updated 10:42 a.m. ET Sept. 18, 2008

Book by: ASAP
Travel by: Through fall

The deal
With the summer sun now fading, why not plan a surf-and-sand getaway to brighten up the fall season? We’ve found some great autumn airfares to beach destinations around the globe from close-to-home Florida, Mexico, and the Caribbean to exotic locales in Australia, Brazil, and beyond. Look for bargain beach fares from as low as $79 each way.

Southwest Sunshine State sale w/Fort Lauderdale & more from $79 one-way
Florida is the ultimate fun-in-the-sun destination year round, and with Southwest’s newly posted sale fares for travel there through January 9, 2009, you can hold onto summer just a little bit longer. Book inexpensive one-way tickets from $79 to $109 one-way from dozens of cities across the U.S. to six Florida hotspots, including Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, West Palm Beach, and more. Just be sure to book these tickets 21 days in advance of travel, and no later than September 30.

Fly Down Under, plus get three free flights within Australia from $1,199 roundtrip
Head to Australia this fall and snag fantastic rates courtesy of Qantas Airways’ Great Barrier Reef Airpass. Priced from $1199 — a savings of up to $500 per booking — the offer includes round-trip airfare to Brisbane, Sydney, or Melbourne via L.A., San Francisco, or Honolulu, as well as three additional domestic flights within Australia once you get there. Take off to destinations like Cairns, Townsville, or Hamilton Island (all three of which provide the highest savings and act as gateways to the Great Barrier Reef — the ultimate beach destination!), as well as to Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, Brisbane, Sydney, or Melbourne. This deal expires on September 30, and is valid on travel through August 31, 2009.

Fly JetBlue to Cancun, Bermuda, Aruba & more from $89 each way
JetBlue has posted some tempting everyday low fares to shoulder-season locales in Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Find cheap one-way flights to Aruba via NYC from $189; Bermuda via NYC or Boston from $144; Cancun via five U.S. cities from $99; Nassau via NYC or Boston from $159; Ponce, Puerto Rico via NYC or Orlando from $89; or San Juan via four cities from $119. Fare requires a three-to 14-day advance purchase. Travel is valid during select periods (which vary by city pair) through January 31, 2009.

Rock-bottom Air Jamaica fares to Jamaica beaches from $100 one-way
Air Jamaica has just posted some of the cheapest fares we’ve seen to Montego Bay and Kingston, with rates starting at just $100 each-way via Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, NYC, and more. Book by September 30 for travel September 19 through December 12.

New American Airlines routes to Brazil featuring intro fares from $425 one-way
American Airlines is launching service to a handful of new Brazilian destinations in early November including the beach hotspots of Recife, known as the “Venice of Brazil," and lined by white-sand beaches, as well as Salvador, which boasts miles of pristine coastline. Travel is valid November 2, 2008 through May 28, 2009 from major U.S. cities. This sale ends December 2; tickets must be booked 14 days in advance of travel.

Central America fares on TACA from $188 roundtrip
While fall might mark Central America’s rainy season, it also brings forth some fantastic deals on airfares to the region, like those listed by TACA from $188 roundtrip. Look for sale fares like: Houston–Belize $404; NYC–Panama $398; L.A.–San Jose, Costa Rica $348; Miami–Guatemala City $188; and more. Travel is valid through November 10 but must be booked by September 26.

The catch
Some of these popular beach spots are prone to storms this time of year — consider nabbing trip insurance and do inquire as to individual airline and hotel policies before booking, should an unforeseen storm put a wrench in your travel plans.

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