Fall 2024 travel trends to keep an eye on

With Labor Day in the rearview mirror, summer is coming to an end and fall travel trends are just around the corner.

And while fall has historically been an off-season – when families return to school and travel less, for example – recent years have shown that patterns and trends in our industry are changing. Here’s a look at what some industry experts and travel companies see as the top travel trends for fall 2024.

Editor’s note: This story will be updated with the release of new fall travel dates.

Trending by Squaremouth

Trend 1: Higher travel prices are a cause for concern and insurance

Travel insurance marketplace Squaremouth surveyed more than 1,600 travel insurance customers and found that 75% are more worried about insuring their trips this fall than in previous years. According to the survey, the average fall travel cost is $7,600. For international travel, the average cost increases to $8,100, which is 38% more than fall 2023.

Respondents researching fall travel also shared what disruptions they’re worried about: 64% of travelers worry about getting sick or injured during a trip, 16% worry they’ll have to cancel their trip, and 10% fear delays at the airport. miss a connecting flight or lose your luggage.

Trend 2: Travelers are looking for cheap travel destinations

With travel costs rising, it’s no surprise that Squaremouth’s data also shows travelers are looking for affordable fall destinations. Of the top 10 destinations for fall travel, eight have below-average travel costs. Examples include the Bahamas (average travel cost $3,012), the Dominican Republic ($3,315), Mexico ($3,331) and the Philippines ($3,362). In comparison, the average cost of a fall trip to Japan is over $9,000. To determine the above, Squaremouth analyzed and compared sales of travel insurance policies for trips occurring before Labor Day and those occurring between September 1st and December 20th.

Trend 3: Baby boomers are taking the lead in fall travel

Travel is on the rise across the board, but baby boomers are leading the way this fall, with 47% of the generation booking travel this season. This is also a significant increase compared to last year, as only 34% of boomers traveled in the fall of 2023.

According to Squaremouth data, only 9% of Gen Z are traveling this fall (down from 18% last year). Notably, 44% more of the Silent Generation (roughly those born between 1928 and 1945) are traveling this fall than last year.

Trends from Embark Beyond

Trend 1: Booking windows are getting smaller

Luxury travel agency Embark Beyond has released its Q3 report and data shows travel booking windows are shrinking. Embark Beyond reports that the booking window for long-haul flights (10 hours or longer) has shrunk from 129 days to 57 days; the booking window for medium-haul flights (between 5-10 hours) shrank from 84 days to 47 days; and the booking window for short flights (less than 5 hours) shrank from 38 days to 17 days.

Airbnb trends

Trend 1: Users are looking for savings

Airbnb surveyed guests who booked accommodations for September, October and November and found that 85% of them weighed price when making their selection. Airbnb then used prices in its inventory to identify the U.S. destinations that offer the most savings this season. Somers Point, New Jersey; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Norfolk, Virginia was at the top of the list.

Trend 2: Domestic destinations for fall

By looking at bookings in the US for the months of September, October and November compared to the rest of the year, Airbnb found that North Dakota, Maine and Massachusetts are the three states with the highest percentage of stays during the fall season. Specifically, users book accommodations in Salem, Massachusetts; Bar Harbor, Maine; and Walla Walla, Washington.

Trend 3: Interest in Japan remains extremely high

Japan is the hottest international destination for Americans this fall, according to Airbnb search data. Tokyo and Osaka are the cities trending in user searches.

Trends from Wanderboat

Trend 1: Travelers are looking for fall activities

AI travel platform Wanderboat examined search data from late August and early September and found that many users are looking for specific fall activities. Searches for apple picking increased by 241% (compared to summer searches), and searches for local train rides and wine tasting increased by 20% and 15%, respectively. The season has also seen increased interest in hiking and nature walks (61%) and hot air balloon rides (22%).

Vacasa trends

Trend 1: Domestic travel is hot this fall

According to user data analyzed by apartment rental management company Vacasa, 88% of travelers want to stay in the US for their trips. Destinations that can be reached by road trip and places with numerous outdoor recreational opportunities are of interest. 47% of Gen Z travelers want to travel to domestic festivals, concerts and sporting events.

