Taking a trip in the shoulder season, the period of travel between low and high seasons, offers some serious advantages to holidaymakers with an eye on their wallet but who still want to enjoy the best a destination has to offer.
Travelling in high season doesn't only mean you're paying the top bracket for your holiday.
Beaches are fuller, queues are longer, tourist attractions are more crowded, and, though the sun seems very appealing from the not-so-sunny climes of the UK, travelling around to see the sights under a blazing tropical sun can lead to exhaustion rather than relaxation.
But tickets are at their cheapest in the low season for good reason. Monsoons, hurricanes and just inappropriate weather (it's fairly obvious that there's no point going skiing in the Alps in the middle of summer, even if it cheaper than February) can make the bargains available seem less than appealing. But choose your holiday time with care and you can enjoy good weather, un-crowded resorts and still pay considerably less. Enter the shoulder season.
The shoulder season is a little known term for a fairly straightforward concept. If you avoid visiting a destination at the same time as the rest of the crowds, prices are cheaper and your holiday is bound to be more enjoyable. The shoulder season falls at the start and finish of the high season, and many hotels, flights and holidays are reduced in price to tempt people to travel at slightly different times.
The weather should still be good, something you can't be sure of if travelling at low season, but you'll pay less for avoiding the most popular times. A general rule of thumb for picking a shoulder season is to avoid school holidays and the "obvious" times to travel, but to keep as close to high season as you can.