Savvy British holidaymakers are embracing new and exciting European destinations this autumn, as they look to plan short-haul getaways over the next three months, taking advantage of prices being 15%² lower than summer, according to Expedia.

The Expedia Autumn Travel Outlook released today reveals that hotel searches are up over 100% year-over-year¹ for a host of new trending destinations, including Saint-Malo, Didim, Syracuse and Palermo.

Whether it’s travelling for sun, sea and sand or city exploration, autumn is an opportune time for budget-minded travellers to get away.

For many destinations, it’s “shoulder season,” the sweet spot between tourist high season and seasonal low season when the weather is nice, the crowds have dispersed, and travel is more wallet-friendly. Tips and trends from Expedia’s Autumn Travel Outlook include:

Destination Insights²

• Many new trending hotspots are spiking travel searches this autumn, with lodging searches for many destinations doubling. Sicily is THE place to visit for Brits, with Syracuse and Palermo making the Top 10 trending destination list, with other Italian hotspots Lake Garda and Ischia also proving popular.
• The Brittany town of Saint-Malo tops the trending list, up 280% YoY, likely driven by new ferry routes and the appeal of being able to drive there from Calais in under five hours.
• Didim in Turkey is seeing a surge in demand, as UK travellers look to soak up the sun overseas as the British summer fades. The brand new 5-star Anda Barut Collection ultra all-inclusive resort just opened, with the area famed for its huge selection of all-inclusive properties and great end-of-season prices.
• The only long-haul hotspot in the trending destinations list was Beijing, as the city continues its rise in popularity, following a 300% increase in searches for the summer period, as revealed in Expedia’s Summer Travel Outlook.
• The Northern Lights, and specifically Tromsø in Norway, continue to draw in crowds, with searches for the aurora borealis hotspot up 105% for autumn stays.
• Most popular autumn destinations for Brits remain the same as last year — London, New York, Paris, Edinburgh and Amsterdam, with searches remaining stable.³
• Flight searches⁴ have also surged for Brits looking to discover new, under-the-radar European cities this autumn. Poznan (+95%) in Poland, Tirana (+95%) in Albania and Bucharest (+70%) in Romania are all trending, as Brits look to stretch their budgets further by looking outside the popular city break hotspots.

Best and Busiest Times to Travel This Fall⁵

• Thursdays are the least busy day to fly this autumn, with the 28 and 21 November being the lightest travel dates. The 20 and 21 October are the busiest times to fly.
• 10 and 17 December are the quietest dates for hotel stays this autumn, with 23 October and 25 September being the busiest days that travellers are looking to check in.

Cheapest Time to Travel⁶

• For the best deals, travellers should look to book their flights 14 to 20 days before travel, saving them on average £120 compared to booking 91 days or more out, or saving £60 compared to booking 60 – 90 days out.
• Target the 22 – 29 September for travel, when average ticket prices (ATPs) for flights are shaping up to be nearly £100 cheaper than the autumn average, and £50 cheaper than summer ATPs.
• For hotel stays, target the 3 – 9 November, when average daily rates are £15 cheaper per night than the seasonal average and summer stays.

“Summer sun escapes are a firm fixture on Brits’ calendars, but shoulder season should be about spontaneity if you want to save hundreds of pounds on your trip,” says Melanie Fish, Expedia Group Brands spokesperson. “Other autumn savings tips include booking two weeks out which can save on average £120. The best flight deals are showing from 22 – 29 September and to avoid the hotel crowds, plan a break on 10 or 17 December.”

Autumn Travel Tips

Allow Expedia’s suite of traveller tools to simplify the journey by taking the guesswork out of booking, saving on airfare and streamlining the planning process.

• Save with flight alerts: Use Price Tracking on the Expedia app to pinpoint the optimal booking window and receive instant notifications when flight prices drop.*
• Choose a morning flight: According to Expedia’s 2024 Air Travel Hacks Report, flights departing after 3 p.m. are 50% more susceptible to cancellations than their earlier counterparts, proving it pays to be a morning person.
• Reserve a hotel with flexible policies: Use Expedia’s search filters to look for properties offering “free cancellation” or “reserve now, pay later,” and opt for the refundable room.
• Bundling: With flights, car hire, hotels and activities, Expedia offers customisable holiday packages in one place, allowing travellers to save hundreds of pounds on average when booking multiple items on Expedia. Travellers then also have their itinerary all in one place, making it easier to keep track of their journey.”

Data Sources