Shoulder Season Travel Deals Have Arrived

Shoulder Season Travel Deals Have Arrived

Christine DiGangi

Here's how much you save by waiting until after Labor Day to head to Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean.

When it comes to traveling, most people are familiar with the ideas of peak seasons and off-seasons — that taking a vacation is generally more popular (and more expensive) in July than in January. Between those extremes is shoulder season, the not-quite-best (or worst) time to go to specific destinations, which means there may be deals to score by booking fall travel.

The passing of Labor Day signifies the unofficial end of summer for many Americans, but you might be able to cling to warm weather and beach days by looking into a later-than-usual vacation. Travel analysts at Expedia say you can get an oceanside vacation for up to 38% off peak-travel prices by traveling in September or October, while the weather is still suitable for spending the day on the beach.

The analysts looked at flights from the top 10 departure cities in the U.S. (among them Chicago, Houston, New York and Los Angeles) and compared the prices of travel and lodging during peak months (June 1 through Aug. 31) and the shoulder season. Here’s what some of the average savings look like, according to Expedia’s analysts.

Flights

• Hawaii
  Average ticket price: 17% less than during peak months
• Mexico (Cabo, Puerto Vallarta and Cancun)
  Average ticket price: 8% less than during peak months
• Caribbean
  Average ticket price: 7% less than during peak months

Hotels

• Mexico
  Average daily rate: 16% less than during peak months
• Caribbean
  Average daily rate: 16% less than during peak months
• Hawaii
  Average daily rate: 9% less than during peak months

Savings could be even greater (or less) depending on your specific destination and hotel choice, which is why it helps to do some research before committing to an itinerary. If you’re a credit card user, you might be able to further boost your savings by redeeming travel rewards. No matter how you pay for your vacation or how big of a deal you can get when booking it, it’s always crucial to make sure you’re not blowing your budget, because a relaxing getaway and happy memories tend to not be worth dealing with debt later on.

Note: It’s important to remember that interest rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products frequently change. As a result, rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products cited in these articles may have changed since the date of publication. Please be sure to verify current rates, fees and terms with credit card issuers, banks or other financial institutions directly.