7 Destinations You Should Not Visit This Fall According To Travel Experts

Fall trip—two phrases that conjure pictures of crisp air, vibrant foliage, or a last-ditch effort to absorb some solar. But let’s be actual: the hole between the journey you see on Instagram and the fact on the bottom may be large, particularly in autumn.

As the skilled workforce of editors and writers right here at Travel Off Path, we have seen all of it. We know the frustration of arriving in a “dream” vacation spot solely to search out the height colours have already handed, the climate is depressing, or the “shoulder season” is simply as crowded as summer time. This is not about avoiding these fantastic locations endlessly; it is about avoiding them once they’re prone to disappoint.

So, drawing on our collective data and present journey tendencies, listed here are 7 locations we’re advising warning on for this fall. We’ve additionally included a wise different for every, as a result of the purpose is to journey smarter, not tougher.

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1. New England (Vermont, New Hampshire)

The Problem: The “You Missed It” Trap

Those traditional, fiery purple New England landscapes? They include a notoriously quick and fickle expiration date. Travelers plan a visit for mid-to-late October anticipating peak foliage, however the actuality is that in lots of the most well-known areas, the colourful colours have already come and gone, forsaking the grey and barren “stick season.” You’re paying the best costs of the 12 months for a visit with a excessive likelihood of disappointment in case your timing is not excellent right down to the day.

Instead, contemplate: The Blue Ridge Parkway, VA/NC. Because it stretches for a whole bunch of miles with various elevations, the foliage season right here is for much longer and extra forgiving, providing you with a much better likelihood to catch the height colours with out the nail-biting gamble.

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2. Rome & Florence, Italy

The Problem: The “Shoulder Season That Isn’t”

For years, the savvy traveler’s mantra was to go to Italy’s iconic cities within the fall to keep away from the summer time crowds. The drawback? Everyone caught on. The actuality in 2025 is that October is the brand new August. These cities are nonetheless packed, the traces for the Colosseum and Uffizi Gallery are nonetheless extremely lengthy, and the resort costs haven’t dropped considerably. It doesn’t ship the relaxed, romantic expertise you are hoping for.

Instead, contemplate: Bologna, Italy. This is Italy’s undisputed foodie capital, and fall is the very best time to go to for its harvest season of truffles and porcini mushrooms. It gives beautiful medieval structure and a vibrant, genuine ambiance with a fraction of the vacationers.

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3. The Greek Islands (Crete, Rhodes)

The Problem: The “End of Season Blues”

While not a complete ghost town like in deep winter, the bigger Greek islands could be a letdown in late October and November. The energetic vitality of summer time is gone, and the climate turns into a chance, with a a lot increased likelihood of cool, windy, and wet days. Many waterfront tavernas and retailers start to shut for the season, and also you may discover your desires of a sun-drenched seashore journey are met with a cold actuality.

Instead, contemplate: The Algarve, Portugal. As one in all Europe’s sunniest areas, Portugal’s southern coast nonetheless gives stunning, gentle, and sunny days effectively into the autumn, with dramatic cliffside surroundings and costs which might be a fraction of their summer time peak.

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4. The Philippines

The Problem: The “Typhoon Gamble”

This is a important “do your research” pitfall. Our fall is true in the course of storm season for the Philippines, probably the most energetic storm areas on the planet. Planning a visit to see the beautiful, world-famous seashores of Palawan or Boracay throughout this time is a high-stakes gamble, with a major danger of flight cancellations and days of torrential rain that may derail a whole trip.

Instead, contemplate: Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai). November marks the start of the cool, dry, and completely excellent season right here. The panorama is extremely lush after the wet season, and also you get to expertise magical occasions just like the Yi Peng and Loi Krathong lantern festivals.

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5. The Canadian Rockies (Banff, Jasper)

The Problem: The “Winter Came Early” Trap

Travelers see photographs of the enduring turquoise lakes and assume they will get that view in October. The actuality is that by mid-October, the area typically will get its first main snowfalls. The well-known lakes freeze over, the golden larch season is completed, and lots of scenic drives just like the Icefields Parkway can turn into hazardous or quickly shut. It’s typically full-blown winter, not the crisp autumn journey you had deliberate.

Instead, contemplate: Utah’s National Parks (Zion, Bryce Canyon). October is absolutely the prime season right here. The brutal summer time warmth has vanished, the crowds are thinning, and the cottonwood timber within the canyons flip an excellent golden yellow towards the purple rock, making for a spectacular and dependable fall journey.

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6. Dubai, UAE

The Problem: The “Still an Oven” Trap

(*7*)

While technically fall, September and October in Dubai are nonetheless oppressively sizzling and humid, with temperatures typically hovering effectively into the 90s. It’s not but the nice “winter” season that makes the town a pleasure to discover outside. You’re paying excessive costs to be caught indoors within the air con, which defeats the aim of a getaway.

Instead, contemplate: Muscat, Oman. The climate right here additionally begins to turn into stunning in October, nevertheless it gives a extra genuine and arguably extra scenic Arabian expertise. You can discover dramatic fjords, beautiful wadis (river valleys), and a stupendous, historic metropolis with far fewer crowds and a extra relaxed vibe than Dubai.

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7. Munich, Germany (During Oktoberfest)

The Problem: The “Festival Overload” Trap

Unless your one and solely purpose is to go to Oktoberfest, visiting Munich throughout the competition (late September to early October) is a logistical and monetary nightmare. Hotel costs skyrocket to absurd ranges (often 4-5 times the normal rate), the town is packed to the gills, and each different attraction is crowded. It’s a poor worth proposition for a basic fall journey to Germany.

Instead, contemplate: Prague, Czech Republic. It gives a stunningly stunning fall expertise with beautiful colours, fairytale structure, a world-class (and famously low-cost!) beer tradition, and costs which might be a fraction of what you’d pay in Munich throughout the competition.

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Choosing the proper vacation spot for the season is the final word journey hack. Before you e book your sensible different, run our important 1 Minute Trip Check to immediately confirm all present entry necessities and journey advisories in your trip!