No more bargain September holidays in the Canary Islands
September has long been seen as the perfect month for a late summer getaway: warm weather, quieter resorts, and lower prices once the peak crowds of July and August have gone home.
But the days of bargain September holidays are fading fast, as demand continues to rise and prices climb steadily across Spain and the Canary Islands.
Figures from Spain’s National Institute of Statistics (INE) show that hotel and apartment prices in the Canary Islands increased by 5.3% between September 2023 and September 2024. Looking back further, accommodation last September was already around 25% more expensive than in 2019, the last year before the pandemic. The trend suggests that costs are likely to keep rising in 2025.
It isn’t just visitors to the islands who are affected. Canarian residents planning trips to the Spanish mainland are also seeing higher costs. According to travel site eBooking.com, the average price of tourist accommodation in Spain last September was €132 per night, up 21% on the year before.
The shift reflects a wider change in travel habits. A recent survey by the National Observatory of Outbound Tourism revealed that more Spaniards are now choosing to take their main holidays in September, with the figure reaching 17%, roughly one in six travellers.
Spending data confirms the same pattern. INE’s monthly tourism spending survey shows that in September 2024, visitors to the Canary Islands spent an average of €1,423 per person, €138 more than in 2019. Daily expenditure also jumped from €150 in 2019 to €188 in 2024, an increase of almost €40 per day.
Despite the rising prices, September still has key advantages for holidaymakers. With schools back, families at home, and offices returning to normal, resorts are noticeably less crowded. For many, that quieter atmosphere more than justifies the higher costs.
And of course, the weather remains a major draw. In the Canary Islands, across much of Spain, and in Mediterranean destinations, September still brings sunshine, warm seas, and evenings ideal for dining outdoors, without the stifling heat of high summer.
So, while September can no longer be counted on for cheap late holidays, it continues to offer something that money can’t always buy: space, calm, and sunshine without the crowds.
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