From affordable shoulder season From nature-guided getaways and getaways to culturally immersive culinary tours or wellness-focused retreats, there are festive opportunities for every type of fall traveler.
Industry experts – from major hotels, vacation rentals and travel curation services – sifted through seasonal data to determine a mix of the top travel trends on people's radars in the United States and abroad. 'stranger.
Stock photo.
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Some of the top trends include affordable off-season stays, Tour of the eras-timed excursions and getting a glimpse of the changing fall foliage somewhere outside the country.
Fall 2024 Travel Trends: Top Destinations, Affordable Off-Season, Passionate Travel
Autumn, commonly called shoulder seasonis still a more affordable time to book trips with prices per night of accommodation significantly lower than summer, spring or winter vacations.
Airbnb and HotelTonight reported that traveling to a top domestic destination this time of year can also mean scoring big on lodging.
Prices for October stays are down up to 46% compared to July, according to the last-minute booking app.
The rocky shore of Bar Harbor, Michigan, November 8, 2013.
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Airbnb Annual Fall Trends Report found that “prices throughout the year tend to be lowest between September and November,” giving potential travelers the opportunity to enjoy smaller crowds and warmer weather at a lower cost.
National cities that Airbnb says saw the biggest savings during the fall include: Somers Point, New Jersey; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Norfolk, Virginia; Panama City, Florida; West Des Moines, Iowa; Bangor, Maine; Cheyenne, Wyoming; Spokane Valley, Washington; Erie, Pennsylvania; and Omaha, Nebraska.
Similarly, a HotelTonight representative told “GMA” that Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Long Island, New York, Atlantic City, New Jersey; Lake Tahoe, California; and San Diego, California, are among the most booked cities this time of year, with prices between 31 and 46 percent cheaper.
Top Fall Travel Destinations: International and United States
For the second year in a row, according to Airbnb's annual report Fall Trends ReportJapan ranked as the number one international destination for American travelers this fall.
Buddhist structure surrounded by colorful leaves inside the UNESCO-listed Daigoji Temple in Kyoto during the autumn leaf season in Japan, November 15, 2020.
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For millennial and Gen Z travelers in particular, EF Ultimate Break — a guided experiential travel company for young adults — said in its “Trending 10” fall destination data, that Kyoto is a hot spot to this time of year for guided tours through vibrant maple trees and tranquil landscapes. temples.
This fall, the company said there was a 30% increase in its travel bookings to Japan compared to the same period last year, noting that in November the Kyoto area is flooded with reds bright Japanese maples.
Other hottest global destinations this season, according to the experiential travel company's list, include Bavaria, Germany for its castles, forests and Oktoberfest; Amsterdam, Netherlands with canalside trees; Transylvania, Romania for medieval castles and mystical forests.
When it comes to destinations on the rise in the United States, Airbnb said travelers are quickly booking places that embody the essence of fall, with the top three states being North Dakota, Maine and Massachusetts.
Other cities topping the list for seasonal trends—perfect for those who want to enjoy apple picking, pumpkin patches, and leaf peeping—include: Salem, Massachusetts; Bar Harbor, Maine; Walla Walla, Washington; Moab, Utah; Hartford, VT; Columbia Falls, Montana; Mills River, North Carolina; Fruita, Colo.; Superior, Wisconsin and Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
Leaves that reveal the quintessential colors of fall in nature
Visitors take photos at the Kiyomizu-dera Buddhist temple in Kyoto, surrounded by the colors of autumn leaves, November 25, 2021.
Stanislav Kogiku/LightRocket via Getty Images
It's that time again when millions of Americans glance across the country, but more venture further — or “skip the sheets” — to see the colors abroad.
Connor Smith, Vice President of Core Brand Strategy and Awareness at IHG Hotels & Resorts, told ABC News that leaf-catching travelers are changing “vibrant hues of orange, yellow, red and purple” this season and continue to reign supreme, especially in the Northeast.
“Anyone traveling to Vermont this time of year can enjoy a blanket of color against a backdrop of panoramic views of the Green Mountains,” he said, suggesting the Kimpton Taconic Hotel in Manchester, where visitors of Vermont can admire the view and “try a seasonal maple”. or a cider donut cream – only available in the fall.
“There are underrated places like Michigan, Georgia, the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and Lake Placid in New York where crowds will be more manageable,” he added. “Excitement around the fall season in these areas has been growing over the past few years, and these cities make great alternatives for creating a perfect Instagram backdrop without having to deal with crowds .”
EF Go Ahead Tours found that bookings increased significantly year-over-year in international cities offering fall seasonal experiences.
Through November, the company reported a 47% increase in excursions to Scotland, where places like Loch Lomond offer beautiful views in autumn, and 63% more bookings for the Grand Tour de France which passes through the Valley of the Loire to see the changing leaves on walks through the famous gardens, and 30% more visitors went to Kyoto to see the Japanese maples.
Concerts and holiday events
Taylor Swift performs on stage during the “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on July 17, 2024.
Andreas Rentz/TAS24/Getty Images
Airbnb cited “event vacations” and “passion tourism” as another major trend this season, declaring that “Taylor Swift's highly anticipated return to the US this October” will further fuel the growing trend of solo travelers and groups creating travel around a major music event.
“The American pop icon's highly anticipated return from the European leg of her tour has played an influential role on the list of trending destinations with cities like Miami Gardens, Florida, and Indianapolis, Indiana,” says the report. “Americans also seek out the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, to Munich, Germany, for Oktoberfest and to Brussels, Belgium, for the various food and wine festivals that take place in the fall.”
Smith agrees, adding that “the rise of music tourism offers immersive and cultural experiences that can be memorable and therapeutic for fans.”
As such, IHG Hotels & Resorts will launch Eras Tour-inspired experiences curated for Swifties at select properties in Miami, New Orleans and Toronto during Swift's tour dates, which include a friendship bracelet making station in the lobby.
