in addition to popular cities like London and Rome.

Expedia’s recent findings align with these trends, showcasing flight searches from Sept. 3 to Nov. 15, as noted in last month’s Fall Travel Outlook report. Las Vegas, New York, and Orlando topped the domestic travel rankings, while Cancun, Paris, and London were the lead choices for international travelers.

Is fall travel pricey?

There are still plenty of excellent domestic round-trip flight deals available for under $100 to cities like Charleston, South Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; and San Diego, California, as noted by Berg.

“You can find fantastic international deals this fall, beating the summer crowds,” she advised. “On Hopper, we’ve noticed flights as low as $400 round-trip to Paris, Dublin, Barcelona, and London.”

Some locations experienced significant price drops compared to summer. For example, airfare to Seattle, Washington, and Oslo, Norway, was reduced by 36% for fall, while flights to Brussels, Belgium, and Berlin, Germany, dropped by 34% and 33%, respectively.

Expedia also reported that the average airfare for Seattle during fall is nearly 20% lower than the previous summer period (from May 24 to Sept. 3). Honolulu’s prices decreased by 15%, and Houston’s went down by 10%. Internationally, prices for Toronto, Canada, fell by over 25%, followed by a 25% drop for Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and nearly 15% for London.

Travelers can also find great deals on other expenses. According to Hopper, the average hotel rate for fall is $231 per night, with some rooms as low as $126. Rental cars are averaging $34 per day, down from $43 during summer.

How to snag a fall travel deal?

Berg suggests setting up price alerts now, so you can receive updates if airfare drops, and aim to book within the next two weeks.

She also recommends booking flights for midweek departures instead of weekends, as flying on a Tuesday or Wednesday could save travelers over 30% on airfare.

“If you can be flexible with your travel plans, flying out and returning midweek could save you over $150 on your round-trip fare,” Berg mentioned.

Expedia found that for domestic flights, leaving on Mondays has been the most cost-effective option, based on flight demand from September to November 2023 compared to the previous year. For international flights, traveling on Saturday has offered the best prices.