by John Durant

Created on: March 23, 2007   Last Updated: May 18, 2007

Would you like to know how you can easily afford that dream vacation you've always wanted? I'm going to share a little known secret that has made it possible for my family to enjoy the best vacations we've ever had on a very modest budget!

What's the secret?

Plan to visit popular vacation destinations in the off season. Taking a vacation in the off season saves you big bucks in travel and lodging expenses, and allows you to enjoy more luxuries than would be possible if you had gone to the same destination in the peak season.

We've been renting beautiful St. Georges Island beach houses on the Florida panhandle for the past couple of years, and have already booked our reservations for this year. We definitely couldn't afford such luxury accommodations if we were to pay premium peak season rates. We discovered this wonderful secret while shopping for vacation rental properties on the Internet.

Planning a vacation just two or three weeks prior to the peak season can make the difference between enjoying luxury or having to settle for mediocre accomodations. The key to planning a successful off season vacation is to do your research several months in advance, and to book early, so that you have the best choice of lodging and vacation weeks. Some vacation rental companies offer 5-day specials or weekend rates for additional savings.

Another nice side benefit of vacationing in the off season is that you don't have to deal with the big crowds. I enjoy having a nice quiet relaxing atmosphere while I'm on the beach, and I prefer not to share my personal patch of sand with two-thousand screaming kids! Some people really enjoy the Spring Break atmosphere, and I'm not one of them!

There are usually a lot of great deals in the shops, restaurants, and tourist attractions because businesses are competing for fewer customers until the peak season kicks off. The restaurants are usually less crowded, and the locals have more time to chat with you about all the great things to see and do around town.

With a struggling economy and high fuel prices, many folks have set aside their vacation plans because they feel they can no longer afford it. Traveling to popular vacation destinations in the off season is a small compromise that may help you keep your vacation plans intact, and make it possible to enjoy a more wonderful and luxurious vacation than you ever dreamed of!

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