As summer's warmth transitions to the crispness of fall, travel enthusiasm remains unabated, as per the Fall Travel Forecast jointly released by Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo.

Travel demand in fall keeps rising

The travel brands predict a sustained surge in travel interest into the cooler months, displaying year-over-year search growth for autumn getaways. According to Expedia, flight searches for fall have risen by 15%, and hotel searches show a 20% increase compared to fall 2022.

As temperatures decrease, so do prices, creating ample opportunities for budget-conscious travellers to seize wallet-friendly getaways.

Melanie Fish, Head of Expedia Group Brands Public Relations, noted, "Gone are the days of pumpkin spice dominating fall; now, it's a season for travel everywhere. For those without school obligations, families, or on the lookout for deals, the shoulder season between summer and the holiday season is perfect for a getaway."

Fish emphasised the benefits of this time when prices dip and availability expands, making it ideal for a final beach retreat or exploration of less crowded overseas cities.

Scoring affordable escapes in Autumn

Fall consistently emerges as a non-peak season that offers significant travel savings, with average ticket prices (ATPs) for domestic flights dropping by 10% compared to peak summer months, and international ATPs becoming approximately 5% more economical.

For optimum flight savings, Expedia recommends travelling during the week of 24 October, when domestic ATPs are almost 20% lower than the summer average, and international ATPs are roughly 15% more affordable.

On average, booking domestic flights about 30 days beforehand is optimal, while international travel should be booked as early as possible.