The joys of fall travel

September, October and early November have always been my favorite months of the year to travel. Even if you haven't finished unpacking from your summer vacation, get busy now if you want the best deal on a fall getaway.

Here are three reasons why autumn is such a great time to travel:

The crowds are gone. Once the children are back in school, most summer travelers also are back at home and work. So now is the time to visit theme parks or beaches.

The weather is beautiful. It doesn't matter where you go; the oppressive heat is usually over and most places are between rainy seasons. Whether it's St. Louis or Paris, odds are you'll have temperate days and pleasantly cool evenings.

The prices are down. Except for heavily visited business destinations, most vacation spots lower their prices at the end of the summer season. Airlines, hotels and cruise ships start scrambling to fill seats, beds and berths for fall, and late-summer sales start popping up for travel between Labor Day and Thanksgiving.

The first thing to decide is when to go. Pull out the calendar and determine if you can get away only for a weekend or have the luxury of a week or more. If you have only a few days, driving destinations within 100 miles or flights lasting less than two hours will be your best bet. If you can get away for a week or more, the world is yours at discount prices.

If you and the family want to squeeze a few more warm days out of summer, check out beach destinations such as Florida and Southern California. In the Southwest, the lower elevations in southern Arizona and New Mexico also are great warm-weather spots — the rainy season is over and temperatures are dropping into the 70s and 80s. Golfers can head to perfect tee-off weather in Hawaii, Palm Springs, Phoenix and Las Vegas, also a great spot to explore the Red Rocks or Lake Mead. And San Francisco enjoys its best summer days in September and October.

Fall foliage tours are a staple, and not just in the Northeast. Consider flying to an area that interests you, then head out and explore by rental car. Fall colors come earlier in the North and later in Georgia, the Carolinas and the southern Appalachian Mountains. If you plan to explore the more remote back roads where cell phone service is spotty, make sure to have water, snacks and a well-serviced vehicle with an inflated spare tire and tools.

Fall cruise sales are everywhere. Free upgrades, free airfare, reduced deposits and hundreds of dollars in shipboard credit are just a few of the perks on Holland America, Princess and Carnival. In September and October, Disney Cruises are 40% cheaper than summer prices (and come with bonus shipboard credit).

To get the best bargains, do your research online, then call your travel agent. Travel agents can save you time and money, often meeting or even beating online prices. The advantages of using a travel agent include the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your fall getaway is booked correctly and that you'll have someone to call if there's a problem en route. Compare their prices and knowledge and make a decision based on what's right for you.