Vrbo Says Fall Rates Climb to Within 5% of Summer Peaks as Demand Jumps 17%

Q: While major cities hike fall prices, which hidden coastal towns are secretly slashing rates by over a third?

The standout coastal town cutting fall rates by more than a third is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Vrbo says vacation rental prices there average 34% below summer levels, making it the steepest discount among the beach markets cited. The pricing drop is significant in real terms. Vrbo highlighted one Myrtle Beach property that can run as high as $1,300 a night in August but falls to about $600 in October. That helps explain why Myrtle Beach is being singled out as one of the few places where travelers can still find meaningful autumn savings even as many big-city markets stay expensive. No other town in the report crosses the one-third threshold. Orange Beach, Alabama, comes close, with rates averaging 31% below summer prices. Panama City Beach, Florida, follows at 24%, then Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, at 16%, and Ocean City, Maryland, at 12%. The broader takeaway is that while fall bargains are harder to find this year because demand remains strong, secondary and leisure-heavy beach destinations are still offering better value than major cities such as Nashville, Boston, Chicago and Miami, where fall prices are rising. Travelers looking for the deepest discounts should focus on places like Myrtle Beach, nearby Grand Strand areas, or wait until later in the season when rates tend to soften further.

3 articles · Updated · Fox Business · Aug 17

Vrbo said average fall nightly rates across its top destinations are now just 5% below summer peaks, a sign that traditional shoulder-season bargains are fading.
A 17% year-over-year rise in fall travel interest is driving the squeeze, with summer demand spilling past Labor Day and keeping prices elevated.
Myrtle Beach remains a standout deal at 34% below summer rates, while Orange Beach offers 31% savings and Panama City Beach 24%; one Vrbo listing drops from $1,300 in August to about $600 in October.
Europe offers more modest relief, with fall vacation-rental prices averaging about 8% below summer highs, while London, Paris, Madrid and Rome are holding onto higher rates.
Early 2027 may bring the biggest break: Vrbo expects lodging prices from just after New Year's to before spring break to run about 34% below summer peaks.