People often ask me, how do I travel so inexpensively and I'm quick to say research. I typically send many hours researching when to travel to a particular destination and I try to discover what the off season is for this place. Why travel during the off season? Well for starters, when you travel in the off season, planes and hotels are typically not fully booked, which means that there are cheaper airline tickets and accommodations to be had. It also means that there are smaller lines to museums and other popular attractions as well as easier access to premium restaurants. I typically will travel during this period and save a substantial amount. However, there are certain downsides to this strategy. For instance, the last time I was in Barcelona it was in the middle of March and just too cold to enjoy swimming in those beautiful azure waters. However, I was still able to see all of the many sites that make this an incredible city (La Sagrada Familia, Eixampla, The Gothic Quarter, Parc Guell, The Picasso Museum, etc...) and saved over $600 in the process. All because I went in the off season and not in June or July like the tens of thousands of others that descend upon this magnificent destination. Don't get me wrong it can be great to see a site in all it's glory, who wouldn't want to experience the unbridled romance of Paris during spring, but if you are traveling there just to see sites like The Eiffel Tower or The Louver, than why not save yourself hundreds of dollars in the process and go two months earlier.
So when does the off season occur? Well that truly depends upon the location that you are planning to visit. If you want to find great deals to Mexico and the tranquil islands of the Caribbean then go during hurricane season (which falls between June and October). Yes, hurricane season! The Caribbean is a very large body of water and meteorologists can predict storms over a week out. Thus, a hurricane can be creating utter havoc in one location while another can be completely calm and relaxed. In October of 2011, I was sipping Mai tai's on a a sugary sand beach in Jamaica while the Riviera Maya was pounded by down pours from a very large hurricane. The best part of this situation, was the ever present knowledge that I was in absolutely no danger from this storm. In fact, many of the guests at the resort that I was staying at were supposed to be in Mexico, but rescheduled their trip to avoid the storm. If you plan on traveling to the Caribbean or Mexico during hurricane season, than you Must pay the extra money for the trip cancellation insurance (which only costs an additional $50 or so). That way you can be versatile like those vacationers who were able to relocate from the destruction occurring in Mexico to the peaceful waters of Jamaica and not get stuck paying a fortune for a second trip. The trick is to book your trip months out when rates are low for this for of the world and wait. About two weeks out, start to watching the weather very intently (check every day until you are ready to leave). If it looks like a storm is going to interfere with your getaway than cancel and book elsewhere. If a storm is tracking in the eastern Caribbean like the Bahamas or The U.S. Virgin Islands then move west to The Cayman's or Aruba (or vica versa) . Or delay your trip a week and bypass the storm completely. This will allow you to enjoy the warm turquoise waters and still save hundreds of dollars. For Tropical Storm Isaac (Aug. 2012) I would have used this strategy and moved from Dominican Republic, Key West, and the Grenadines to Mexico, Jamaica, or the Bahamas.
Another great off season discounts can be found in the desert. Trips to places like Las Vegas, Phoenix, Moab, Egypt, and Agra are much cheaper in summer. The reason you save money on this move, is that most people do not like to travel to places that experience 100 plus degree weather during their summers. Thus, if you can handle the heat than there most certainly can be a reward for you. If you would like to travel to Europe, go in late fall (October- November) or the middle of winter (January-February). In fact, many travel companies offer deals to Europe during the week of Thanksgiving. Americans are typically to tied up with their turkey diner and shopping deals galore to travel abroad. Also, I have traditionally found great deals to England in September and Paris in November. It is the wet season and always raining during these months so bring your umbrella.
The most inexpensive time to travel to Australia and New Zealand is during June. It is their winter and consequently prices are much lower than in January and February. Ironically, if you want to hike in the outback or scuba dive in The Great Barrier Reef, this is the best time of year to do it. The temperatures in The Outback are much more temperate (a pleasant 70 degrees compared to a blistering 100) and the bugs are in less abundance (they are still there and just as annoying, but in smaller numbers). As for The Great Barrier Reef, the water is cooler in June but the box jelly fish migrate north for the season. This is phenomenal news because these aquatic animals can potentially kill you with their lethal stings! So you can enjoy the breath taking beauty, without the threat of danger.
These are just a few of the ways to save money on your next vacation by timing it with the slow season. So if you want to save hundreds of dollars on a future trip, try to coordinate it with the off season.
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