Trends from EF Ultimate Break

Trend 1: Generation Z and Millennial travelers are looking to Asia and Europe

EF Ultimate Break, a tour operator targeting younger adults, examined fall search volume and bookings to find out where customers are traveling. Based on these numbers, the top three international destinations are Seoul, South Korea; Kyoto, Japan; and Norway’s fjords. The following seven destinations are Vienna, Austria; Copenhagen, Denmark; Transylvania, Romania; Tuscany, Italy; the Scottish Highlands; Amsterdam, Netherlands; and Bavaria, Germany.

RELATED: What do Gen Z travelers want on vacation?

“While older generations travel to Vermont for their annual leaf peeping, Gen Z travelers look abroad for cooler vibes, vibrant cultures and authenticity outside of peak season,” said Jeff Demers, vice president of market development at EF Ultimate Break. “ Traveling in the fall means more money and fewer selfie sticks at the top spots, while still enjoying the perfect not-too-hot, not-too-cold weather. Hotel staff and tour guides have more time to pamper you. and the locals? They are more relaxed and ready for a conversation.”

Trends from Viator

Trend 1: Asia tops the charts

Travel experience marketplace Viator examined sales across fall travel dates and analyzed growth compared to the same period last year. According to this analysis, travel to Asia saw significant growth this quarter, with Japan and Thailand among the fastest-growing travel destinations this season.

Trends from EF Go Ahead Tours

Trend 1: Travelers book leaf-watching experiences

Experiential tour operator EF Go Ahead Tours looked at booking numbers for the season and found that travelers’ desire to go leaf hunting is impacting not only the number of domestic trips, but also international trips. EF Go Ahead Tours is seeing increased bookings for its Edinburgh and the Castles of Scotland tour (up 47% compared to last year), which stops at Loch Lomond, a popular spot for viewing autumn colors; his Grand Tour of France (up 63%), which heads to the Loire Valley as the leaves change color; Japan and Kyoto tours (up 30%), where Japanese maples put on a show; and Eastern Europe and Prague tours (up 26%).

Trending from TripIt

Trend 1: London tops the charts for international travel in the fall

The team behind travel planning app TripIt surveyed users and found that more than a third of travelers are taking more international trips today than they have in the last five years. In addition, more than half of all respondents now say they travel abroad at least once a year. Where are they going this fall? Based on reservation numbers as of August 28, London, Paris and Rome are the three most popular international destinations in September. In October the three most popular travel destinations are London, Tokyo and Rome.

Respondents who report traveling more internationally in recent years say they are doing so because they can afford it better, have more flexibility at work (43%), and the easing of restrictions Travel restrictions are helpful (40%).

Trend 2: Chicago and Las Vegas top the fall domestic travel charts

Data from the same survey shows that the most popular domestic destinations for travel in September are Chicago, Las Vegas and New York. In the month of October, Las Vegas ranks first, followed by Orlando and Chicago.

Trends from Hotels.com

Trend 1: Football-inspired travel

Thanksgiving football inspires travelers, according to Hotels.com user data. Searches for Green Bay, Wisconsin, where the Green Bay Packers face the Miami Dolphins over the holidays, are up 417%.

Trend 2: Traveling sober in October

Like Dry January, Sober October encourages abstinence from alcohol, and in keeping with that goal, Hotels.com users are focusing on mocktails this month. According to data, reviews mentioning the mocktails available at a hotel’s bar and restaurants have increased by 50%.

Trends by Heepsy

Trend 1: Rocky Mountain National Park is the top destination in the US this season

According to Heepsy, an influencer marketing platform, Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park is the most popular fall destination in the U.S., with 12.8 million online searches and hashtags tracked. Nevada’s Valley of Fire State Park ranked second (8.7 Google searches) and Mount Rainer National Park ranked third (6.7 million searches). Additional data points are available online.