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As the season of pool parties and barbecues winds down, the keenest bargain-seeking travelers are channeling pumpkins and fall foliage, knowing that now is the time to plan autumn vacations.
Travel professionals say the ideal booking window for domestic flights in advance of a spike in fares is 30 to 60 days before departure. International trips stretch those windows. Though major destinations such as London and Paris often generate decent deals as close as three months out, generally the best foreign fares can be found five to six months before travel, according to travel booking app Hopper.
A survey for AARP found 70 percent of respondents 50-plus plan to travel this year. Wherever you’re bound this fall, here’s what to expect in the season ahead and where to consider going.
Timing is everything
Last year, tourism reached pre-pandemic levels, according to the World Economic Forum.
That means travel is returning to some familiar patterns. Travel surges, which beget higher prices, tend to mirror school calendars, making back-to-school season a relatively quiet and affordable time for those who can get away.
“Fall is the second-best time of year to travel,” says Hayley Berg, an economist at Hopper, noting that the cheapest time of year in terms of airfare and hotel prices is January. “In fall, you typically save about 30 percent off peak summer prices. There are fewer crowds, and airports aren’t as busy, so that helps reduce travel disruptions.”
It’s a particularly good time to go abroad, according to Hopper, which found fall flight savings of close to $300 on European tickets and more than $400 to Asia compared to peak June bookings. Cheaper costs and fewer hassles often meet decent weather in fall.
