Fall is the new summer

Why travelers are skipping peak crowds and making autumn the hottest season in travel

For years, fall was the insider’s hack: fewer people, lower prices, a quieter kind of magic. Not anymore. Thanks to remote work, climate change, and a backlash against summer overtourism, autumn has stepped out of the shadows. From the Amalfi Coast to Aspen, what used to be the “shoulder season” is now prime time — and often priced like it.

Key takeaways

• From secret to mainstream: Destinations like Dublin, Newport, and Cape Cod are packed in September and October, rivaling summer demand.
• Work-from-anywhere shift: Post-pandemic flexibility means travelers no longer plan strictly around school holidays or office calendars.
• Goodbye discounts: Fall deals are vanishing fast, with rates at hotels, cruises, and flights now matching — or beating — summer highs.
• Climate is the driver: Longer warm seasons in Europe and North America are making September and October feel like extensions of July.
• Overtourism pushback: Crowded summers in Venice, Dubrovnik, and Spain are nudging travelers to delay trips until fall.
• Fall has its own flavor: Harvest festivals, salmon runs, foliage tours, and wellness retreats are fueling a year-round travel economy.

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