Try "Off Peak" Travel

One of the best ways to make the most of your vacation dollars is to consider traveling "off peak".  Exactly what does "off peak" mean?  It means that you travel at a different time of the year than many other people who visit that same destination, often at a reduced cost.

Here are a few examples:

• You decide to visit Alaska late Spring or early Fall rather than peak season, the Summer.  Rates on Alaskan cruises are lower during this "shoulder" season, the weather is pleasant, the crowds are less, and the wildlife may be more active.
  


• European tours & cruises offer similar values.  Try a "Christmas Markets" cruise in the late fall to do your sightseeing (and Christmas shopping), or visit Italy in the winter.  Be creative!
  


• Costa Rica is a very popular destination in the winter as the climate is warm and tropical when it's cold in the USA.  Try this - take a tour or plan your vacation for the summertime when it is "green season" in the jungles.  Yes, this means you may get a bit wet, but the showers usually pass, the foliage is in full bloom, and certain species of turtles are nesting. Some consider "green season" the best time to visit.
  


• Think it's too hot to visit Mexico in the summer?  You might be surprised to learn that the average high in Playa Del Carmen (in the Riviera Maya, Mexico) in July & August is high 80's with a nice ocean breeze. Resort prices in Mexico are generally much lower in the summer than they are during the winter and spring. It's a great time to visit and will likely be more cost effective (and less crowded) than visiting many domestic beach destinations.

With a little creative thinking, you can stretch your vacation dollars to see many destinations for far less than you might have initially thought!