Book Cheap Flights This Fall to These 9 Destinations
As savvy travelers know, the beginning of fall brings more than just cooler weather and colorful foliage—it also means more cheap flights.
The autumn travel window is called shoulder season, a time between peak vacation months when prices start to dip for plane tickets and other bookings. “This means travelers who plan anything from a weekend getaway to a bucket list vacation will enjoy significantly lower prices in September [and] October compared to peak summer months,” says Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper, a discount travel booking site.
This year, domestic airfares have dropped by and average of 30 percent compared to peak summer prices, while international flights are 31 percent cheaper, according to Hopper’s study on airline ticket prices this fall.
There are plenty of deals right now, but you shouldn’t wait too long if you want to lock in the best price for cheap flights. "If you're planning a fall getaway, we recommend booking ASAP,” Berg says. Here are nine destinations that have seen the biggest drops in airfare this fall, according to Hopper’s data.
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Ugur Akdemir/UnsplashLondon
With six different airports, you'll find no shortage of flights bound for the English capital city. But a trip across the pond doesn't have to clean out your bank account: Average prices are now 35 percent cheaper than summer, clocking in at just $677 round-trip. That means an average savings of $364.
That’s enough to upgrade your trip to a stay in an opulent boutique hotel, like The Adaria, a 19th-century townhouse with plush rooms in the elegant South Kensington neighborhood, or The Goring, a favorite among royals that’s just around the corner from Buckingham Palace and has one of London’s largest private gardens.
Caleb Jones/UnsplashPortland, Oregon
Craft breweries, a vibrant food scene, and wines of the Willamette Valley all beckon in Portland. Get there on the cheap with average airfares that are now $145 lower than they were in summer, according to Hopper.
Because winters stay mild, you'll still be able to take advantage of all of the area's natural wonders on a fall trip. Head just outside the city to Silver Falls State Park, about an hour drive away, for waterfall spotting and hikes of all levels, or take a bike ride among the lush forests and grand vistas of the Columbia River Gorge.
Ivan Karpov/UnsplashLos Angeles
Los Angeles is a city teeming with so much life and activity, sun and surf, it's hard to know where to start as a visitor. Of course, you can't go wrong with classics like hiking in Lake Hollywood Park or visiting The Getty Center. Arriving in shoulder season means you’ll have more money to throw at the hotel, restaurant, or museum of your choice: Flights bound for The City of Angels are now 40 percent less expensive than over the summer. Average airfares are now just $179 round-trip, leaving plenty of budget left over to splash out at one of the city’s iconic restaurants or go on a shopping spree in Beverly Hills.
Dan Novac/UnsplashParis
Most tourists want to see springtime in Paris, but those who hold out to visit in the fall are rewarded with fewer crowds, gardens full of changing leaves, and cheaper prices.
In fact, Hopper’s report says that flights to the French capital have seen the biggest price drop moving into shoulder season. Airfares are now averaging $684 round-trip, a 41 percent drop from summer prices, which at their peak cost an extra $470.
Once you arrive, have a martini at the historic Bar Hemingway inside the Ritz Paris, marvel at modern art at the Centre Pompidou, or simply sashay along the banks of the Seine, taking in the City of Light.
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Vincent Camacho/UnsplashSeattle
Budget-conscious travelers will be happy to hear that autumn flights to Seattle are now more than 45 percent cheaper than summer airfares. Roundtrip flights in September from Dallas—with a layover—are currently as low as $130, while nonstops from Chicago and Boston are starting at $310 and $430, respectively. Spend your visit absorbing the great outdoors surrounding the city by hiking at nearby Snow Lake or Deception Pass State Park. When you're finished, return to the city for some of the best sushi in the United States, or warm up over a bowl of pho at Pho Bac Súp Shop.
Michele Falzone/GettyHonolulu
A perennial favorite with tourists, cheap flights to Hawaii can be hard to come by. But this September and October is the chance to fly to the capital of the Aloha state for less. Hopper’s report shows the average roundtrip airfare to Honolulu for fall is just $451—that’s $220 less expensive than prices in the summer.
Those savings are enough for an extra night at Kaimana Beach Hotel in Waikiki. On the quiet side of the bustling neighborhood, the retro-chic hotel mixes colorful surfer decor with a midcentury aesthetic. Start every morning with a peaceful dip in the ocean at the iconic beach in front of the hotel. Nearby, visit local favorite eateries like Leonard’s Bakery, renowned for its malasadas (Portuguese doughnuts) in unique flavors like macadamia nut, ube, and guava; and fusion restaurant Kapa Hale, which blends traditional Hawaiian cuisine with flavors from around the world.
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Amana images inc./AlamyTokyo
Tourists have been flooding into Japan since it reopened for visa-free travel in October 2022, driving up prices and crowds. Luckily both are abating this season, with airfares 25 percent lower than their summertime peak. The average round-trip flight in fall will set you back just $1,172.
There’s no shortage of ways to put those savings to use in Tokyo, with endless restaurants, bars, museums, and shops to choose from. Japan’s cherry blossoms in spring might steal all the spotlight, but the country’s autumn leaves are just as vibrant. Take a break from the city’s frenetic energy and absorb the bright reds and glowing oranges at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Tokyo’s 144-acre botanic park with traditional Japanese gardens and various other international styles, too.
Alexander Spatari/GettyNew York City
Although it doesn’t have a reputation for being an affordable city, New York is a budget traveler’s haven this fall. Average airfares have dipped by 34 percent to $174 round-trip, the cheapest on Hopper’s list of shoulder season deals.
Stretch your budget even further by planning quintessential New York activities—like walking across the Brooklyn Bridge or browsing art galleries in Chelsea—that are completely free. You can put your money where it really matters, like booking a hotel room with a gorgeous view and meals in one of the most illustrious dining scenes in the country.
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Courtesy Four SeasonsChiang Mai, Thailand
Traveling to Chiang Mai is almost like getting two destinations for the price of one. There’s the thronging city center, with buzzy hotels, sleek cocktail bars, and a thriving creative scene. But just outside the central city are Chiang Mai’s natural marvels: Picture serene mountain views and lush jungle dotted with ancient temples.
What’s more, it’s now $854 cheaper to fly to this dream destination than it was in the summer. Round-trip tickets cost an average of $1,482 for flights in September and October. Those savings would be well spent on a stay at one of the relaxing resorts on the city’s outskirts. We recommend the intimate Villa Mahabhirom or the sweeping grounds of the Four Seasons Chiang Mai.