Travel in the cheapest season

When you travel can matter as much as where you go. The same trip can cost far less at another time of year.

The three seasons

• Peak season: the best weather or the big holidays. Highest prices and biggest crowds.
• Shoulder season: the weeks just before and after peak. Often good weather, lower prices and fewer people. This is the sweet spot for many travelers.
• Low season: the cheapest, but with a catch such as heat, rain, cold or closed attractions.

Examples of the sweet spot

These are general patterns. Weather varies each year, so check your destination.

• Southern Europe: April to early June, and September to October.
• Japan: late spring and autumn are popular and pricey. Winter outside the holidays is quieter.
• Southeast Asia: the dry season is the most popular. The start of the rainy season can be cheaper, with short showers.
• Caribbean: summer and early autumn are cheaper, but hurricane season runs through autumn.
• Australia and New Zealand: the seasons are reversed, so December to February is summer and peak.

Watch the calendar

• School holidays and public holidays raise prices in many places at the same time.
• Festivals, big sports events and conferences can double hotel prices in one city.
• Some hotels, restaurants and ferries close in the low season.

Save on the days of the week

• Flying on weekdays is often cheaper than on weekends.
• Hotels in vacation cities tend to cost more on weekends. In business cities, weekends are often cheaper.

Weigh the trade

Cheaper is not always better. If you hate heat, a summer bargain in a hot place is no bargain. Check weather, closures and safety before you book. See Find cheaper flights for fare tips.