Press Releases September 17, 2026 09:10 AM

KAYAK reveals top trending shoulder season destinations as average flight prices fall 32% versus summer

KAYAK reports a significant decline in average flight and hotel prices for shoulder season, boosting travel interest.

By Avery Klein
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KAYAK, a travel search engine under Booking Holdings, reveals that average economy flight prices departing France in September and October have decreased by 32% compared to summer months. This price drop has led to increased interest in shoulder season travel to destinations like Seville, Munich, and New York. Hotel prices have also fallen, particularly around Mediterranean locations. Travelers benefit from flexible dates that offer additional savings.

KAYAK reveals top trending shoulder season destinations as average flight prices fall 32% versus summer
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Key Points

  • Average return flight prices from France in shoulder season (Sept-Oct) fell 32% compared to summer, boosting travel interest.
  • Top trending destinations include Seville (+165% searches), Munich, Malé, Venice, and New York (+100%).
  • Hotel prices have also declined significantly in Mediterranean destinations, making travel more affordable.

LONDON, Sept. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Seville is the top trending destination among French travelers planning September and October trips, according to new KAYAK.fr data, as off-peak prices fuel interest in early autumn getaways.

Economy return flights departing from France average €233 in September and October, compared with €345 in July and August—a 32% reduction. Average hotel prices are also down 14%.

The fastest growing ‘Shoulder Season’ destinations, based on increased flight searches for travel in September and October compared with July and August, are:

  1. Seville: +165%
  2. Munich: +120%
  3. Malé: +118%
  4. Venice: +101%
  5. Tashkent: +100%
  6. New York: +100%
  7. Lille: +91%
  8. Amsterdam: +86%
  9. Strasbourg: +85%
  10. Victoria, Seychelles: +85%

Lower fares may be helping to drive interest. Each of the trending top 10 costs less to fly to versus summer. Malé recorded the largest decline, with average return fares down 32% to €701. New York and Strasbourg both fell 29%, to €505 and €108 respectively, followed by Victoria (-26% to €744), Venice (-22% to €116) and Lille (-20% to €107).

Seville, the fastest-rising destination, has average return fares of €164—10% below summer levels, while Munich averages €237, down 1%.

Hotel savings are also pronounced around the Mediterranean. Average nightly rates in Monastir, Tunisia, have fallen 62% to €82. Salou follows at €89 (-51%), ahead of Agadir at €78 (-43%), Lloret de Mar at €83 (-40%) and Ciutadella de Menorca at €132 (-38%).

Flexible dates can unlock further savings. Based on KAYAK’s analyses, 27 October is the least expensive departure dates for international flights departing from France, averaging €176—37% below the shoulder-season average. International hotel stays are cheapest for check-ins around 29 September, at an average of €103 per night.

About KAYAK
KAYAK, part of Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG), is a leading travel search engine. With billions of searches across its platforms, KAYAK helps travelers find the right flights, accommodations, rental cars, and vacation packages. Trusted by millions of travelers worldwide, the KAYAK app makes trip planning simple on both iOS and Android. KAYAK also supports business travelers through its corporate travel solution, KAYAK for Business.


Risks

  • Sustained travel demand is uncertain and may be impacted by economic conditions or further changes in travel restrictions, affecting KAYAK's volume.
  • Fluctuations in airline and hotel pricing strategies could limit continued declines or lead to price rebounds, influencing traveler behavior.
  • Geopolitical or health-related risks could unexpectedly reduce travel interest, impacting KAYAK and the broader travel and tourism sectors.

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