Secrets of cheap fall getaways

The temperature isn't the only thing that drops when autumn arrives; so do airfares and hotel room rates. Shoulder season — the period after summer and before the winter holidays — means better deals and smaller crowds. Here are some of the best bargains this fall.

Cruises

Cruise lines overestimated interest in Caribbean sailings and added ships to those routes. For the fall season, they're offering discounted rates, free amenities and even free airfare.

"Repositioning cruises are great values," says Richard Haas, owner of Cruise One in Punta Gorda, Fla. "Cruise length can be from eight nights to 25 nights." He says the repositioning season from Europe to the USA is October, November and December.

Deals: MSC Cruises has a seven-night Caribbean cruise from Miami starting at $549 per person plus tax for a balcony stateroom, down from $1,700. Each room gets a shipboard credit of up to $150. The promotion must be booked by Oct. 31 for travel Nov. 4-Dec. 13. Oceania Cruises is offering two-for-one deals on 34 cruises to the Caribbean, Europe, South America and the Middle East — a savings of up to 70%. The deals include 50% off deposits on certain voyages and up to three free perks, such as a shipboard credit, Internet or prepaid gratuities. Airfare from several major U.S. hubs is included. Book by Tuesday.

Norwegian Cruise Line's 14-day repositioning cruise on the Norwegian Star from Copenhagen to Miami starts at $509 per person for an inside cabin, including taxes and fees but no airfare. It departs Oct. 6.

Caribbean

You don't have to cruise to the Caribbean to get a good deal.

Elizabeth Santos of the travel booking site Hipmunk.com says the average airfare this fall to the Caribbean is $689 vs. $713 in summer and $854 in winter. She says Puerto Rico and the Bahamas offer the best fall deals, with average airfares at less than $500.

George Hobica, founder of AirfareWatchdog.com. says you can expect lower airfares to airports that the nation's largest carriers have to share with Spirit, Frontier, Southwest and JetBlue. Think San Juan, Aruba, Grand Cayman and St. Thomas.

Fall also brings hurricane season to the Caribbean. But Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao tend to be hurricane-free islands.

Curaçao has some fall deals. Travelocity recently had a seven-night package that included hotel and airfare in October for $816 per person, says Courtney Scott, Travelocity's senior editor. The same type of package during the summer would start at $1,300.

Deals: Stay at least five nights at the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort and Casino and get the fifth night free. Travelers can get up to 50% in savings from hotels, dive operators, attractions and more in Curaçao if they book by Sept. 15 for travel through Dec. 15. For instance, they can get a fifth night free, $50 resort credit and $100 tour credit at the Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort. Offers are available at Curacao.com/explore .

Florida

When schools fill up in the fall, Orlando's theme parks empty out.

"The fall is a wonderful time to visit Orlando, as most children have gone back to school, and theme parks are less crowded," Travelocity's Scott says.

You can find non-stop round-trip airfares from New York City to Orlando in September for less than $200 and nightly hotel rates below $100, she says.

But the start of the football season means some Florida destinations get pricier.

According to Orbitz.com. hotel rates for football towns such as Tallahassee and Gainesville are up 62% and 55%, respectively, as the season kicks off.

Deals: Visit Orlando has designated September "Magical Deal Month," with savings of up to 50% at various restaurants, hotels and attractions. SeaWorld has a Kids Free Vacation Package. One child will get in free for each paying adult, a savings of up to $90 per child. The offer is limited to two children, ages 3 to 9. The family must stay at a SeaWorld hotel or partner hotel for five or more nights. The fifth-night rate will be waived. September is also Magical Dining Month, with more than 75 restaurants offering three-course, prix fixe dinners for $33. The deals can be found at visitorlando.com/september .

Europe

If you want to pay less for a European vacation, head east.

"Eastern Europe is where you'll get the most bang for the buck these days," says Julia Pond, managing editor at travel planning website Gogobot.com .

Gogobot's Budget Tribe, a group of more than 60,000 travelers who rate destinations, has named Prague; Belgrade, Serbia; Riga, Latvia; and Sofia, Bulgaria, as top destinations.

Kayak.com data show some deals in Western Europe, too. The five European cities with the cheapest hotel rates are Prague, Athens, Dublin, Madrid and Berlin.

Deals: Turkish Airlines is offering fares as low as $699 round-trip, including taxes, from New York City to Istanbul. Tickets must be purchased by Sept. 15 for travel Oct. 17-Dec. 17. Airfares to Istanbul on most carriers often exceed $1,000. A round-trip flight from Newark International Airport to Rome is about $1,326 in August vs. $837 in October, according to Travelocity.

Myrtle Beach

The Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has launched the "60 More Days of Summer" campaign that includes 60-themed deals for hotels, restaurants and activities through September and October.

Deals: Stay two nights at the Island Vista hotel and get the third night for 60% less for stays through Oct. 31. Guests also will get a $60 dinner credit to the on-site Cypress Room restaurant. Stay two nights or more at the Crown Reef Resort in an oceanfront queen efficiency, and get a $20 game card and $40 food and beverage credit. More deals are at visitmyrtlebeach.com/60days .

For help booking a fall getaway, contact a travel agent specialist at Tripology.com .