Summer vacation season may be over, but fall travel promises to be a better deal for bargain-hunting consumers.

Americans scrimped on summer vacations, spending just $300 on average, according to Quicken Online, which compiled spending data from the more than 1.3 million consumers who use its financial-management program.

Leisure travel cutbacks have hurt the industry, but it s the decline in business travel that s forcing hotels to slash their rates this fall, says Gabe Saglie, a spokesman for travel booking site Travelzoo (TZOO) . Companies typically plan for conventions and other off-site events a year in advance, and as we approach the anniversary of 2008 s market crash, many hotels are finding themselves with a surplus of vacant rooms.

Now, the recession s effect is being compounded by the usual fall slowdown as kids return to school. To offset the loss, many hotels in popular vacation destinations are cutting rates by as much as 50%. Here are five fall destinations worth considering:

New York

Wall Street s woes have pushed hotel prices in the Big Apple down 29% compared with last fall, according to data from travel-booking site Expedia (EXP) . That s the biggest drop I ve ever seen [for the city] in 30 years of covering travel, says Chris McGinnis, a spokesman for Expedia. The Park Central New York Hotel is now offering a 20% discount when you book a stay of five nights or more, lowering weekday rates for a room with a king-size bed from $349 to $279. Visitors will also find plenty of deals on attractions, particularly Broadway shows where prices have fallen by as much as 50%. (For tips to snag those theater deals, click here

Sample deal: Three-star Murray Hill East Hotel is offering travelers who book through Orbitz a 25% discount on a stay through Sept. 30. Rates regularly start at $164 a night.

Las Vegas

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Sample deal: At MGM Grand, book a stay sometime between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24, and get a third night free. Rates start at $79 a night.

Weather-wise, fall is the best time to visit San Francisco, says McGinnis, who lives there. In the summer, there s fog; in the winter, rain, he says. Now, prices are favorable for travelers, with the average room rate down 21%, compared with last fall. For example, Campton Place San Francisco is offering a third night free for stays before Dec. 31. Rates start at $270.

Sample deal: Four-star Hotel Nikko San Francisco is now offering its rooms at a 30% discount on Expedia, dropping the weekend rate for a room with a king-size bed from $433 to $303.

Orlando

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The catch: Florida s hurricane season lasts through November, so consider inexpensive travel insurance.

Sample deal: Participating Marriott Vacation Club resorts are offering one free night when you book two, or two nights free when you book three. (Use promo code BOG when reserving.) Rates start at $119. Promotion ends Jan. 31, 2010.

Maui

Hawaii has taken a double hit as cash-strapped business and leisure travelers have opted for destinations closer to home. Traditionally, the Big Island is the place to find deals, but this fall, pricier areas like Maui are slashing rates by an average of 15% compared to last year, McGinnis says. For example, the Four Seasons Resort Maui cut its post Labor Day rates from $495 to $395 per night, a savings of 20%. It s a slower season, so airfares are cheap, too, he says. Alaska Airlines (ALK) recently offered one-way fares for roughly $150 from Portland, Ore., and Seattle.

Sample deal: At the four-star Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, get a third night free for stays before Dec. 25. Nightly rates start at $260.