When the leaves begin to rustle, hotels prepare to hustle and bustle.

According to ILoveNY, millions of tourists take to the Empire State every year to get their fix of fall foliage and fun-filled, family-friendly seasonal activities — and they need a place to stay.

AAA Member Experience Travel Advisor Bethany Steves says that when it comes to fall, New York state is the place to be.

“The fall used to be kind of the beginning of the down season,” Steves explained. “And it’s really started to become its own season in tourism.”

That’s something hotels across the state are also noticing.

“We always think of our season to shine as being summer,” Caitlin Gambee said. “But the data is showing something a little bit different.”

Gambee is co-owner of the Brewster Inn in Cazenovia. She says she was surprised to learn October was going to be one of the hotel’s busiest months of the year.

“July, we are occupied at about 70%, which is really incredible for us. And then in October, we still have half the month left, we’re at about 64%, so we’re set to sort of beat that record,” Gambee said.

Gambee credits the spike to New York’s reputation as a premier fall destination.

“It really is something stunning,” Gambee said. “So, I think we have a lot of people that travel up to see the foliage, go on hikes, make the most of fall, helps having great apple orchards in the area and pumpkin patches, and people can do all those classic fall activities up here.”

The Brewster Inn was built in 1890 by an oil financier. It’s known today for its unique lodging experience, fine dining options and large waterfront.

Gambee said she was nervous Airbnb would take away business from the hotel, but she’s been pleased to learn that people seek out all sorts of lodging experiences.

“It’s nice to see that, you know, a building like ourselves with such a rich history, it’s kind of a unique venue to stay at, is still thriving in this new environment,” Gambee said.

With visitors traveling near and far to take in the sights and experiences of fall in New York, Steves says the price of travel is relatively wallet friendly.

“It’s easy to feel like everything is rising in price,” Steves said. “But putting it into perspective, travel is still relatively, you know, approachable.”

There’s lots of great ways to explore New York state on any budget — and plenty of different hotels, lodges and bnbs to meet your needs.