Labor Day marks the cultural end of summer. Travel during that weekend means high prices across the board, but falling temperatures will quickly be followed by lower fees. This is the perfect travel season for empty nesters since school is now if full swing. Check out our two domestic destinations and two international cities that let you take advantage of the best deals and peak travel times in September.
Domestic Destinations
- San Diego, California
During September, Southern California's average temps hover around 75°F, giving travelers one last ditch effort to enjoy the beach before the beginning of fall on the 22nd. With students in school (and field trip season months away), you can have plenty of elbow room to explore the world-famous zoo and safari. There is no shortage of events, either. San Diego's Fashion Week, International Film Festival, and Restaurant Week all overlap at the end of the month. And for sports fans, take your pick between the Padres winding down and the Chargers starting up.
- The Catskills, New York
Once the home of the counterculture movement and artistic communes, the Catskills are now a preferred weekend escape from the Big Apple. There's something for every vacation style possible. From cabin rentals offering world-class fly fishing to all-inclusive colonial-style resorts to exclusive boutique hotels, visitors won't have trouble planning the perfect getaway. September is an especially perfect vacation period, as the hills and valleys change from green to vibrant shades of red, yellow, and orange. As one of our 14 Fall Foliage Destinations, it's a sight not to miss!
Adventures Abroad
- Holguín, Cuba
Technically, the fun started in August, but things really start to pick up in September. The normalization of relations with Cuba brought about the signing of new civil aviation accords. On August 31, JetBlue began commercial flights to Santa Clara. On September 7, American Airlines follows suit with flights from Miami to Cienfuegos. By the end of the month, there will be regular flights between the U.S. and three Cuban cities (though Havana is absent). There's never been an easier time to book a trip to America's closest Caribbean neighbor. That is, of course, if you qualify under certain conditions. Luckily, a cultural exchange tour of Holguín, the birthplace of Cuban music and the location of Christopher Columbus' arrival, checks all the boxes.
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
Argentina is one of the best travel deals available right now. Compared to last year, American tourists can expect 13% more purchasing power for their dollars. The country's high inflation rate is what gives Argentina appeal for budget-conscious travelers, but late September offers low season deals. With airfare averaging around $700, visitors will save about half off the busy season ticket prices. Not to mention, fall in the Northern Hemisphere corresponds to spring south of the Equator. What better time to visit Buenos Aires than when everything is in full bloom?
