Whether you’ve already embarked on an Instagram-worthy summer getaway or have only escaped in your daydreams, don’t let the fact that summer officially ends on September 22 trick you into thinking your vacation season is over.
September is an ideal time to travel – the weather is better, places are less crowded as most kids are back in school and prices on airfare, accommodations and attractions drop dramatically. And, in a year when average fares remain at a five-year low, this fall will be even more affordable than usual. To help you stretch your dollar (and vacation season) as far as possible, we’ve found 10 destinations where average airfares heading into fall are down more than 15 percent from last year.
So, book your ticket, pack your bags and head off on an autumn adventure to one of these 10 value destinations where prices are down and there is plenty to see and do on a budget.
Auckland, New Zealand (Average airfare down 28%)
Set between two harbors, New Zealand’s largest city is the ultimate marine playground, with the sea influencing everything from cuisine, industry, culture and design to leisure pursuits and sports activities. Auckland is an all-around value destination with plenty of budget backpacker accommodations and many places for quality cheap eats like fish and chips at the Auckland Fish Market, tacos from The Lucky Taco food truck and bahn mi from Viet Sandwich. The weekend farmers market in Takutai Square serves excellent inexpensive breakfasts and produce. There are also a plethora of free attractions, like admiring art at the Auckland Art Gallery and walking along Auckland’s waterfront. Take a short ferry ride from downtown Auckland to Waiheke Island, which boasts white sandy beaches, historic sites, a thriving food scene, an eclectic mix of artists and some of New Zealand’s most coveted vineyards and wineries.
Rome, Italy (Average airfare down 26%)
The capital of Italy is home to 16 percent of the world’s cultural treasures, according to Rome’s official tourism bureau, making it an ideal place to immerse yourself in culture. Many of these must-see sights like the Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican, The Forums and The Trevi Fountain are free. And iconic venues like The Colosseum (tickets are €12) and the Sistine Chapel (tickets are €16) are inexpensive to experience. If you work up an appetite exploring, cheap and delicious pizza and pasta are around every corner. Look for mensas, cafeterias that cater to students and workers but allow anyone in to eat. Gelato and granita are inexpensive treats that are irresistible at any time of year. No matter where you eat, be wary of coperto, a fee for sitting, which is often on menus but can also show up as an expensive surprise on restaurant bills.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Average airfare down 25%)
This lively metropolis is the perfect place for those seeking a summer shopping and spa vacation. Indulging in foot and back massages at local spas all over the city is so budget friendly, visitors could afford to go every day. Ho Chi Minh City is also one of the best places for fashionistas to get tailor-made clothing like re-creations of runway fashions, a remake of a favorite dress or an ao dai, a traditional long, fitted silk dress worn over pants. After a day of pampering and shopping, you won’t have to go far to find cheap eats like banh mi from street vendors or pho at Pho 2000, a chain of cheap pho shops.
Nashville, Tennessee (Average airfare down 24%)
With live music, unique festivals and events, culinary excursions, family fun, new exhibits and plenty of outdoor beauty, Nashville, Tenn., knows a thing or two about fun. Nashville’s entertainment district downtown is extremely walkable with major attractions like the Country Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium and Honky Tonk Highway within a matter of blocks from each other. The free Music City Circuit bus line serves many downtown destinations, including First Tennessee Park, Frist Center for the Visual Arts and The Gulch. One-of-a-kind experiences you can only find in Music City include the longest continually-running live radio show in history, The Grand Ole Opry. Admire the studio where hits were recorded at RCA Studio B, or dive into the history of American music at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Be sure to catch songwriters in the round at The Listening Room, the celebrated Bluebird Cafe, or at one of Nashville’s many other music venues. The honky tonks on lower Broadway are classic Nashville establishments and never have a cover fee. Musicians Corner is a free music festival series on Saturdays in Centennial Park, featuring emerging artists and songwriters in a family-friendly environment.
