The leaves are changing, temperatures are dropping, and airfare prices are from summer highs. It鈥檚 the time quintessentially known as 鈥渟houlder season,鈥� when there are fewer people traveling 鈥� and thus more availability.
But this year, some of these seasonal characteristics could be harder to find, at least when it comes to avoiding crowds. According to , 85% of Americans are planning to travel this fall. Nearly two-thirds (64%) plan to fly domestically, 42% are planning a road trip, and 32% are planning to fly internationally.
One hypothesis as to why is that many are hoping the chaos of summer will cool off, too.
What Is Shoulder Season?
Shoulder season is the time between the peak and off seasons of travel. It varies based on where you are located around the globe. In the U.S., for example, shoulder season occurs between the busy summer travel season and the lull of winter travel 鈥� during the fall and spring.
Why do people like to travel during shoulder season? There are a few perks: Prices are typically lower than during peak summer travel. The weather is also typically better than in the off season. Combined, this creates a sweet spot for those travelers who have the flexibility to travel during this time.
Many people travel during the summer because kids are not in school, there are more long weekends to take advantage of, like Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day, and of course, the weather is often ideal for a vacation. But with all of these perks comes higher prices 鈥� and, as many people experienced this past summer, .
It comes as little surprise that many Americans are planning fall travel. If you are one of them, read on for tips on how to make the most of shoulder season.
Where to Go in the Fall
Here are five ways to make the most of fall travel.
1. Go where the crowds aren鈥檛
According to TripIt data, the top destinations for American travelers this fall, between September 1 and November 15, are:
- Las Vegas
- Orlando
- Chicago
- New York
- Denver
- San Francisco
- Los Angeles
- Boston
- London
- Phoenix
Of course, these destinations are popular for a reason: many of them topped the charts for summer holidays like and and with cooler temps and prices predicted for fall, it鈥檚 easy to see why they鈥檒l continue to attract travelers.
To skip the crowds, head elsewhere: think instead of Chicago; instead of Denver; or instead of London.
2. Go where your bucket list leads you
For many Americans, that means Europe. According to a recent TripIt survey, of those planning , more than half (57%) of travelers have international destinations in mind. Nearly a third (30%) are planning trips to Europe.
Why is the fall 鈥� and this fall, in particular 鈥� a great time to visit Europe? There are typically fewer tourists, as mentioned above, great deals on flights and accommodations, as well as myriad cultural events to experience: Oktoberfest in Germany, Europe鈥檚 largest Halloween celebration in Derry, Ireland, Bonfire Night, also called Guy Fawkes Night, in Scotland and much more.
Right now, Americans can also benefit from a near-parity U.S. dollar to euro exchange rate 鈥� the lowest it鈥檚 been in about two decades.
3. Go where 鈥渟pooky SZN鈥� prevails
Love Halloween? Want to plan a fall trip with a spooky twist? Here are a few destinations to consider.
Savannah, Georgia: Savannah is one of America鈥檚 spookiest cities thanks to its historic cemeteries, reported ghost sightings, and famed voodoo-practicing residents. Take a via trolley, hearse, or on foot 鈥� there鈥檚 even a haunted pub crawl option 鈥� to learn about the city鈥檚 spooky past and access some of its most haunted locations.
New Orleans, Louisiana: If you love parades, New Orleans, or NOLA, should be high on your fall destinations list. The , an annual Halloween parade, features floats, marching bands, dance troupes, and walking krewes 鈥� all marching through NOLA鈥檚 famed French Quarter. This year, the parade takes place on Saturday, October 22.
Hudson Valley, New York: New York鈥檚 Hudson Valley is ripe with fall activities that range from festive to downright frightening. On the festive end, opt for a jaunt through Van Cortlandt Manor when it鈥檚 dressed up for , covered in thousands of hand-carved jack o鈥檒antern displays鈥攆rom dragons to the Statue of Liberty. Advanced reservations are required, so now. You can also visit the real village of Sleepy Hollow or head to nearby Tarrytown where Sleepy Hollow author Washington Irving lived. His historic home will be decorated for the season.
4. Go where the foliage is peaking
Dreaming of filling your Instagram feed with the colors of the season? This can help you anticipate when your intended U.S. destination will experience peak fall colors. Toggle the slider to the dates you have in mind for a leaf-peeing trip, and reference the color-coded guide to gauge when you can experience foliage at its most colorful.
5. Go away feeling prepared
No matter where you travel, you want to feel prepared for your trip鈥攁nd can help you do just that. Here鈥檚 a few ways how:
- This summer鈥檚 travel chaos into the fall. With TripIt Pro, you can be among the first to know about flight delays, cancellations, gate changes, and more. If your flight is delayed or canceled, you can consult TripIt Pro鈥檚 . It instantly finds you new flight options if your current flight has been delayed, canceled, or if you鈥檇 just like to leave on another flight.
- If you experience a flight disruption while on a trip to Europe, TripIt will automatically email you if your flight may be eligible for compensation and help you file a claim through . Once your claim is filed, AirHelp does the rest of the hard work for you, including the paperwork and communication with the airlines.
- Disruptions aside, TripIt Pro鈥檚 feature makes international travel easier by showing details such as the local currency and exchange rate, for tipping at your destination, embassy information, driving guidance, socket and plug requirements, required vaccinations, and more.
- Whether you鈥檙e flying internationally or domestically for your fall trip, add your flight plans to TripIt. With TripIt Pro, you鈥檒l be notified if your after you book, in which case you are usually entitled to a reimbursement.
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