It’s that time of year again: the season is coming to close, and sunny summer vacations will soon live only in your memory and social media feeds (#takemeback).
There’s only one more opportunity to take advantage of a long weekend this summer. Yep, Labor Day Weekend is coming in hot. And while we all know (and love) the usual LDW city suspects (LV, NYC, SF), this year’s list of trending destinations reflects a more nostalgic, Southern state of mind. (Think Savannah and Tybee Island, GA; Charleston and Hilton Head, SC; and Nashville and Pigeon Forge, TN.)
If your home base isn’t close enough to drive, the optimum time to book your flight is right around the corner. Hipmunk analyzed its historical data for the top 30 DMAs (both departing and returning) departing on the Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sun of Labor Day Weekend and returning on Labor Day (Mon) or the day after (Tues). If travelers book by the second week of August this year (next week) they can save 14 percent, based on median weekly prices for the top 30 DMAs.
We found that travelers that book on the second week of August (next week) can save 14 percent, based on median weekly prices for the top 30 DMAs.
Ready to make the most of summer’s official end? Heading down South? Tell us in the comments below where you’ll be celebrating this year.
Methodology: Hipmunk analyzed its hotel searches and bookings made during Jan. 1, 2016 - July 31, 2016, to reveal top trending destinations for Labor Day Weekend (checking in Sept .1 - 4, 2016 and checking out Sept. 5 - 6, 2016), as well as each city’s respective average booking price for those dates.
To determine when to buy Labor Day Weekend airfare, Hipmunk analyzed its historical data for the median weekly price departing Sept . 3 - 6, 2015 , and returning Sept. 7 - 8, 2015 , in the top 30 DMAs for comparable dates to the weeks Aug.1, 2016, to Aug. 29, 2016. (Equivalent search period analyzed: Aug. 3, 2015, to Aug. 31, 2015.)
This story was originally published on Hipmunk’s blog, Tailwind.