Dublin, Ireland (Average airfare down 24%)
Dublin, Ireland is a compact city with loads to do and explore for free and an ideal place for those who like strolling museums and seaside villages on the cheap. Visitors can walk to attractions in the city center or hop on a Dublin Bike. Free attractions include the National Museum of Ireland, Natural History Museum, National Gallery, IMMA – National Museum of Modern Art, and the Science Gallery. A great way to see Dublin’s top attractions (and get to the front of the line) is to purchase a Dublin Pass, a one-day, two-day, three-day, or five-day pass that includes admission to more than 25 attractions and a hop-on, hop-off bus tour (€49-€99 for the adult pass). Take advantage of the Summer of Heritage 2016, a popular series of free guided tours that runs until September 4. After exploring Dublin, visitors can take a 20-minute train journey to one of the beautiful coastal villages along Dublin Bay (including Dalkey, Dún Laoghaire, Malahide, and Howth) or hit the beach like Killiney and Seapoint
Barcelona, Spain (Average airfare down 22%)
The cradle of Catalan culture is a desirable destination to wind down the summer without breaking the bank. There is plenty to see for free if you time your visit right. Admire Pablo Picasso’s art at the Museu Picasso (there is free admission on Sundays after 3 p.m. and the first Sunday of every month), stroll Las Ramblas and walk through Gaudi’s Parc Guell (The Monument Zone requires a €8 ticket, €7 if you buy online, but the rest of the area is free to access). More free options include Jardí Botànic (there is free admission on Sundays after 3 p.m. and on the first Sunday of every month) and a visit to the free exhibitions in La Pedrera, one of the most photogenic buildings in Barcelona. If you like music, stop by Sala Ramona, a concert venue where famous musicians like to rehearse and hold jam sessions inside Espai de Creació in Poblenou district – all you have to do is leave a donation in gratitude for the free entertainment. With all the money you save, don’t forget to sample Spanish wines and savory tapas.
Lima, Peru (Average airfare down 20%)
While most travelers head straight to Machu Picchu (the ancient “Lost City of the Incas” located in the Sacred Valley 312 miles from Lima, Peru), the capital itself offers a fantastic respite for foodies and beach goers. The culinary scene in Lima is hot – three restaurants on the The San Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2016 are there. Even better, the cost to indulge in multi-course tasting menus at Central (#4), Maido (#13) and Astrid y Gastón (#30) is far less expensive than diners would pay for similar experiences in other places like New York, London, and Paris.
Seattle, Washington (Average airfare down 19%)
Surrounded by towering mountains, lush evergreen forests, large lakes and the Puget Sound, Seattle boasts the perfect mix of urban dwelling and outdoor adventure – ideal for travelers who like the great outdoors. Take in the iconic must-see sights of Seattle like the Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium and Argosy Cruises’ Harbor Tour by buying a Seattle CityPass for $74, which provides 50 percent off admission to Seattle’s top attractions. It won’t cost you a dime to stroll through Pike Place Market, the Olympic Sculpture Park and the Seattle Art Museum, or to enjoy the area’s beautiful Alki Beach. Don’t let the misty weather deter you from booking a late summer or early fall vacay here. On rainy days, pull up a seat next to Seattleites and enjoy micro-brews, Washington wines, coffee and Pacific Northwest cuisine. Wineries offering free tours include Chateau Ste. Michelle, Washington state’s oldest winery, which offers tours and tastings from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and Bainbridge Vineyards, an expansive vineyard a 35-minute ferry trip across Puget Sound where visitors can take a tour every Sunday at 2 p.m. followed by a full tasting of up to eight wines for $5.
San Diego, California (Average airfare down 17%)
With 70 miles of beautiful coastline, near-perfect weather, and a laid-back vibe, San Diego is sizzling this time of year. Whether you like the outdoors, the arts, or food, there is something cheap or free for you. Get half price ‘day of’ performance tickets to San Diego theater, music and dance performances at the ARTS TIX booth located at The Lyceum Theater downtown. Buy a $53 Passport to Balboa Park, a week-long pass that provides visitors with admission to 13 museums in Balboa Park, including the San Diego Natural History Museum, the San Diego Museum of Art, Museum of Photographic Arts, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and more. The $89 Zoo/Passport Combo pairs the Passport to Balboa Park with one-day “best value” admission to the San Diego Zoo (which is celebrating its centennial anniversary this year), including a 50-minute bus tour and Skyfari tram ride. If you’re traveling with kids in tow, consider the Go San Diego Card, which offers admissions to more than 55 San Diego attractions, activities and tours, including the San Diego Zoo, LEGOLAND California, Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, a PETCO Park tour, San Diego Harbor Excursion cruise, bike and boogie board rentals and a wine tasting at the San Diego Wine and Culinary Center in downtown San Diego. Prices start at $77 for a one-day card, with lower per-day rates for children and multi-day cards. Visitors can go on a discounted tasting tour of San Diego’s top restaurants during San Diego Restaurant Week (September 25 – Oct 2) with two-course lunch options for $10, $15 or $20 and three-course prix fixe dinner menus for $20, $30 or $40 per person.
New Orleans, Louisiana (Average airfare down 16%)
Couples, families and solo travelers can find inexpensive fun in New Orleans. An abundance of festivals, like the New Orleans Seafood Festival (September 2-4) and the 7th annual NOLA on Tap Beer Fest (Sept. 24), provide low cost food and drink, and free entertainment. Restaurant Week offers discounted meals at top restaurants Sept. 12-18. Many quintessential New Orleans activities are low cost too, including eating late night beignets at Café Du Monde, taking a streetcar to New Orleans City Park, paddling on a paddleboat on City Park’s Big Lake, window shopping on Magazine Street and strolling the French Quarter.
Main image: iStockphoto/Xavier Arnau
