DAYTON — Following a busy summer travel season highlighted by record numbers of air travelers, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), other travelers are choosing to vacation outside of high season when costs are more affordable and popular destinations are less crowded.

“With interest in travel still high but with more travelers looking for bargains, “shoulder” season and off-season travel offers a variety of benefits, including more options for cost-conscious adventurers, said Kara Hitchens, public affairs manager, AAA. “And while many families must travel during the summer when the kids are out of school, other travelers purposefully choose the fall and even winter for less expensive trips to popular destinations when they are less overrun by tourists.”

What is “shoulder” season?

Shoulder season is the time of year between a destination’s peak season and its off-season. It can vary by destination, climate, and the main attraction, but it’s usually spring and fall in the Northern Hemisphere, which is roughly March, April, and May for spring, and September and October for fall. In the southern hemisphere, the seasons are swapped, so autumn is the shoulder season in one hemisphere and spring is in the other. Also, while holidays may be peak travel times for destinations, a week before or after can also be lower demand and lower cost shoulder times to book.

Benefits of shoulder season travel:

Shoulder season travel provides a variety of advantages that make trips less hectic, more comfortable, and in many cases, less impactful on consumers’ bank accounts. Those benefits include:

•Smaller crowds, allow you to explore at your own pace without feeling rushed.

•Shorter lines and less demand for tickets at popular attractions and destinations and tables at favorite restaurants.

•The worst of the summer heat has subsided in the Northern Hemisphere, making for a less sweaty, more comfortable travel experience.

•Airline seats and flight times may be more available to choose from.

•Better prices than peak season, not only for airfare and tour packages but also for hotels, rental cars, and train tickets.

•With fewer tourists, there are more opportunities to interact with the locals and have a more authentic experience in the country or destination.

•Many theme parks, cities, and regions host cultural or food festivals in the Fall and Spring, providing a glimpse of local cuisines and traditions.

Travel agent tips and picks for shoulder/off-season destinations, there are a variety of advantages for shoulder- and off-season travel to just about any location, but AAA Travel agents have assembled a list of some of their favorite tips and places to visit during these times of year.

Domestic:

• The southern cities of New Orleans and San Antonio are great during the fall, allowing travelers to enjoy their vibrant heritage and food scenes without the stifling summer heat.

• Western United States National Parks (such as Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Zion, and Rocky Mountain), which are extremely crowded during the summer peak season are just as beautiful and more peaceful during the fall and winter months. Some roads within or sections of the parks may be closed during winter, so plan ahead.

• River cruises along waterways such as the Mississippi or the Columbia/Snake Rivers offer a unique way to see America.

• Alaska cruises are extremely popular, and early fall is a good time to go. With sailings to Alaska for this year extremely limited or sold out, now is the time to plan for 2025 or beyond.

As we head toward the last unofficial weekend of summer, overall domestic travel over Labor Day weekend is up 9% compared to last year, while the cost to travel domestically is down 2%, according to AAA Travel booking data.

International:

• Enjoy the springtime tulips in Amsterdam, Netherlands with a guided tour vacation.

• Autumn is a beautiful time to sail along the vineyards or see a different view of favorite cities onboard a European river cruise along the Rhine, Rhone, Danube, or Seine.

• Peruse the Christmas markets in many European cities among the twinkling lights, handmade ornaments, and smells of fresh gingerbread.

• Consider unique itineraries at value rates on repositioning cruises during off-seasons. Repositioning cruises occur in the spring and fall. They could be trans-Atlantic sailings as ships change itineraries to/from Europe. Other repositioning cruises sail through the Panama Canal to Hawaii and then Hawaii to Vancouver to start the Alaska cruise season.

• Enjoy the still-pleasant weather of the Mediterranean region, visiting the Greek islands, Italy, the south of France, Spain or Portugal. Discover local celebrations in the off-season, such as the Three Kings Epiphany in Florence, Italy to enjoy the customs and culture.

• Experience the “fire and ice” landscape ranging from volcanoes and hot springs to glaciers and black sand beaches during an Iceland tour.

• Unique seasonal experiences are available in Alpine European countries such as Switzerland and Austria, Octoberfest time in Germany, as well as beautiful and history-laden tours to Eastern Europe, including such highlights as Prague, Czechia; Budapest, Hungary, and Split and Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Using an experienced travel agent, such as a AAA Travel Advisor, to help your vacation planning can save time and unlock savings and member benefits you may not have access to yourself. Travel agents also act as your advocate and can help rebook or change travel plans if issues arise during your trip.

Off-Season Travel:

Travel during the off-season – generally, in the Northern Hemisphere, November through February (with the exception of the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s holidays) — may have some advantages, such as much smaller crowds and the lowest prices, but beware, the weather may be too cold and not ideal for some travelers.

Depending on the destination, some attractions and businesses may close or have reduced operating hours for the off-season, for example, boat tours in winter, or ski town restaurants or coffee shops during the summer.

Despite the winter months generally being low-season for travel, Thanksgiving week as well as the year-end Christmas to New Year period are considered peak travel times, with airlines especially crowded and hotels and rental cars in high demand. AAA Travel Advisors recommend booking now for the 2024 holiday season so you can secure availability to meet your needs.