A Little Fall Getaway
Summer’s over and kids are back in school, but many people are making plans for at least one more getaway this fall, before the arrival of another busy holiday season. According to a recent survey from AAA, more than one in four Americans (28 percent) expect to take a vacation this year between Labor Day and Thanksgiving.
In fact, Americans say the top benefits of taking a fall trip include:
- Fewer crowds and children (68 percent) • Weather that is more favorable (63 percent)
- The opportunity to find better value for the cost of their trip (55 percent)
Road trips are the preferred activity for fall travelers, with 62 percent of those planning a vacation intending to pack up their cars and hit the road. Thanks to milder weather, outdoor events such as fall festivals and visits to national and state parks are particularly popular with travelers this time of year. Twenty-six percent of those who are planning a fall vacation will take a trip to view fall foliage, a favorite pastime from the northeast and New England, to the mountains of North Carolina and Colorado.
The majority of fall travelers will stay within the United States, with Orlando, southern California, Hawaii and New York the most popular domestic travel destinations, based on AAA Travel bookings. Approximately one-third of fall travelers are planning an international vacation, with European destinations including Rome and London especially popular this time of year. AAA predicts that this year’s top fall destinations (based on historical AAA Travel booking data) include:
- Orlando, Florida
- Rome, Italy
- Anaheim, California
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- New York City
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- London, England
- Dublin, Ireland
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Cancun, Mexico
Before setting out on a fall getaway, travelers should contact their local AAA office for the expert advice of a trusted travel advisor who can provide personalized service and in-depth destination knowledge to create a memorable vacation experience. For more information about fall travel or to begin planning a trip, visit AAA.com/Travel.
