Avoid This Sumer's Rush Plan A Fall Getaway

Prices will be lower, you’ll encounter fewer crowds, and pandemic restrictions are likely to ease even more.

- By Emma Patch

The world is reopening. With vaccination rates for Americans and Europeans steadily rising, so is confidence among travelers. Plus, travel is easier to navigate as restrictions ease. This summer, those factors led tourists back to the road and the skies in droves. But summer travel can be stressful, with flight delays, surge pricing and higher fuel costs. If you have flexibility in your schedule, booking a trip this fall is a better option. You’ll encounter fewer crowds, and pandemic restrictions are likely to loosen up even more.

Even better, prices are usually cheaper in shoulder season. Airfares are expected to drop, and hotel rates are generally lower at summer’s end and into the fall. If you can be flexible with your dates, such as traveling on weekdays or extending your stay, you can often find even lower prices. And with a rental car shortage, you’ll have a better shot of booking a vehicle at a cheaper rate (or finding one at all) if you go this fall.

We rounded up some good bets for autumn travel, including leaf-peeping trips, cruising the coast of Alaska and touring Italy. We also let you know what to expect as you travel in these still uncertain times.

FLIGHTS

You can find sweet deals on flights toward the end of August and heading into the fall. Airfares for fall are expected to drop up to 5% overall compared with summer fares, says Adit Damadaran, an economist for the travel site Hopper. And summer fares are already lower than usual, as travel gradually ramps up.