Canada
Cheapest window to book fall travel is 21 to 30 days, most expensive is 91+ days
Most sought-after destinations are Las Vegas, Toronto, Vancouver and Tokyo
Popular destinations like Palm Springs, Fla., Manchester and Tulum showing a drop in prices of at least 10 per cent
Montréal, Victoria and Moncton trending for Canadian Thanksgiving weekend; savings to be found on Las Vegas packages
Summer may be winding down, but fall travel is heating up and Expedia data shows Canadians aren’t just chasing leaf-peeping destinations this year. From East Coast locales to overseas adventures in Asia, Expedia’s fall travel outlook dives into autumn travel trends, including the hottest destinations, best booking windows and ways to save.
“This year, there’s no hard line when it comes to swapping beach towels for cozy sweaters,” said Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group Brands public relations. “Canadians are re-writing the fall travel playbook and trading pumpkin spice everything for a front row seat to moon festivals, samurai lessons, and alternate destinations with a lower price tag.”
Expedia’s Fall Travel Outlook:
Destination Insights1
- Booking the beach: Hitting the beach isn’t solely reserved for winter escapes anymore, with Cancun up a whopping 83 per cent year-over-year for the fall season. Other trending beach destinations include Playa del Carmen (58 per cent), Punta Cana (40 per cent), Orlando (21 per cent), Turks and Caicos (9 per cent) and Honolulu (6 per cent).
- Packing for Paris: Expedia’s summer data revealed a drop in demand (-35 per cent)2 for France’s capital, suggesting last minute bookers were keen to avoid the busy crowds during the Summer Games. For autumn, Paris makes a comeback as the seventh most-searched destination overall with an 11% increase YoY as Canadians look to make up for lost time. It’s an especially great time to visit the City of Light with rates down 10 per cent on average3.
- Era’s expeditions: With the record-breaking Era’s Tour returning stateside, Canadians are planning trips to Indianapolis (35 per cent), New Orleans (44 per cent) and Miami (28 per cent), proving the Tour Tourism phenomenon is still going strong.
- Adventures in Asia: Canadians are increasingly drawn to the rich cultures and vibrant cities of Asia with searches hitting an all-time high for 2024. Kyoto (83 per cent), Osaka (69 per cent), Seoul (63 per cent), Bangkok (62 per cent), Taipei (32 per cent) and Yamaguchi (18 per cent) are among some of the fastest-growing Asian destinations for Canadian travellers.
- Let’s go Buffalo: Football fans are gearing up for home opener weekend in Buffalo Sept. 7 to 8, with lodging searches soaring 140 per cent compared to the previous week4. Fans are even considering flying to the game with flight searches showing a significant spike of 325 per cent5.
- Canadian Thanksgiving: While major domestic hubs like Toronto and Vancouver are experiencing a decline in searches compared to the long-weekend last year, cities such as Montréal, Victoria and Moncton are gaining popularity for Thanksgiving travels6. For sunseekers, Cancun is a hot choice with search volumes up 78 per cent year-over-year. Meanwhile, travellers can look for package savings to Las Vegas with the destination showing less searches than average (-16 per cent) for the holiday weekend6.
- Fall foliage favorites: While classic leaf peeping destinations remain popular, Canadians are seeking a western spin with Montana experiencing an extraordinary 172 per cent increase in searches. Other notable fall foliage destinations of interest include Boston (56 per cent), Charlottetown (41 per cent), Québec City (20 per cent), Edinburgh (9 per cent), and Burlington, Vermont (6 per cent). Expect to pay more for popular hotspots like Boston, which shows an 11 per cent hike in average daily rates compared to summer 20247.
Best and Busiest Times to Travel This Fall8
For both domestic and international travel, the Thursday and Friday following Labor Day are the busiest days of the season. Many travellers are returning from an extended holiday weekend, while others are seizing the opportunity for a quick getaway and enjoying shoulder season savings before the holiday rush begins.
- Busiest Travel Dates: Window between Sept. 3 to 9 is the busiest; Sept. 5 and 6 (Thursday and Friday after Labor Day) are the busiest days.
- Lightest Travel Dates: Week of Nov. 10
Cheapest Day of the Week to Fly8
According to Expedia data, Fridays are typically the busiest days at the airport during the autumn months, while Tuesdays see the least crowds. To maximize savings, depart on a Sunday instead of a Wednesday to save around 15 per cent on domestic flights.
Shoulder Season Steals3
Expedia data reveals that overall average daily rates are largely on-par with the summer season, but there are still deals to be found for savvy travellers. While autumn hotspots are seeing higher ticket prices compared to the summer months, popular destinations like Palm Springs, Fla.; Tulum, Mexico; Manchester, England; and Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, are seeing a price drop of at least 10 per cent on average.
Canadian travellers can also take advantage of Expedia’s last-minute summer sale, on now until Aug. 30. Members can save up to 25 per cent on select hotels to make the most out of the season.
Best of Fall Curated Destinations
Unsure about where to go this fall? Expedia has handpicked destinations that allow travellers to experience the best parts of the autumn season in a new or familiar place.
