Summer is coming to a close but that doesn’t mean your travel plans have to be put on hold until the holidays. Labor Day weekend signals the arrival of shoulder season, a fantastic time for travelers with some flexibility to save big on a spectacular getaway while avoiding the large crowds at the same time. Make this the year that you capitalize on this golden opportunity.
The coming days and weeks will see airfares drop and become more affordable before beginning to climb again and eventually peaking around the Thanksgiving holiday. “Summer is winding down and consumer focus is on returning to normal work and school schedules. Our data shows that airfares are trending downward, and we expect that to continue for the immediate future,” says Glenn Cusano, President of Fareportal, the corporation behind OTA brands CheapOair and OneTravel.
There are plenty of great deals out there right now as several airlines are launching sales with one-way fares under $40 and even offering discounted all-you-can-fly passes as demand dips. Plus, travelers should be able to find plenty of favorable hotel rates, especially if they’re able to put those unused vacation days to work and stay mid-week. Shoulder season globetrotters could potentially save even more on a more comfortable stay by booking a vacation rental.
Vrbo experts point out that travelers can save hundreds per night on beach houses in popular coastal destinations such as North Carolina’s Outer Banks; Gulf Shores, Alabama.