Travellers who wait until after the summer holidays to book their trips are paying significantly less, according to a new survey from the travel comparison site Kayak.fr. Round-trip economy flights are now 32% cheaper than during the peak summer period, the site found, a saving of nearly 100 euros on average per ticket.
The price drops are not limited to flights. Hotel rates have fallen by 14% and car rental prices by 22% compared with the summer season, according to Kayak.fr. The site said these lower prices are shaping where French holidaymakers choose to go this autumn.
Marrakech tops the search rankings
Morocco has become the most popular choice for September and October getaways, with Marrakech the most searched destination on the Kayak.fr platform. A round trip there now costs around 165 euros, which Kayak.fr said is 36% cheaper than during the summer.
Tokyo ranks second among the most searched destinations, even though the price drop there is smaller, at 11%. A round-trip ticket to the Japanese capital costs close to 1,200 euros on average, but that still represents a saving of more than 100 euros compared with summer fares.
Denpasar, the gateway to Bali, completes the top three. Kayak.fr said falling prices there continue to draw more tourists, with round trips now costing just under 900 euros, around 300 euros less than in the summer months.
The cheapest and priciest days to fly
Kayak.fr's survey also identified which specific departure dates offer the best value. For international flights departing from France, October 27 was found to be the cheapest day to travel, with fares averaging 176 euros, 37% below the average for the period. October 15, by contrast, was the most expensive day identified, with average fares of 455 euros, 63% above the period average.
The site also found that accommodation costs vary depending on timing. International hotel nights are cheaper around September 29, when they cost about 30 euros less on average than around October 21, according to the survey.
About Kayak
Kayak is a travel search engine that compares prices for flights, hotels and car rentals across multiple booking sites and airlines. Owned by the US travel group Booking Holdings, it regularly publishes data on pricing trends to help travellers time their bookings.
For those who have not yet booked a trip, the findings suggest that choosing dates in late September, or targeting specific low-fare departure days in late October, could bring the biggest savings on both flights and accommodation.
