At certain times of the year, like summer, spring break, and the winter vacation season, it may seem like everyone you know is traveling. However, travel prices are expected to soar during peak travel periods each year.
To avoid airline and hotel insurance premiums, try waiting until the end of the season. With some strategic planning and the best travel credit cards in your wallet, you can book your next vacation for less and with fewer people.
What is shoulder season?
Almost every vacation destination has a peak season when it’s the busiest and most expensive. But there is also an off-season. Sometimes the weather isn’t so inviting and your usual hotspots are deserted or temporarily closed. Shoulder season falls between these two periods.
Shoulder seasons vary by location, but are usually fall and spring.
For example, the ideal time to visit beaches in places like Cancun, Mexico, and Costa Rica may be during the warm, dry winter months. Summer and early fall are less crowded due to the scorching temperatures and potential for bad weather. Shoulder season in these locations is in the spring, around April or early May.
On the other hand, if you want to visit Greece during the shoulder season, plan your trip around late September or October. Although you will miss the peak summer holiday season in July and August, you can still enjoy the calm waters of the Mediterranean before winter.
Read more: How to use credit cards when traveling abroad
Savings example during shoulder season
One of the biggest reasons to avoid peak travel months and travel during low seasons is to save money when there is less demand from other travelers.
Travel prices (transportation, lodging, recreation, etc.) have increased more than 20% since 2019, according to the U.S. Travel Association’s latest Travel Price Index.
Traveling off-peak can save you some money, even if costs increase. Keep in mind that these prices likely won’t be as low as during your destination’s true off-season. However, if your plan is flexible, you may be able to score some solid deals.
Here are some examples of shoulder season savings available at the time of publication.
award ticket
Maybe you got some major FOMO from seeing your friends enjoying summer in Italy this year and are planning your own trip for 2025. If you want to fly from the New York metropolitan area to Rome on United Airlines during the height of summer (the weekend before the July 4th holiday), a nonstop award ticket will cost you 70,000 miles. For even more premium fares, you can pay more than 200,000 miles per ticket.
However, the height of summer is not the only time to enjoy Italy. Consider moving your travel dates forward a few months to early April 2025. While premium economy and business class tickets may still be expensive, these new dates could potentially reduce economy award tickets by 30,000 miles, nearly doubling the redemption value.
Read more: Best airline credit cards
Purchased flight ticket
Domestic holiday destinations also have low seasons, and discounts apply not only to award travel but also to the fares you purchase.
Let’s say you live near Charlotte, North Carolina, and want to take your family on a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. During the busy holiday season, round-trip tickets on American Airlines from Dec. 27 to Jan. 3, 2024 can cost more than $400 per flight.
Instead, consider traveling during the fall shoulder season. The same flight a month ago, from November 29, 2024 to December 6, 2024, cost nearly $200 less. You can enjoy the warm autumn weather and maybe even avoid the crowds at the parks on holidays.
Hotel reservation
Don’t forget to save money on hotels during the shoulder season. Consider the December holiday travel season. Let’s say you want to go on a ski trip to Vail, Colorado, but want to stay at a Hilton property. You can book the Highline Vail (a DoubleTree Hotel) from December 22nd to 28th for nearly $700 per night. This is also expensive for a Hilton Honors membership.
But if you wait a few months and travel toward the end of the season in late March, you might be able to score the same room for about $150 less per night.
Note: Hotel and airline programs typically use dynamic pricing models. The examples above are accurate to the dates listed at the time of publication, but are subject to change. Please note that flight and hotel prices vary depending on when you book, your travel dates, whether you book directly or through a portal, and many other factors.
You can often expect discounts on flights and hotels during off-peak times. But don’t forget about the other costs of your trip. For example, when tourist demand is low, local restaurants may reduce their prices, or popular tourist attractions may offer discounts (and wider availability) on ticket prices.
Be sure to research your destination before booking to ensure you get the most savings during your stay.
Read more: Recommendations for the best travel credit cards
More ways to earn travel savings
Shoulder season is the best time to take advantage of travel deals, but popular destinations come with hefty price tags no matter when you go. You may also be obligated to only be able to travel during certain times, which may not give you the flexibility you need to maximize your savings.
That’s why it pays to combine strategies to ensure you get the most out of your travel dollars. Here are some additional details to consider:
When to book: If you want to get the best deal, it’s always wise to track your airfare before you book. A recent report from Expedia found that you get the best deals when you book domestic travel 28 days in advance. For international travel, please book at least 60 days prior to departure and within 4 months.
