Offseason beach vacations to take this fall

If you're feeling an immense woe as summer fades away, hold off on your seasonal despair. Fall is coming, but you don't have to say goodbye to your dreams of sun and sand just yet. Piña coladas, pools and palm trees are still attainable, even if people are already gearing up for leaf-peeping.

Depending on the destination, fall is shoulder season — an off-peak period when business slows and prices come down accordingly. Hayley Berg, lead economist for the travel booking app Hopper, says beach airfare and hotel prices drop in September and October, particularly in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. You could use those savings to score a weekend getaway that won't blow your budget, or ball out on something special at a better rate than peak season affords.

For further deals, Berg encourages travelers to shell out some vacation days and plan a trip during the week. You'll find the best prices for Monday through Wednesday departures, or if you skip a Saturday night hotel stay.

Here's where to go if you're not ready to throw in the beach towel on summer just yet.

Fuseta, Portugal

The weather in southern Portugal is splendid in September and October, so travel adviser Marisa DeSalvio sends clients to Fuseta in the Algarve region. "It's very beachy, and not only that, there's a huge culinary scene," DeSalvio said. For example, there are local oyster farms where visitors can try shucking themselves, then savor their work with a glass of local wine.

Fuseta, a former fishing town, is about a 40-minute drive from Portugal's Faro International Airport. DeSalvio's favorite hotel in the area is the Octant Vila Monte.

St. Lucia

For a combination of seaside relaxation and mountain tranquility, DeSalvio recommends a shoulder-season trip to St. Lucia in the Eastern Caribbean. The island is usually spared by Atlantic hurricanes thanks to its location south of the so-called hurricane belt. Its rainforest terrain is a draw for active travelers who love hiking and birding.

Hawaii

After Maui's devastating fires, locals pleaded with tourists to stay away as the community healed. But a drop in tourism had an immediate economic impact. According to the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, the absence of tourism in West Maui is costing the state an estimated $9 million a day. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) issued an emergency proclamation last week welcoming travelers back to West Maui (but not Lahaina) starting Oct. 8.

Of course, there are other islands to consider. Siera Duiser, travel adviser with Destinations to Explore, recommends visitors stay on Oahu, where in between their time on the beach, they can hike Diamond Head, revisit World War II history at Pearl Harbor and try Matsumoto Shave Ice on the North Shore.

South Carolina barrier islands

A quick detour from Charleston, the barrier islands of South Carolina are a fall go-to for certified travel specialist Susan Glover. Isle of Palms, Folly Beach or Kiawah Island all make good options with temperatures in the 80s, and the humidity of July and August long gone along with the crowds. Glover recommends going with a vacation rental over a hotel so you can have your own oyster roast or Lowcountry boil after a long day at the beach.

Seychelles

For a honeymoon-worthy shoulder-season jaunt, there's the Seychelles, an archipelago of more than 100 islands off the East African coast. Laura Burdett-Munns, managing director of the luxury travel company Journeysmiths, says the Seychelles are often referred to as a Garden of Eden, as more than half of its land is protected.

During October, the Seychelles's two main islands, Mahé and Praslin, have weather in the 80s. Burdett-Munns recommends staying a few days in each, and if your budget allows, exploring some of the region's idyllic private islands as well. Visitors can rent a car to explore the country's beaches and national wonders, like Morne Seychellois National Park on Mahé or Praslin's Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve — a palm forest and UNSECO World Heritage site.

Tahiti

Fall is whale season in Tahiti, making it a favorite off-peak beach pick for Mary Kraemer of Masterpiece Travels. Located in the Southern Hemisphere, Tahiti sees temperature highs in the 70s and 80s in September and October, and travelers can find convenient nonstop flights from the West Coast.

Bali

Surf. Jungles. Rich culture. Adventure. Bali has it all, plus "it's hot year-round," says Esther Klijn of Cire Travel, making it a perfect shoulder option. In the fall, Klijn says you'll have great laying-by-the-pool-weather, fewer crowds and accommodations that promise more bang for your buck than many popular beach destinations.

Sifnos, Greece

The Cyclades — a group of Greek islands in the Aegean Sea — may be most famous for its hot spots like Santorini and Mykonos, but Alessandra Motola, a luxury travel expert with Blue Parallel, prefers sending clients to more off-the-beaten-path options like Sifnos.

Sifnos can be reached by ferry from Athens in about three hours and has a dreamlike quality, Motola says. It's home to exciting outdoor adventures, breathtaking natural beauty and unforgettable culinary experiences.

Motola is also a fan of Crete for its mountainous natural landscape and fascinating history. And while it's the largest of the Greek islands, Crete is often overlooked by American travelers.

Aruba

Aruba is a year-round beach pick for Heather Meliski of Yellow Shoe Travel, but particularly during the shoulder season, as it's outside of the hurricane belt. That means you're guaranteed sun along with fantastic food and great resorts, Meliski says.

Sunny Isles Beach, Florida

Located within 20 miles of the Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports, Sunny Isles Beach, Fla., is a fall staple for Kristy Lobell of Traveluxe. While Lobell books clients at the five-star Acqualina Resort,

September and October is technically hurricane season, so you'll want to keep plans flexible in case of emergency. But fall does offer a break from Florida humidity and daily temperatures average in the mid- to upper-80s.