Autumn is the new summer as expats wait out the heat

Summer may be over, but travellers are showing no sign of staying put, with some in the industry seeing more activity in September and October than over summer.

Travel insurance provider Staysure Expat says sales were quieter than usual over the summer but picked up in September. Website visitors were up 13% on September last year, with sales up 10%.

“A number of factors have played a part,” said Caroline Lips, Head of Marketing at Staysure Expat. “Geopolitical events, including the conflict involving Iran, disrupted travel patterns and led people to change their destinations and how long they stayed away.

“Heatwaves and wildfires were also a factor. Traditionally, our expat customers escape the Spanish heat and return to cooler home countries. This year there were days when London was hotter than Marbella, so many stayed put, enjoying their pools and air-conditioning.

“Now we’re seeing flexible travellers not tied to school holidays, such as silver nomads, digital nomads, younger travellers and golfers, moving their plans later in the year, when it’s more comfortable for sightseeing and sport.”

Staysure Expat is not alone. In the European Travel Commission’s Monitoring Sentiment for Intra-European Travel report (Spring/Summer 2026), 75% of respondents said the changing climate has affected how they travel, with many changing when they holiday and seeking milder destinations.

Virtuoso’s 2026 Luxe Report found 45% of respondents say climate change is causing clients to travel differently, with 76% travelling in shoulder or off-peak seasons. Declaring “fall is the new summer”, Virtuoso reports autumn 2026 bookings up 59% and sales up 69%.

“I’ve lived on the Costa del Sol since 2013 and have seen the tourist season stretch into September and October,” added Caroline. “Hire cars are still on the roads and restaurants and beach clubs are still busy. It’s my favourite time of year, so it’s no surprise more visitors are choosing autumn, and I expect the trend to continue.”

For more travel advice for expats in Spain, France and Portugal, visit the Staysure Expat blog or follow @staysureexpat on Instagram and @staysureexpat on Facebook.