Traveling this summer often came with major sticker shock, especially for international getaways. But with the fall travel season upon us, both temperatures and prices are mellowing out, as a mix of global cities—some surprising—are arising as choice destinations.
“It’s no secret that flights have been expensive over the summer, so travelers are keen to take advantage of the non-peak prices they’re seeing for fall,” Christie Hudson, a spokesperson for Expedia, says, noting that average ticket prices for international flights are about 5 percent less than they were during peak summer periods. “The crowds are smaller and the weather is still nice—it’s the best of all those worlds.”
As family travel simmers down, this also marks the start of peak season for couples with double income and no kids (DINK), she says, and they’re searching for a different kind of trip.
“Fall travelers are culture-seekers,” Priceline’s Consumer Travel Trend Expert Christina Bennett says. “Both abroad and at home, they are opting for major cities that offer dining, museums, entertainment, and nightlife. From Las Vegas and Los Angeles to Tel Aviv and Tokyo, travelers want to explore the best the world has to offer at off-peak prices.”
Kayak’s consumer travel trends expert Kayla Inserra concurs: “We’re seeing travelers are increasingly drawn to culturally-rich and diverse destinations like Tokyo, Taipei, and Osaka which are the top trending destinations we’re seeing for fall travel this year.”
Here are seven destinations that are seeing surges in interest from travelers this fall, according to data from travel search sites.
Savannah
While Savannah’s temperate climate makes it an enticing year-round destination, there’s something special in the city come fall when the breeze from the coast mingles with the warm daytime temperature that still reach highs in the 80s, but drop to an autumnal crispness after the sun sets.