SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – While many people in the U.S. might associate fall with the back-to-school season and a pause in travel, AAA said there is increased travel demand for flights and cruises this autumn.
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This week, the federation of American motor clubs said its booking data showed that domestic flight bookings are up 1% and international flight bookings are up 3%. Going along with the recent trend of softening inflation, AAA said travelers are paying around the same that they would have last year, with domestic roundtrip tickets going for an average of $660 and international roundtrip tickets going for an average of $1,315.
Cruise bookings are up even more. Domestic cruise bookings are up 19% compared to last fall and international cruise bookings are up 6%. While domestic cruise prices are similar to last fall at $2,355, the average cost of international cruises is up 1% to $3,560.
“This time of year is known as shoulder season in travel which means mild weather, fewer crowds, and better prices,” said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, of fall travel. “AAA booking numbers show more people are flying this season both domestically and internationally, and many travelers are taking fall cruises to enjoy the foliage in Alaska and New England!”
As for where people are heading when they travel this autumn, AAA compiled top 10 lists for both domestic and international destinations.
It’s probably not a surprise that Orlando, Fla., is at the top of the domestic list, since it is known for its tourist-magnet theme parks such as Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. International travelers may be inspired by the move Netflix hit “Emily in Paris” made to Rome this year, with the Eternal City landing at the top of the international list.
Here’s the full domestic destinations list:
1. Orlando, Fla.
2. Boston, Mass.
3. Seattle, Wash.
4. Denver, Colo.
5. Las Vegas, Nev.
6. New York City, N.Y.
7. Los Angeles, Calif.
8. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
9. Honolulu, Hawaii
10. Atlanta, Ga.
Here’s the full international destinations list:
1. Rome, Italy
2. Paris, France
3. London, U.K.
4. Vancouver, B.C., Canada
5. Dublin, Ireland
6. Athens, Greece
7. Barcelona, Spain
8. Amsterdam, Netherlands
9. Venice, Italy
10. Lisbon, Portugal
AAA noted that Europe is less busy in the fall compared to the summer travel season. While European destinations dominate the international list, Vancouver made its way into the top five. This coastal, seaport city is located on the western half of the Burrard Peninsula. To the north it is bounded by the English Bay and the Burrard Inlet and to the south it is bounded by the Fraser River. It is also just around three hours from Seattle by car.
In addition to traveling by plane or by cruise ship, AAA said fall is also an ideal time to go on a road trip, as the risk of traffic and hot, sticky seats goes down considerably.
“In many parts of the U.S., temperatures are dipping and leaves are changing, creating the perfect conditions for a picturesque fall getaway,” said AAA. Last fall, AAA created a list of places in the U.S. where travelers can find the best fall foliage and this year it shouted out Boston; Denver; Montreal in Quebec, Canada and Vancouver as top “leaf-peeping destinations,” as well as the towns of Portland in Maine and Oregon.
Those hitting the road this fall can also expect to find cheaper gas prices compared to last year, AAA said. Costs of filling up a tank have been down since late July, partly because of a relatively quiet Atlantic hurricane season (as of September).
“This is also the time of year when stations switch to winter-blend gasoline which is cheaper to produce,” AAA added. “Drivers renting cars for their autumn adventures are also finding better rates. The cost to rent a vehicle domestically is down 5% this fall and down 15% for international car rentals.”
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