THE SUMMER IS over but the traveling is not, according to Tripadvisor. The online travel platform’s Seasonal Travel Index for Fall shows at least September will be a busy travel month.
For September through November, the time period covered by the index, 65 percent of all travelers are planning domestic fall getaways. Of those, 79 percent plan to travel in September, the busiest fall travel months.
However, travelers have not forgotten the COVID-19 pandemic and 68 percent say safety and cleanliness are uppermost on their minds. This was shown in a new national survey commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association released last week.
"Among all of the disruption and restrictions this year, 76 percent of U.S. travelers continue to say that travel is important to them, even if they can't experience the world like they used to," said Christopher Hsi, Tripadvisor’s consumer market research lead analyst. "The pandemic has forced travelers to be creative and explore new destinations in ways they may not have considered previously. This fall, we're seeing a rise in destinations where travelers can relax and rejuvenate, as opposed to the busy hustle and bustle of popular cities."
Even with the cooling weather, 61 percent of travelers are more likely to consider outdoor or nature trips and 54 percent are more likely to consider road trips now, compared to before the pandemic. In keeping with that trend, the most popular destinations include outdoor attractions. Four of the top 10 destinations are in Florida.
Those top destinations are as follows.
- Key Largo, Florida
- Key West, Florida
- Atlantic City, New Jersey
- Pete Beach, Florida
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Sedona, Arizona
- Scottsdale, Arizona
- Clearwater, Florida
- San Diego, California
- Savannah, Georgia
Travelers are looking for short getaways with 55 percent of fall travelers booking two- to five-night stays, and 36 percent booking short one-night stays. Fall travelers are booking more near-term trips, often less than a week in advance, according to Tripadvisor.
Most travelers seek hotels due to size, but bed and breakfasts have shown continuously stronger recovery year-over-year. Quaint, romantic and charming hotel are strongest in the U.S.
Red Roof President Zack Gharib, far right, participates in a panel discussion at AAHOA’s 2025 Convention and Trade Show.
