Travelers are taking advantage of lower costs during the November fall season, and cruise bookings are rising
Rising summer temperatures and overtourism are pushing more travelers toward the shoulder months, the window between peak and off-peak times to travel, and November is the clear winner.
Bookings for November at England-based Red Savannah travel agency are up 10% year over year, while luxury travel network Virtuoso reports that fall bookings have surged 59%.
September is also gaining traction. Deloitte found that the share of travelers taking trips after Labor Day reached 20% this year, compared with 12% in 2022.
Benefits of November travel
Travelers are taking advantage of lower costs during the shoulder season. HotelTonight notes average November rates fall 8% to 19% below September and October.
In Moab, Utah, where 38 of 45 local outfitters extended operations into November and December, nightly rates at the Hoodoo Moab hotel dropped from an average of $457 in October to $201 before Thanksgiving.
Tour operators and hotels are taking note
Winter cruises are booming in Europe. Celestyal Cruises offers seven-night trips starting at $549, and Collette offers 85 percent of its best deals on Portugal, Morocco and Vietnam in early November.
European Waterways reported a 17% increase in October and November bookings and is offering 20% off river barge cruises. In the Florida Keys, promotions are offering rooms for as little as $75 a night through October 31.
A travel expert from the guidebook company Lonely Planet notes that “A quieter period can allow for more meaningful local experiences.”
Staff at local wineries or stays will have more time for recommendations and conversations than during peak-travel seasons.