Fall Travel Trends, as Identified by Travelzoo

With the trees changing color and the air getting crisper, the forecast is in for fall travel trends, as identified by our team of deal experts. In the travel industry, this time of year is known as shoulder season, the time between peak summer season and low winter season. It’s when the temperatures are still comfortable in many popular spots for sightseeing -- but the crowds are few and far between.

So just what fall trends are we seeing this year? Take a look:

Getaways Close to Home

Deals to domestic destinations including northern California coast towns, southeastern beach spots and northeastern foliage towns get even better during shoulder season. Travelers in the west should look for discounts in central and northern California coast cities.

• The Sea Otter Inn in Cambria has a $99 dinner package for Sunday-Thursday stays until Dec. 23. A savings of 40%, this deal includes dinner for two, continental breakfast and a room with a fireplace. Weekends are just $50 more.

We’re also seeing a surplus of fall deals for oceanfront towns in the South such as Myrtle Beach, Wrightsville Beach, Hilton Head and Jekyll Island. 

• The 4-Diamond Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa has cut rates to $99 per night for its island-view rooms through Dec. 30. This room at the plush property is more than twice as expensive during peak season.

Savings on New England Cruises

Travelers can save as much as $400 per person for New England cruises this fall, according to Travelzoo research. It’s pretty rare to see peak season discounts, but an increase in ships sailing New England itineraries has led to aggressive rates. Cruises can be budget-friendly options because all accommodations, meals, entertainment and gratuity are included in one pre-paid price.

• Royal Caribbean is offering foliage cruises from Sept. 18 - Oct. 23, with departures from Bayonne, New Jersey; Boston, Massachusetts; and Baltimore, Maryland. Seven-night itineraries start at $549.

Last-Minute Deals for Outdoor Attractions

With kids back in school, zoos and theme parks see a dip in attendance, which means an influx of special offers. Coast to coast, entertainment companies are dropping prices on family fun.

• Universal Orlando has discounted its four-day park-to-park pass. Now the passes are $134.99 (regularly $159.99) for adults and $121.99 (regularly $142.99) for children. Because one-day tickets are regularly $112, this is a savings of more than $78 per day.

And with sweater weather comes the end of baseball season. Playoffs are fast approaching, so catch these regular-season games at big discounts. Travelzoo has published ticket deals for the Atlanta Braves, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Florida Marlins, the L.A. Angels and the Chicago White Sox.

South Pacific film locales on shows such as “The Bachelorette” and “Survivor” make these exotic destinations even more attractive. The pop-culture influence has encouraged airlines and tour operators to promote aggressive deals further enticing travelers and making these long-haul trips attainable.

• Travelscene has put together an “Eat Pray Love” package with eight nights in Bali -- including air, roundtrip transfers and daily breakfast -- for $779. This itinerary includes four nights in Nusa Dua and four nights in Ubud.
• A recent Top 20 favorite has been a seven-night escorted tour package in Thailand for $999. This exotic offering from Friendly Planet is less than the cost of airfare.

Risk-Free, All-Inclusive Vacations

While savings in the Caribbean and Mexico during hurricane season isn’t ground-breaking news for deal savvy travelers, this year many companies are throwing in extras to spur bookings. CheapCaribbean.com is including travel insurance with many packages, a value of $45 per person. 

• Stay four nights at the San Juan Marriott and Stellaris Casino in Puerto Rico for just $369. This offer, which is valid for stays through Nov. 16, also offers $200 in resort credit.

The perk of free travel insurance isn’t just being added to destinations that experience a rainy season. Some travel providers are offering to other popular fall destinations. Off2hawaii.com has a vacation package at the 4-star Marriott Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa for five nights with airfare for $710-$760 per person, including the free insurance.