Summer Surge to Fall Frenzy: Fall Travel Forecast Reveals Searches Are Up for Autumn Escapes

Based on Expedia flight searches, trending destinations for fall includes Yellowstone National Park

• Average ticket prices are down 10% for domestic flights and 5% for international flights compared to summer, according to Expedia
• Based on Expedia flight searches, trending destinations for fall include Hong Kong, Savannah, Yellowstone National Park and Curacao
• Vrbo releases list of destinations showing 25% or more in savings for September and October
• Hotels.com declares fall is DINK season (double–income, no kids), as family–friendly stays take a backseat to couple–centric getaways

According to the Fall Travel Forecast released today by Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo, the surge in travel demand seen over the summer is projected to continue into the cooler months, with the travel brands showing year-over-year search increases for fall getaways.

According to Expedia, flight searches for fall are up 15%, and hotel searches increased 20% compared to fall 2022.¹ As temperatures drop, so do prices, providing plenty of opportunities for budget-savvy travelers to score a getaway for less.

“Forget pumpkin spice everything season, fall is now travel everywhere season. For people not beholden to school schedules, people without kids and deal-hunters, the so-called shoulder season between summer and the holidays is prime time for a getaway,” says Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group brands public relations. “It's the time of year when average prices drop and availability opens up, ideal for taking that final beach trip or heading to less crowded cities overseas. That secret is out, and searches are up across Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo.”

As non-peak season, fall is consistently one of the best times of the year to get away for less, with average ticket prices (ATPs) for domestic flights 10% lower than they were during the peak summer months, and international ATPs around 5% cheaper.

For the biggest flight savings, Expedia recommends taking off the week of October 24, when domestic ATPs are nearly 20% cheaper than the summer average, and international ATPs are roughly 15% cheaper.²

Now is the perfect time to lock in a fall escape; on average, the sweet spot for booking domestic flights is around 30 days in advance, while international travel should be booked as early as possible. These are just a few of the destinations where ATPs are currently 20% cheaper or more compared to summer:

• Domestic: Juneau (35% cheaper); Denver (20% cheaper); Chicago (20% cheaper)
• International: Oslo, Norway (40% cheaper); Tokyo, Japan (20% cheaper); Florence, Italy (20% cheaper)

After Labor Day, prices for Vrbo private vacation rentals in top beach destinations fall even though the weather stays warm through much of September and October. Travelers can typically save an average of 25% or more in the Vrbo app during the early fall shoulder season in these popular destinations:³

• Outer Banks, North Carolina; South Padre Island, Texas; Gulf Shores, Alabama; Miramar & Rosemary Beach, Florida; Hilton Head, South Carolina

Travelers ready for a change of pace after spending all summer at the beach are also in luck. Prices for Vrbo vacation homes in trending urban destinations, including Seattle and San Diego, also dip – this Seattle Vrbo home that sleeps eight, runs normally $550/night in the summer but falls to just over $400/night in September and October.

When kids go back to school, DINKs – aka couples with double incomes and no kids – are packing their bags. According to Hotels.com, 70% of DINK travelers say they prefer to vacation in the fall when they can fully enjoy hotel amenities and entertainment.⁴ This conveniently coincides with a 90% drop in searches for family-friendly stays during September in the Hotels.com app.⁵

• New York City, Paris, London, Las Vegas and San Diego are among the most searched destinations for couples traveling this fall on the Hotels.com app.
• DINK travelers are going big and planning weeklong fall trips this year, on average seven days.
• 70% of DINKs say they don't have kids because they like having more disposable income for things they enjoy. For almost half (44%), this extra cash goes toward travel, luxurious hotel stays, and eating out.
• Nearly three-in-four couples (73%) believe they go on nicer vacations than their friends with kids.

Data Sources:

• ¹ Compares Expedia flight and lodging searches made between Jan. 1 and July 30 for travel between Sept. 6 and Nov. 15 for 2022 and 2023.
• ² Price comparisons based on Expedia flight demand for travel between Sept. 6 to Nov. 15, 2023, vs. May 31 to Sept. 5, 2023, as of July 30, 2023.
• ³ Based on traveler demand and average nightly rates for Vrbo vacation homes for September to October 2022 vs. June to August 2022.
• ⁴ Data based on survey commissioned by Hotels.com and conducted online by OnePoll between August 7 to 10, 2023, among 1,000 adults in U.S. households with dual income and no children.
• ⁵ Data based on Hotels.com monthly U.S. searches, as of August 4, 2023.