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Fall Travel – where to go and when!

Fall travel is beautiful for many reasons…you can enjoy walking around without screaming summer heat or freezing in winter winds. Fall also means more fall foliage and less crowds. Above all, it is ‘shoulder season’ in terms of grabbing great deals on flights and accommodation this is your best bet. According to one of the world’s largest digital travel companies – booking.com – there are a whole bunch of destinations that are less expensive during the fall months as opposed to the most expensive times of the year.  For example, travel to San Diego in October and receive 24 % savings or travel to Niagra Falls in New York State in October and receive 38%. Booking.com also finds that almost half (48%) of global travelers said that they plan on taking a family vacation in 2019 – so family trips are clearly becoming a popular option in the upcoming months. However couples or single travelers will also find plenty of deals out there for fall travel.


Given that the northeast gets some of the most aesthetically beautiful weather, consider staying close to home and visiting New Hampshire, CT or taking advantage of NY city break. Hotels like The High Line Hotel in NY, are a great option for families – with their annual Halloween Dog Costume Parade held on Oct 27th featuring face painting and more, and the hotel’s “urban pumpkin patch” courtyard where parents can grab fall themed cocktail’s at Ingo’s in the garden or take advantage of the hotel’s ‘Pumpkin Service, Bottle Service’ – where a master-pumpkin-carver will make your custom design come to life on a pumpkin — all while you sip on a bottle of bubbly!


Looking to go a bit further? Travelers really looking to save money should consider places that are typically associated with summer vacation like Southern CA for example. Ontario International Airport (ONT) is a preferable example to fly into, being approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California…with direct flights on Jetblue that fly into and out of JFK. So if you’re looking for a less stressful experience and want to beat LA traffic, it’s a great option. Southern California is known for its beautiful beaches, stoic mountains, beautiful landscapes, amusement parks and those famous beaches like Huntington and Venice, which will all have great weather with less crowds this time of year.


What about booking ahead for thanksgiving? Holiday travelers should make their plans now and begin booking their flights for Thanksgiving asap. Flying in the Monday before Thanksgiving is looking to be the cheapest day to travel before the holiday, Maintaining a degree of flexibility will help you, as well as tracking your ideal destinations with flight tracking apps which can notify you when the best time to book is based on a fare drop.

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Holiday Travel – Why to book now (on Fox5 NY)

Now is the time to book your holiday plans. We are coming to the end of  ‘shoulder season’ in terms of grabbing great deals on flights and accommodation – especially if you plan on taking your family away. According to Booking.com, one of the largest digital travel companies, almost half (48%) of global travelers said that they planned on taking a family vacation in 2019, so as the demand for these kinds of trips has risen, so have the options – especially as we head into the busy holiday season. Booking.com is also offering it’s own Black Friday sale which will feature tens of thousands of deals at properties across the globe, starting at 40% off, with book by dates extending to Cyber Monday.

Travelers really looking to save the most amount of money should consider places that are typically associated with summer vacation like Southern CA for example. Ontario International Airport (ONT) is a preferable example to fly into, being approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California…with direct flights on Jetblue that fly into and out of JFK. So if you’re looking for a less stressful experience for the family and want to beat LA traffic, it’s a great option. Southern California is of course known for its beautiful landscapes, amusement parks and those famous beaches, and of course that year-round sunshine!

Those looking for more of a resort experience should consider a vacation rental, especially if traveling with extended family. Booking direct, at ReunionResort.com you will get the “Real Reunion Difference,” at their Kissimmee properties, where guests can enjoy unlimited access to all resort amenities every day of their overnight stay, with no extra costs or restricted schedules. Of course, Central Florida during the holidays is one of the top vacation spots to visit, and for many booking a vacation home where everyone can stay under one roof and have additional amenities, such as private kitchen or private pool – makes a real difference. 

And what about those looking to do something outside the box? Consider having a guided vacation company help you out.  Trafalgar Family Experiences prides itself on being the antidote to “I’m bored,” with a range of hands-on experiences the whole family – from learning to be a Gladiator in Rome to horseback riding in Montana or zip lining in Costa Rica.  Trafalgar actually found that the overwhelming majority of parents admit they would rather cancel Christmas to travel, so this is a great way to keep everyone happy while making personal connections and once-in-a-lifetime memories. The best part is that they take care of all the planning from hotel accommodations, to dining reservations. 

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Labor Day Weekend Travel Tips

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What’s going on with Labor Day Travel this year?

A record 17.5 million passengers are expected to travel on U.S.-based airlines this Labor Day Weekend, according to a report released by Airlines for America. That means LAX is going to see their busiest day on Friday, Aug. 30, it should see just under 3 million people will boarding a U.S. airline.

According to Booking.com’s 2019 Travel Predictions, half of travelers in the US plan to take weekend trips in 2019 (50%) Also gas prices for the holiday weekend are lining up to be the lowest in 2-3 years (15% lower than last years) which could impact the amount of road travel people intend to do in the LA and neighboring areas.

However, there are still deals to be had and some ways to avoid the crowds if you book smartly… 

If you are looking to fly, track flights and be flexible with your dates – start tracking flights and hotel deals for last-minute alerts, so they can send out an alert when the price drops. For Labor Day weekend, to get the best hotel rates, is actually to check in Saturday and check out on Tuesday. Traveling in the middle of the week will almost always guarantee you a cheaper fare as well.

Use a booking site – sites like Booking.com have a tonne of great Labor Day Deals at hundreds of properties across the U.S – starting at 20% off. In fact, their data shows one in four travelers want someone to do the hard work for them…which makes sense! For family-friendly trips find East Coast deals in places like Fort Lauderdale or Washington DC. For a city escape look no further than spots like up north in San Fran or across the state in New York…

So New York eh? Yup, you can still snag travel deals in the heart of NYC. Hotel Pennsylvania for example is not only located in Midtown Manhattan, but is offering 25% off, valid through Sept 8th. Celebrating 100 years, the hotel is in the throes of an extraordinary top-to-bottom modernization, and puts the best of New York City at your fingertips (think sensational guestroom views of the Empire State Building and access a block away to Madison Square Garden and Macy’s.)4.Consider a road trip, particularly if you have a large family or want to save on flights…or even a train trip! 

Metrolink Service will be available on Labor Day for only $10 – providing service to the LA County Fair on Labor Day with a special stop at the Fairplex Station and a special 8:30 p.m. train to L.A. Union Station so fairgoers can enjoy a full day of fun. Labor Day is a great opportunity for Southern Californians to use Metrolink to travel around the region for a day-cation. Riders can travel directly to Oceanside and San Clemente beaches, take in local history and culture throughout Orange County or explore Los Angeles and Hollywood.

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National Cheap Flight Day

National Cheap Flight Day is TODAY – August 23rd –  which means it’s time to keep an eye on flights as prices tend to lower across the board. However, it’s also better to think of this less as a single day where flights are on sale and more a period of time to grab deals for Labor Day weekend and upcoming holidays. 

A record 17.5 million passengers are expected to travel on U.S.-based airlines this Labor Day Weekend, this year, celebrating the unofficial end of summer according to a report released by trade group Airlines for America.

However there are still deals to be had on everything from hotels to vacations around the world, but…

  • You need to book between now and September 5th and travel between August 27th and June 30th, 2020 to grab those deals. 
  • For Labor Day weekend, to get the best hotel rates, check in Saturday and check out on Tuesday.
  • Start tracking flights and hotel deals for last-minute alerts, so they can send out an alert when the price drops.