The Top 5 Travel Destinations for Fall

Whether it’s close to home spots, European favorites, or the Caribbean islands fall travel is on everyone’s mind. 

 

Travel. Is. Back. With countries, cruise lines, and travel companies relaxing their COVID-19 policies – including the U.S. dropping its testing requirement for travelers in June – we’ve happily witnessed PLT travelers return to beloved favorites and new destinations around the globe this summer – gorilla trekking in Uganda! 

 

And yes, there have been a few hiccups: Airlines are still playing catch up with the surging demand for travel, and the last few months of canceled flights, lost baggage, and airport headaches prove it. In Europe, some major airports, including London’s Heathrow and Amsterdam’s Schiphol, even asked airlines to pause selling peak summer flights. For many of us it seemed as though everyone we knew was in Italy, Greece, or France this summer, it’s probably because they were. The pent up demand for travel is now being released and people are traveling near and far. 

 

A recent Virtuoso survey found that 45 percent of travelers are ready to travel now or within the next 3 months. Our PLT travelers are staying both close to home and venturing to farther-flung spots such as Italy, Greece, Spain and Ireland. With the demand for travel returning fast, packing your patience is key, and so is using a Perfect Landing Travel Advisor to handle your plans. We are ready to help with flight delays, answering questions about travel insurance, connecting you with the right contacts for a stress-free experience when you’re going and recommend off -the-beaten path alternatives if your first choice is booked. We are eager to help with planning the fun stuff too – adventurous excursions, relaxing spa reservations, historic tours, and dining reservations! Every PLT client receives a smart itinerary (accessible on your phone) complete with flight, hotel, excursion, and dining reservations and recommendations. Every itinerary is a special project to us from end to end!

 

Our main priority at PLT is that our clients are taken care of from start to finish, traveling safely, responsibly, and as stress-free as possible. Allowing you more time to hangout, relax, explore, and make memories! 

 

As this travel momentum continues into fall and the holiday season, we are optimistic about flight delays smoothing out and airports getting less hectic as the summer surge wanes. But, with limited availability, price increases, and less-flexible cancellation policies returning, it’s paramount to plan your trip with someone who can help you navigate today’s travel landscape. 

 

These are the most in-demand destinations for fall travel: 

 

The U.S.

 

Staying close to home is still a popular option for many travelers, who may be craving travel but are not quite ready to jet across the ocean yet. We’ll always love a classic roadtrip, can’t wait to explore more under the radar national parks, and are looking forward to the start of ski season in destinations such as Park City and Vail. 

A mountain retreat in Park City, Utah.

 

 

Italy

 

European locales have been in demand all summer (they occupied seven of the top ten spots in out most popular summer travel destinations), and the euro being at parity with the U.S. dollar has only enhanced this. Of course, Italy is a perennial favorite, consistently at the top of Virtuoso’s travel dream lists for years. Whether you’re hoping to museum-hop in Rome or stroll across Florence’s Ponte Vecchio on a brisk autumn morning, we recommend planning ahead of time for a grand Italian tour – availability is extremely limited. 

A tree with fall colors in the foreground, with Roman ruins in Rome, Italy, in the background.

Autumn in Rome.

 

 

Mexico 

 

There’s a lot to love about Mexico: Colonial charm in San Miguel de Allende, whale shark season in Baja California, new retreats on the Riviera Maya (including the soon-to-open St. Regis Kanai Resort and The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun), and some of the world’s most exciting culinary scenes in Oaxaca and Mexico City. All this variety a relatively quick jaunt away from most North Americans makes this country an appealing spot. 

Golden hour in San Miguel de Allende.

 

 

France

 

Earlier this month, France lifted Covid travel restrictions for international travelers, making some of our favorite places even easier to return to. Fall River cruises down the Seine promise picturesque medieval villages and countless winetasting opportunities; and we can’t wait to see what we’ve been missing in Paris, from new art exhibits to revamped hotels and much more. 

Strasbourg, France.

 

 

Turks and Caicos 

 

A Perfect Landing Travel favorite! One big trend we’ve noticed this summer: lots of travelers seeking out restorative wellness escapes. There aren’t many better places to tune out than in a cabana on a pristine stretch of beach, and the Turks and Caicos Islands are home to plenty of them – along with seven stunning Virtuoso resorts. (Plus, quick, 90-minute direct flights from Miami helps with that too.) 

Grace Bay Beach on Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Island is known as one of the world’s best stretches of sand.