Canada:
Baie-Saint-Paul: Just over an hour from Québec City, this picturesque town comes alive with vibrant colors in the fall. Take in the beauty of the Charlevoix region while horseback riding through the stunning foliage or indulge in the thriving culinary scene with a wine or food tour. Don’t miss the opportunity to sample the unique tomato wine at Domaine de la Vallée du Bras. After a day of exploration, unwind at Hotel & Spa Le Germain Charlevoix.
Charlottetown: From a street bazaar paying homage to the moon, to an international celebration of shellfish, Charlottetown is no stranger to a good fall festival, so it’s no wonder the destination is trending. In addition to must-do activities like exploring the Anne of Green Gables house and grabbing a scoop at the iconic COWS Creamery, travellers can look forward to open-air fall markets, harvest flavours and streets decked with hundreds of scarecrows. The Rodd Charlottetown is centrally located to get in on all the fall fun.
United States:
Las Vegas: Autumn is a great time to score a package deal for a quick Las Vegas getaway with prices and scorching temperatures typically dropping during shoulder season. A stay at Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World puts you right in the action of the Las Vegas Strip with nearby attractions including the STRAT observation tower and thrill rides, “Vegas! The Show”, nightly helicopter tours, or a tour of the Mojave Desert and Seven Magic Mountains.
New Orleans: With below-average ADRs, New Orleans is a great dupe for Boston for those looking for a spooky vibe without breaking the bank. Stay at the historic Le Pavillon hotel and enjoy activities like this cemetery after dark tour, a haunted pub crawl, or a ghosts and vampires tour with a local expert. You can even attend the annual vampire ball that takes place in a gothic mansion. Expedia recommends booking this destination early, as prices are expected to climb.
Europe:
Marseille: It’s an ideal time to visit France right now with ADRs down 10 to 31 per cent for cities like Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon, Nantes and Marseille3. The latter is perched on the edge of the turquoise blue Mediterranean Sea, making it the perfect location for sailing the waters of Southern France. Stay at the impeccably decorated Maisons du Monde Hôtel & Suites and enjoy nearby attractions like Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, or enjoy fresh seafood in the vibrant Old Port.
Asia:
Yamaguchi: A not-to-be-missed hidden gem, Yamaguchi Prefecture is a 1.5-hour flight or a 4.5-hour Shinkansen (high-speed bullet train) ride from Tokyo. Spend the day in Nagato, home of the breathtaking Motonosumi Shrine and trek the Chomonkyo Gorge, which is a prime spot for autumn leaf-peeping. Don’t miss a trip to Hagi Castle Town to learn about the history of the samurai and take home a souvenir goldfish lantern. At the end of the day, Matsudaya Hotel is a comfortable place to rest your head.
Caribbean:
Willemstad: Not ready to say goodbye to summer? Head to the rainbow-coloured town of Willemstad on the island of Curaçao. With an oceanfront view of the aqua waters that inspired the name of Curaçao liqueur, Avila Beach Resort is the perfect place for a beachside breakfast or an open-air massage. Enjoy the sunset from a luxury catamaran yacht, or spend an afternoon snorkeling with sea turtles.
Fall Travel Tips:
- Find the sweet spot for bookings: Expedia data shows the ideal booking window for fall travel is 21 to 30 days out for optimal savings. Booking 14 to 20 days increases average prices by 2 per cent, whereas booking 91+ days could see a jump of 37 per cent higher rates on average8.
- Opt for morning flights: According to Expedia’s 2024 Air Travel Hacks Report, morning departures are 18 per cent less prone to cancellations than flights after 3 p.m9., highlighting the benefits of seizing the day.
- Consider travel insurance to protect the trip: Weather experts predict an active hurricane season, so travellers eyeing beach destinations in the hurricane belt may want to invest in travel insurance that covers this type of weather event.
- Take advantage of sales deals: From now until Aug. 30, travellers can access additional savings during the last-minute summer sale on Expedia.ca with a free member account. Must travel before Jan. 31, 2025.
- Secure a flexible hotel reservation: Use Expedia’s search filters to discover accommodations offering “free cancellation” or “reserve now, pay later” options, and select the refundable room.
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Notes to Editor:
Images can be found here.
Data Sources
1Most popular and trending destinations based on Expedia.ca lodging searches for travel during the weeks of Sept. 3 – Nov. 15, 2024, as of July 19, 2024. Trending destinations are based on comparisons to the same time period last year.
2Based on Expedia.ca lodging searches with a Canadian origin for travel from May 24-Sept 3, 2024 compared to the same time the previous year.
3Based on average daily rates for Sept. 3 – Nov. 15, 2024, compared to the previous year.
4Based on Expedia.ca lodging searches with an Ontario, Canada origin for travel to Buffalo, New York on September 7-8, 2024 compared to September 14-15, 2024.
5Based on Expedia.ca flight searches for travel during Sept. 3 – Nov. 15, 2024, as of July 19, 2024 compared to the previous year.
6Based on Expedia.ca lodging searches for travel October 11-14, 2024 compared to the previous year.
7Based on average daily rates for Sept. 3 – Nov. 15, 2024, compared to May 24-Sept 3, 2024.
8Based on Expedia flight demand for travel during September, October, November 2023 compared to the same time frame in 2022.
9How to avoid flight cancellations information is based on January through July 2023 flight status data for flights originating in Canada sourced from OAG’s global flight data platform. Percentages noted are averages.
