Top Five Off-Peak Destinations for Winter 2012/2013

Montreal

Montreal makes an easy winter weekend getaway for the heavily populated northeastern U.S. It's a cinch to skip the airport security line (plus any possible winter-weather flight delays) and drive or take the train from the Northeast to the Canadian city. (Montreal is about a five-and-a-half-hour drive from Boston.)

Plus, nightly hotel rates at many properties are significantly more affordable during colder months. We spotted winter rates at the Ritz-Carlton Montreal starting at $380 CAD (about $383 USD) on weekdays in January, February, and March. In comparison, in July and August, the lowest weekday starting rate jumps to $435 CAD (about $439 USD) per night. Seeking more affordable accommodations? At La Terra Nostra, a B&B near the St. Lawrence River, rates for the cheapest room drop from $149 CAD (about $150 USD) to $129 CAD (about $130 USD) during the winter season.

On top of those low-season rates, travelers can snag additional savings with this very comprehensive deal from Tourisme Montreal. Dozens of participating hotels are offering half off on second-night stays, in addition to a special welcome gift, for travel through the end of December.

Here's even more incentive to visit this season: There's tons to do in Montreal during winter, from Nuit Blanche a Montreal (an all-night event that takes place in February) to the annual family-friendly Fete des Neiges de Montreal winter event. There's also the Montreal High Lights Festival in February and March, one of the largest winter festivals in the world.

Sonoma

Flash-sale sites are good bets for travelers seeking deals to Sonoma (as well as many other California Wine Country destinations). At time of publication, our sister site SniqueAway is featuring deeply discounted rates for Hotel Les Mars, a Sonoma Country property. Rates for travel from November through March were slashed from $435 per night to $299 per night.

We also saw some enticing Sonoma flash-sale deals on Jetsetter (discounted winter rates at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn) and Groupon Getaways (47 percent off low-season rates at Best Western Plus Sonoma Valley Inn). Although flash-sale offers come and go quickly (and the deals mentioned here may no longer be valid), it's a good idea to sign up to receive regular emails if you're interested in a winter trip to Sonoma, as now is the time to snap up those off-peak bargains.

So, is the low demand for hotels due to bad weather? Not at all. According to the New York Times, "There isn't really a bad time to visit Napa and Sonoma valleys. By going in December, when the weather is wet and mild, you avoid the heat, crowds and prices of the summer season." Plan your trip to coincide with Sonoma's annual Winter Wineland festival (January 19 and 20) to taste rare wines and sample delectable food and drink pairings.

Ireland

First, the bad news: During winter, many attractions in Ireland shut down until the tourist season picks up again in spring. But that doesn't mean you should forgo a low-season trip. Winter weather on the Emerald Isle tends to be fairly mild: Temperatures don't often drop below 32 degrees. But when it gets chilly, the island's a fantastic place to stock up on hand-knit Aran sweaters. And in Ireland, enticing winter deals are as plentiful as woolly sheep, so we think the crisp air is a fair trade-off for a bargain-priced vacation.

Flights, for one, are worlds cheaper than those in the high summer season. A recent search on Irish budget airline Aer Lingus turned up direct flights from Boston to Dublin starting at $599 round-trip in January and February, including all taxes and fees. Compare this to airfares in July, which, according to TripAdvisor Flights (SmarterTravel's sister site), start at $825 round-trip for travel in 2013. (Note that those prices could easily rise as summer nears. Last summer, we saw high-season flights to Europe selling for more than $1,000 round-trip.)

Vacation packages, which are often a very cost-effective way to travel the Emerald Isle, become even cheaper when winter arrives. So cheap, in fact, that a traveler can easily finagle an entire trip for less than a grand per person. Go-Today's Amazing Ireland package, which includes five nights' accommodations, a car rental, and round-trip airfare, starts at $949 during winter; the same package costs as much as $1,799 during the high season.

Prague

Prague's immense popularity makes the city a year-round destination, without a doubt. Still, prices for travel to the Bohemian capital tend to drop with the temperatures, and this year is no exception. Consider local hotel rates: A quick look at prices at Arcadia Residence, the number-one rated hotel in Prague on TripAdvisor, shows significantly reduced low-season prices. A studio apartment costs €65 (about $83) during low season and €110 (about $140) during high season. A two-bedroom apartment goes for €110 in low season but €180 (about $230) in high season. You get the idea—and you'll find similar pricing structures at many Prague hotels.

Airfares are also comparatively cheaper in winter. On Kayak.com, we spotted February flights from Chicago to Prague for as low as $743 round-trip. In May, L.A.-Prague flights jump to roughly $1,000 or more round-trip. For an East Coast route from New York to Prague, our Kayak search turned up flights as low as $616 in February; prices range from $853 to $956 for this route in June.

While winter brings fantastic off-peak prices, there are plenty of new and interesting attractions to keep you entertained during the season. This December, Prague is celebrating 20 years as a World Heritage site. Also in December, Prague's famous twinkling Christmas markets open their doors for festive travelers. Grab a cup of mulled wine, breathe in the crisp winter air, and spend that extra money you saved on some unique gifts to bring back home.

Sedona

While winter is low season for travel to Sedona, visitors will nonetheless find authentic Southwestern cuisine, colorful red-rock vistas, and dramatic sunsets no matter when they visit the popular Arizona destination. Winters tend to be mild in the area, and it doesn't snow too often. The heavy crowds of visitors that frequent Sedona's galleries, cafes, and turquoise-jewelry shops thin out during low season. Plus, there are all those off-peak deals.

At Best Western Plus Arroyo Roble Hotel & Creekside Villas, nightly rates in January start at around $170. In June, the lowest best-available rates jump to around $240. We saw similar low-season price drops at many other Sedona properties, including Canyon Villa Bed & Breakfast Inn and Boots & Saddles Bed and Breakfast.

Flights to Sedona are also wonderfully affordable during winter, especially when fare sales break. We found flights from New York to Flagstaff starting at $354 round-trip. In July, however, the lowest fares we found for the same route started at $576 round-trip. (Flagstaff Pulliam Airport is one of the closest airports to Sedona; it's about 25 miles away. Flyers can also arrive in Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, which is about 120 miles away.)

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