Great Travel Bargains For Fall

Photo courtesy of Thinkstock

Hello, procrastinator. If you think you’ve waited too long to take advantage of low summer airfares, then take heart, Cheapflights.ca has some good news for you.

Although summer fares were the lowest they’ve been in years, the consumer travel planning website says airfares for autumn are expected to continue to drop.

To help you decide where to travel, the folks at Cheapflights.ca have created a list of several destinations Canadian travellers can travel this fall, while still stretching their dollars. The airfares for selected destinations are valid in September and October are at least 25 per cent lower than they were in July and August. 

London, United Kingdom (Average airfare down 36 per cent) – Not only are airfares anticipated to drop, but you can further stretch your dollar in London by exploring the city’s myriad museums and galleries, many of which are free to visit, like the National Gallery and Tate Modern. Or take in the crisp autumn air at any of London’s parks and gardens, including Hyde Park, considered one of the best city parks in the world or the 410-acre Regent’s Park, with its open-air theatre and boating lake. Hungry? London is home to more than 6,000 restaurants, including 65 Michelin-starred eateries. Or dive into history at any one of London’s four World Heritage Sites.

Lisbon, Portugal (Average airfare down 35 per cent) – With its historic monuments, quaint neighbourhoods, parks and beaches, lively nightlife, amazing wine and fresh seafood, its no wonder that Lisbon was recently named the third most-hospitable city in the world by TripAdvisor and one of the coolest cities in Europe by CNN.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (Average airfare down 33 per cent) – America’s first World Heritage City, Philadelphia offers a diversity of you-can-only-do-it-here activities, including eating an authentic Philly cheesesteak, exploring the Old City along cobblestone streets and visiting the historic houses of Logan Square.

Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador (Average airfare down 33 per cent) – At the eastern-most edge of North America, Newfoundland and Labrador should attract Canadians with its anticipated dip in airfare. Perfect for travellers who have a love affair with the great outdoors, the province is home to three national parks, 29,000 kilometres of coastline, 100,000-year-old icebergs, 22 species of whale and more than 120,000 moose.

Madrid, Spain (Average airfare down 33 per cent) – It seems like everyone is eyeing Madrid this fall. And its no wonder. The vibrant art scene starts at Madrid’s Golden Triangle of Art, where the Museo del Prado, Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza all make their home. This is also the birthplace of tapas, small local snacks served with a glass of wine or beer, that are meant for sharing. Then walk off your meal at Casa de Campo, the city’s largest park, which is five times bigger than Central Park in New York.

Other value destinations recommended by Cheapflights.ca are:

• Copenhagen, Denmark (average airfare down 33 per cent)
• Washington, D.C., United States (average airfare down 30 per cent)
• Québec City, Québec (average airfare down 30 per cent)
• Phoenix, Arizona, United States (average airfare down 28  per cent)
• Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States  (average airfare down 27 per cent)

For more information, visit www.cheapflights.ca/.

Follow @MonicaPoling