Top Five Off-Peak Destinations for Spring 2012

British Columbia

Spring converges on British Columbia with blooming flowers, late-season skiing, and of course great prices. Vancouver's affordable season lasts through May, while elsewhere in British Columbia, prices may not rise until late June.

The Canadian province is affordable, but there's still plenty to do in spring, including the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, with tree walks, cherry-blossom viewing maps, and a "haiku invitational," from April 5 to 28. There's also the Mountain Spring Festival in Panorama Mountain Village (April 6 to 9), the BC Open Gold Panning Championships in Cherryville (May 18 to 20), and the kick-off of Richmond's seasonal Night Market, a free weekly festival of food and shopping.

Spring savings can be substantial. For instance, at the Echo Valley Ranch & Spa, a three-night package in April costs $925 per person, but by July, rates shoot up to $1,475. The price includes a lodge room, all meals and a variety of drinks, three spa treatments, classes, entertainment, and use of the spa and ranch facilities. At the Accent Inns Victoria, a package with passes to The Butchart Gardens is on offer for $140 through April 30, or $180 starting in July.

In Vancouver spring specials deliver way more bang for your Canadian buck. For instance, the citywide 3rd Night Free offer cuts costs at participating hotels, but only through April 30. And British Columbia's ski slopes aren't just for Olympic athletes—in mid-April, prepurchased lift-ticket rates drop by 30 percent or more, putting late-season skiers at a real competitive advantage.

Germany

Germany may be off-peak this spring, but that won't stop the country from rolling out plenty of new traveler-friendly options. In May Air Berlin launches nonstop service between Los Angeles and Berlin. And on June 3, getting to Germany's hippest city will become easier with the opening of Berlin Brandenburg Airport. An early June trip means taking the new hub for a test drive before the crowds of summer descend. Reasons to check out Germany this spring include special events and exhibitions to mark the 300th birthday of Prussian ruler Frederick the Great and the seventh Berlin Biennale for contemporary art, which starts on April 27.

Timing is everything when it comes to getting good deals in Germany this spring. While there's not a one-size-fits-all trick to reaping the lowest rates, as a general guideline, the earlier you can get there, the less you'll pay. For instance, at the hip new Hotel Mani in Berlin, weekend prices in April hover around €79 (about $105 USD) per night but jump to €92 in May. By July, rates are reliably well above €100 per night.

Prices creep up slowly over the course of spring, then skyrocket for summer. A quick comparison of flight prices on round-trips between San Francisco and Frankfurt illustrates the difference: $989 all-in for a May flight versus $1,549 for a flight in July. The same pattern holds true for air-and-hotel vacation packages: The low price for a six-day Munich package in early June from Go-today was $1,299 when we checked, but by July, the same package cost $1,849.

Jamaica

Off-peak but not off the radar—that's the case in Jamaica this spring. Starting in mid-April or early May, prices drop after the winter high season. Since hurricane season doesn't officially begin until June, there's a window of fantastic beach weather and good prices.

CheapCaribbean.com's featured deals are a good place to see the spring price drop on vacation packages. For instance, air-inclusive packages at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort Montego Bay start at $1,279 for four-night March stays but drop to $1,099 for six-night packages May 1 through June 30. That's a per-night price difference of $136. And the starting cost of three-night packages at Jewel Dunn's River Beach Resort & Spa decreases by $130 between April 30 and May 1, a good incentive to time your trip wisely.

Hotels and resorts around the island also lower prices in late April or early May. At Nirvana on the Beach Negril, "winter" rates for a two-bedroom cottage are $220, based on double occupancy, but on May 1, the price adjusts down to $154 per night. At Jackie's on the Reef, a holistic health spa, nightly per-person rates go from $175 to $150 on June 1.

Philadelphia

Visit Philadelphia in summer and you'll be battling the crowds of families exploring early U.S. history. But a spring visit means indulging in that traveler trifecta of good prices, smaller crowds, and (mostly) pleasant weather. This year, we've seen the city on lists of hot destinations, so visiting in spring—while affordability reigns—is a real win. Grand openings and reopenings of a number of museums boost the why-go quotient, and new Virgin America service from Los Angeles and San Francisco starting in April increases accessibility just in time for spring travel.

From March 23 through April 21, the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival is in full bloom, with arts, food, and more at the Japanese House and Horticultural Center.

The affordability factor shines when comparing flight prices between the two seasons. For example, when we compared spring and summer weekend flight prices from New York City, the May flight was $341 versus the July price of $417, a savings of $76 per ticket. Keep an eye out for spring specials on the hotel front as well. For instance, the Loews Long Weekends deal offers discounts of 20 percent on stays of three or more nights, but only through April 30.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica's high season stretches into April, but if you can wait to visit the Central American country until May or June, you'll find deals worth your while. The tradeoff? More rain, though the tropical showers are often limited to afternoon or evening. And more than in other destinations, Costa Rica's "green season" actually has a following of visitors who prefer the lush landscapes and smaller crowds of the spring and summer months.

The savings are easy to spot. An April flight between Houston and San Jose, Costa Rica, would cost you about $653, all in, but waiting until May yields a fare of $571.

Expect similar trends at hotels and resorts. For instance, beachfront honeymoon-suite rates at the well-loved Villas Hermosas in Santa Teresa are $245 per night through April 30, then fall to $195 per night starting May 1. At Casa Marbella, nightly high-season rates run $90 but drop to $80 on May 1.

What are your favorite off-peak vacation destinations for spring?

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