Lock In a Great Deal on a Fall Vacation

Prices will be lower than during the summer rush, and you’ll encounter fewer crowds and milder weather

- EMMA PATCH

The number of people traveling this summer is the highest since before the pandemic, and airlines and hotels are raising prices to match the demand. But you can find deals on flights and lodging toward the end of August and heading into the fall, especially if you travel domestically. Domestic airfares are expected to drop 6% from July to August and continue to drop throughout the shoulder season, according to the travel site Hopper.

But thanks to high demand and fewer seats on international routes, international airfares are at the highest levels in at least five years, according to Hopper. Airfares to Europe are 24% higher than before the pandemic, on average, and flights to Asia are 60% higher than they were prepandemic, according to Hopper.

Nantucket. Flights to the island off Cape Cod drop by 60%, on average, beginning in August, according to travel site Kayak. Lodging can be pricey, but in the fall months, accommodations are more affordable. Even the renowned White Elephant Hotel—Nantucket’s iconic harborside hotel and cottages—drops its rates from $2,200 for a five-day stay in the summer to around $1,395 for five days in early October.

September and October are prime months to avoid crowds and enjoy the peace and quiet of the idyllic natural surroundings. High temperatures range from about 60 to 68 degrees, and a visit in October offers early glimpses of fall colors along the wooded coastline.

Despite being a slower season, there’s still lots to do. October is a thriving month for the arts, when the Nantucket Arts Festival and the Artists Association of Nantucket Wet Paint Weekend take place. Wet Paint Weekend features gallery events, auctions, dinners and art shows open to the public. The Nantucket Arts Festival includes visual, musical, theatrical and literary events.