These are the most affordable times of year to travel — here’s how to get the best fall deals
Fall is quickly approaching, which means it’s shoulder season for travel — and those with a flexible schedule can take full advantage of lower airfares and hotel price deals.
The period from September after Labor Day weekend, which is expected to be one of the busiest times to travel, to mid-November before Thanksgiving is typically low-demand for travelers, meaning it’s a more affordable time of year to travel.
“Regardless of the destination, fall is a fantastic time to travel and there’s still time to plan a getaway,” Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group Brands public relations, said in a statement to USA Today.
Fish added that “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.”
International travel the week of Oct. 20 sees average ticket prices at nearly $260 lower than in the summer, and the cheapest travel dates domestically are the week of Sept. 1, when average ticket prices are nearly $100 cheaper than during the summer peak, according to the Expedia Fall Travel Outlook.
The Thursday and Friday following Labor Day are the busiest days of the season for both domestic and international travel.
According to Expedia, airfare prices in the fall are about 10% lower than summer prices.
The coming months will see lower ticket prices — and flying on Mondays or Saturdays will save fliers as much as 15% more.
Analysis from Hopper found that domestic airfare in September averaged $240, down 8% from September 2023.
There are even some specific destinations that have lower average ticket prices during shoulder season compared to peak summer travel season, according to Expedia data.
Domestically, ticket prices are cheaper to Seattle (down nearly 20%), Honolulu (down 15%), Houston (down 10%), Denver (down 10%) and Los Angeles (down 10%). Internationally, it’s cheaper to travel to Toronto (down more than 25%), Santo Domingo (down 25%), London (down nearly 15%), Oranjestad (down nearly 15%) and Calgary (down 15%).
Additionally, Hopper found that hotel prices have slightly increased since 2019, but the average is still not too pricey at $161 a night.
Expedia shared some additional travel tips to get the most out of your money:
- Set up price alerts for your preferred flights
- Opt to fly in the morning for cheaper flights that are less likely to be delayed or canceled
- Book hotels offering “free cancellation” or “reserve now, pay later” options, and select the refundable room
- Save by bundling hotels and flights
