money Fall foliage 2019: Go leaf-peeping without spending a bundle
Step aside pumpkin spice lattes, because it doesn’t get more fall than leaf-peeping.
Arguably autumn’s big event, this dazzling display of colors as leaves turn from vibrant green to brilliant shades of orange, red and yellow occurs from September to November, depending on your location.
This is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it kind of event, so costs can quickly mount because travel dates are open-ended. Thankfully, there are three ways to mitigate unexpected costs if you’re planning to see the season’s carnival of color.
Know when to go
Adding to the visual spectacle is the element of surprise: No one can predict when the foliage will change. This adds a wrinkle to travel plans, but fortunately, data and science have taken some of the guesswork out of the time-honored pilgrimage.
Using historical data and forecast information from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, SmokyMountains.com is the preeminent visual and interactive guide for the annual changing of the country’s leaves and predicts when and where leaves will be at their prime. Even the National Park Service directs leaf enthusiasts to the site.
However, no map is infallible and Mother Nature does come with her own set of unknowns. All it takes is a warm spell or an early Nor'easter to change the projections. But use the guides to better inform yourself and forecast your travel plans.
Don’t commit to one location
One of the beauties of traveling during leaf-peeping season is that if you miss peak color in one location, you can always go somewhere else later.
You might think leaf-peeping is synonymous with states like Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, but New England isn’t the only game in town to take in spectacular fall foliage.
By the end of September, leaves are predicted to be partial or nearly peak in the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains and upper Midwest. By the end of October, the Mid-Atlantic and Great Plains are aglow.
The fall foliage finale comes around the end of November when the Gulf region — an area not typically associated with fall — is near its prime.
Know your options when traveling
If you’re looking for a change of scenery so drastic that it can only be accomplished with a flight, consider the change and cancellation fees of the airline carrier before you book.
Southwest Airlines is one U.S. carriers that never charges change or cancellation fees. If flying Southwest isn’t an option, another way to mitigate the risk of losing money is to find airlines with cheaper fees. Budget carriers like JetBlue, Frontier and Spirit all charge between $25 for a same-day change and $120 for cancellation.
When flying American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta, Virgin America, or Alaska Airlines, a flight change will set you back around $200 for domestic flights and even more for international flights.
Across the board, you can cancel your flight without penalty for 24 hours after you initially purchase your tickets as long as your flight is more than a week away.
If your trip falls through, wait until a few hours before your flight to cancel it. Your flight may end up being cancelled anyway due to weather or a service change, entitling you to a refund without paying a fee.
If you can’t find last-minute fares within your budget, broaden your search to nearby airports. You can also get great value from points and miles on last-minute flights. Bundling with a hotel or rental car through an online travel agent like Expedia or Kayak can also drive down the price of airfare.
Air travel isn’t the only option for leaf-peepers.
Amtrak’s generous refund and cancellation policy allows all train passengers to receive a full refund and no change fee as long as they cancel their trip within 24 hours of purchase. Flexible, Business and Premium passengers always get a full refund and no change fee no matter when they cancel their trip.
Stephanie is a writer for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @SJAsymkos.
Read more:
Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, SmartNews, LinkedIn, YouTube, and reddit.
