SAN ANTONIO – Now they are no longer slaves to the school calendar, David and Amy Sokol are winging it when it comes to travel.
"Since we’re empty-nesting, it’s any time we can find time to get away," David Sokol said while hopping on a flight to Chicago.
Lucky for them and their wallet.
The end of August until early November is what the travel industry refers to as the shoulder season, which also when the kids are back in school, temperatures get milder and travel prices drop.
"It’s a great time because some of the better deals happen in fall," said Alan Martin with Rennert Travel. "Pricing tends to drop 30 to 40 percent."
With family vacations wrapped up with the start of school, airlines, hotels and resorts have space to fill.
For San Antonians looking for a bargain, Martin says the Caribbean offers plenty of deals.
"You can find an all-inclusive deal 30 to 40 percent off," Martin said.
If you’re thinking mountains, Southwest Airlines was offering a one-way fare to Denver in October for $49. The trip back: $54.
The travel website FareCompare.com revealed a $472 round trip in September to Hawaii.
"You’ll see international air drop as well. So those skyrocketed prices we see in summer to go to Europe come down a lot," Martin said. "So Paris, London, Spain, Madrid, Germany -- pretty much all of Europe -- you’re going to find a really good deal."
Here’s a good deal to Iceland: On Wow Air, a round trip flight out of Dallas was listed at $320.
Checking other airports can be a money-saver. Martin said the big key to finding an autumn travel steal is flexibility.
People who are already thinking about turkey and tinsel breaks, travel experts said the time to book those plans is now.