"Who would go to Hawaii in June?" a friend asked when I talked about a trip I took to Maui last year.
A travel writer on a budget, for one.
I, too, was skeptical about the timing, but the weather was a perfect 70-80 degrees, with low humidity and evenings cool enough to sleep without A/C.
By planning my trip in the first week in June -- after spring break and before school let out for the summer -- I found deals on airfare and hotels that weren't there for travel earlier or later.
Visiting Hawaii during the slower seasons -- early February and early March, late May, early June or fall -- is one strategy for making travel more affordable. But if that's not possible, don't give up. There are other ways to save:
Getting there: Airfares are higher this year, so flexibility will be key.
Travel midweek, if possible, and if you're still not having any luck, try moving your dates by a day or a week or two.
To find the least expensive travel dates, consult low-fare calendars on websites such as www.kayak.com. Use the price predictor at www.bing.com to gauge whether fares are likely to rise or fall in the coming weeks.
