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Prices drop in shoulder season, allowing you to find an affordable getaway or a more reasonable splurge
Advice by Natalie B. Compton
If you’re feeling immense woe as summer fades away, hold off on your seasonal despair. Fall is coming, but you don’t have to say goodbye to your dreams of sun and sand just yet. Piña coladas, pools and palm trees are still attainable, even if people are already gearing up for leaf-peeping.
Depending on the destination, fall is shoulder season — an off-peak period when business slows and prices come down accordingly. Hayley Berg, lead economist for the travel booking app Hopper, says beach airfare and hotel prices drop in September and October, particularly in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. You could use those savings to score a weekend getaway that won’t blow your budget, or ball out on something special at a better rate than peak season affords.
For further deals, Berg encourages travelers to shell out some vacation days and plan a trip during the week. You’ll find the best prices for Monday through Wednesday departures, or if you skip a Saturday night hotel stay.
Here’s where to go if you’re not ready to throw in the beach towel on summer just yet.
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Fuseta, Portugal
The weather in southern Portugal is splendid in September and October, so travel adviser Marisa DeSalvio sends clients to Fuseta, in the Algarve region. “It’s very beachy, and not only that, there’s a huge culinary scene,” DeSalvio said. For example, there are local oyster farms where visitors can try shucking themselves, then savor their work with a glass of local wine.
Fuseta, a former fishing town, is about a 40-minute drive from Portugal’s Faro International Airport. DeSalvio’s favorite hotel in the area is the Octant Vila Monte, or she recommends looking for an Airbnb.
St. Lucia
For a combination of seaside relaxation and mountain tranquility, DeSalvio recommends a shoulder-season trip to St. Lucia in the Eastern Caribbean. The island is usually spared by Atlantic hurricanes thanks to its location south of the so-called hurricane belt. Its rainforest terrain is a draw for active travelers who love hiking and birding, “but then you also have the benefit of having these tropical, white-sand beaches that are not as crowded as some of the other Caribbean islands,” DeSalvio said. There are a number of great boutique hotels on the island, but DeSalvio sends clients to Ladera and Cap Maison, two well-known luxe options.
Hawaii
After Maui’s devastating fires, locals pleaded with tourists to stay away as the community healed. But a drop in tourism had immediate economic effects. According to the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, the absence of tourism in West Maui is costing the state an estimated $9 million a day. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) issued an emergency proclamation last week welcoming travelers back to West Maui (but not Lahaina) starting Oct. 8.
Of course, there are other islands to consider. Siera Duiser, travel adviser with Destinations to Explore, recommends visitors stay on Oahu, where in between their time on the beach, they can hike Diamond Head, revisit World War II history at Pearl Harbor and try Matsumoto Shave Ice on the North Shore. Don’t forget to plan your visit with the local community in mind, opting for local and family-owned businesses whenever possible.
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South Carolina barrier islands
A quick detour from Charleston, the barrier islands of South Carolina are a fall go-to for certified travel specialist Susan Glover. Isle of Palms, Folly Beach or Kiawah Island all make good options with temperatures in the 80s and the humidity of July and August long gone, along with the crowds. Glover recommends going with a vacation rental over a hotel, so you can have your own oyster roast or Lowcountry boil after a long day at the beach.
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Seychelles
For a honeymoon-worthy shoulder-season jaunt, there’s the Seychelles, an archipelago of more than 100 islands off the East African coast. Laura Burdett-Munns, managing director of the luxury travel company Journeysmiths, says the Seychelles are often referred to as a Garden of Eden, as more than half of its land is protected.
During September and October, the Seychelles’ two main islands, Mahé and Praslin, have weather in the 80s. Burdett-Munns recommends staying a few days in each, and if your budget allows, exploring some of the region’s idyllic private islands. Visitors can rent a car to explore the country’s beaches and national wonders, such as Morne Seychellois National Park on Mahé or Praslin’s Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve — a palm forest and UNESCO World Heritage site.
Tahiti
Fall is whale season in Tahiti, making it a favorite off-peak beach pick for Mary Kraemer of Masterpiece Travels. Located in the Southern Hemisphere, Tahiti sees highs in the 70s and 80s in September and October, and travelers can find convenient nonstop flights from the West Coast. Brittany Campbell, owner and travel adviser at Bucket List Holidays, says a way to save money on a Tahiti trip is to skip the overwater accommodations and opt for a beach bungalow instead.
Bali
Surf. Jungles. Rich culture. Adventure. Bali has it all, plus “it’s hot year-round,” says Esther Klijn of Cire Travel, making it a perfect shoulder option. Klijn says that, in the fall, you’ll have great lying-by-the-pool weather, fewer crowds and accommodations that promise more bang for your buck than many popular beach destinations.
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Sifnos, Greece
The Cyclades — a group of Greek islands in the Aegean Sea — may be most famous for hot spots such as Santorini and Mykonos, but Alessandra Motola, a luxury travel expert with Blue Parallel, prefers sending clients to more off-the-beaten-path options, such as Sifnos.
Sifnos can be reached by ferry from Athens in about three hours and has a dreamlike quality, Motola says. It’s home to exciting outdoor adventures, breathtaking natural beauty and unforgettable culinary experiences.
Motola is also a fan of Crete for its mountainous natural landscapes and fascinating history. And although it’s the largest of the Greek islands, Crete is often overlooked by American travelers. Don’t miss the island’s “fantastic hiking excursion along ancient Minoan paths that lead through a beautiful gorge which empties out into a fantastic beach,” Motola said in an email. Spend one of your days on Crete renting a boat to explore the turquoise waters of Elounda or go out to the uninhabited islet of Spinalonga.
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Aruba
Aruba is a year-round beach pick for Heather Meliski of Yellow Shoe Travel, but particularly during shoulder season, because it’s outside of the hurricane belt. That means you’re guaranteed sun along with fantastic food and great resorts, Meliski says. She encourages travelers to rent a car to explore the island beyond the typical tourist track — like the murals in San Nicolas.
Sunny Isles Beach, Fla.
Located within about 20 miles of the Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports, Sunny Isles Beach, Fla., is a fall staple for Kristy Lobell of Traveluxe. While Lobell books clients at the five-star Acqualina Resort, visitors can find white sand and plenty of budget-friendly rentals on platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo.
September and October are technically hurricane season, so you’ll want to keep plans flexible in case of emergency. But fall does offer a break from Florida humidity, and daily temperatures average in the mid- to upper 80s. If you’re up for a road trip, it’s about a 1½-hour drive to Everglades National Park.
More travel tips
Vacation planning: Start with a strategy to maximize days off by taking PTO around holidays. Experts recommend taking multiple short trips for peak happiness. Want to take an ambitious trip? Here are 12 destinations to try this year — without crowds.
Cheap flights: Follow our best advice for scoring low airfare, including setting flight price alerts and subscribing to deal newsletters. If you’re set on an expensive getaway, here’s a plan to save up without straining your credit limit.
Airport chaos: We’ve got advice for every scenario, from canceled flights to lost luggage. Stuck at the rental car counter? These tips can speed up the process. And following these 52 rules of flying should make the experience better for everyone.
Expert advice: Our By The Way Concierge solves readers’ dilemmas, including whether it’s okay to ditch a partner at security, or what happens if you get caught flying with weed. Submit your question here. Or you could look to the gurus: Lonely Planet and Rick Steves.