Travel hours/days: Not only can you benefit from traveling outside of peak seasons, but you can also save money by choosing off-peak flight times and days. According to the same Expedia report, the cheapest day of the week to fly is Thursday, and the most expensive is Sunday. So if you can take an extra day off work, leave for a trip on Thursday instead of Friday, or return on Monday instead of Sunday, you might be able to get a better deal.
Consider a different destination: Instead of traveling to the most popular destinations on your social media feeds, consider somewhere else this year. According to a recent TripAdvisor study, the top destinations for 2024 are Tokyo (worldwide) and Napa Valley, California (USA). This year, unless you have a special reason to travel to a hot spot right now, consider going somewhere lower-key on a budget. You may be able to find a better price in the future if the original location is not a current trending travel spot.
Save money with your credit card during the shoulder season
Choosing the right time to travel isn’t the only way to save money. A good travel credit card will offer discounts, savings, and more, both when you book and during your trip.
Take advantage of valuable sign-up bonuses and 0% APR introductory periods when you open a new card before you travel. Some welcome bonuses offer hundreds of dollars toward travel after you meet spending requirements, which can lead to big savings when you’re ready to book. And with 12 or 15 months of 0% APR, you can pay for your trip over time without incurring additional interest, as long as you pay off your balance in full before the offer ends. .
You can still use your credit card while you’re actually traveling. Many cards have no foreign transaction fees, so you can save 1% to 3% on every transaction you make abroad. When you use your card while you travel, you’ll continue to earn rewards on every purchase, giving you a head start on points and miles on future trips.
Travel credit cards to consider
These travel credit cards can help you earn rewards for your future trips. And when you’re ready to redeem, you can compare flexible redemption options to find the best way to maximize your benefits.
Annual fee
$95
welcome offer
Earn up to $1,050 in Chase Travel℠ value: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months (worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel). Plus, earn up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel purchases within your first year.
Recurring purchase APR
21.49% – 28.49% variable
reward rate
5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries 2x points on all other travel purchases 1x points on all other purchases
advantage
Earn 25% more points when you redeem for flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises through Chase Travel. Earn up to $50 in credits on your annual statement for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel. Earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases on each account anniversary. made last year
Why we like it: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of our favorite travel credit cards for all types of travelers. With bonus categories ranging from travel purchases to dining, streaming services, and more, you can earn points when you spend at home or book travel. Plus, there’s a nice welcome bonus and some annual perks to make up for the $95 annual fee. One of our favorite perks is earning more points when you redeem them through Chase Travel℠. Instead of the standard 1 cent per point, you’ll get a value of 1.25 cents for every point you use to book through the portal.
Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card
reward rate
5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel. 2x miles on all other purchases.
advantage
Receive a statement credit of up to $120 towards your Global Entry or TSA prescreening application fee. Receive a $50 Experience Credit, room upgrades, and early check-in at participating hotels. Get access to Hertz’s 5-Star Membership, which offers free upgrades, a wide selection of vehicles, and more.
Why we like it: The Capital One Venture Rewards credit card makes it easy to earn miles toward future travel with a flat rewards structure. Earn 2x miles on every dollar spent with your card (plus 5x points when you book eligible travel through Capital One Travel). So if your spending often doesn’t fit into the typical bonus category, the Venture card is a great option. There are many attractive ways to redeem miles. You can either use these to book travel through Capital One Travel, apply them toward travel purchases charged to your card, or transfer them to one of Capital One’s 15+ transfer partners.
Read our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee
$0
welcome offer
Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months
Introducing APR
0% introductory APR on purchase for first 12 months, then standard APR
buy annual interest rate
20.24% to 29.99% variable
reward rate
3x points on dining, travel, gas stations, EV stations, transit, select streaming services, and phone plans 1x points on all other purchases
advantage
Get up to $600 worth of cellphone damage and theft protection. 0% introductory APR helps finance big purchases for up to 1 year
Why we like it: The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ card is perfect for travelers who don’t want to pay an annual fee. Earn 3x points for every dollar you spend on a variety of travel and everyday categories, including restaurants, travel, gas, transportation, popular streaming services, phone plans, and more. Plus, you’ll earn 1x the standard points on everything else. Unlike other travel credit card options, this card also lets you enjoy an initial 0% APR on new purchases. This can be helpful if you need a little extra money to pay for an upcoming trip.
This article was edited by Rebecca McCracken
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