The sole downside is that you may need to pack an umbrella or cold-weather gear, depending on your destination. And because flawless island climes like ours can tend towards utter predictability, a bit of snap or wilt in the air can be a welcomed feature of your travels.

The basic information to plan a bargain trip is readily available from travel agents, who can advise you of those destinations that cater to off-peak travelers. The period from mid-September through mid-December, excluding Thanksgiving, is typically the year's slowest season just about everywhere on the planet. You may assume that countries with changing seasons will adopt their winter months as low season and that countries with year-round sun-and-surf appeal will promote summer months as off-peak. However, prime ski centers such as those in Canada and the Alps are so popular that these countries have two high seasons, one for warm-weather tourists and another for winter sportsmen.

There is always an official or informal low season in effect somewhere in the world during any given month. For example, you'll obtain the greatest savings by heading to New Zealand and Australia from May until October; East and Southern Africa May and early June; and to the Caribbean and Mexico from May to mid-December. Certain countries have serious rainy seasons, formidable heat, ice floes, typhoons and other recurring climactic phenomena that determine a low season for tourism.

Because many tourist destinations experience huge seasonal swings in visitor traffic, their promotional bureaus go all out to market attractive low-season packages. You can anticipate 15 percent to 50 percent discounts from hotels and resorts; airfares and tour packages from 10 percent to 30 percent off; and a passel of "sweeteners" such as free extra nights, food and drink credits, upgrades, souvenirs and more. If you do your homework, you'll find that the dollars you've salted away for a budget vacation can likely buy you a deluxe trip to an off-peak destination at little additional cost.

Although price may be a primary impetus to get up and go while others stay home, another major incentive is that you won't be squeezed among thousands of tourists baking on beaches, queuing for museums and climbing over ancient ruins. You and other savvy travelers will be able to maneuver about on city streets and country lanes without hordes of visitors in your wake.

Fewer tourists translates to shorter waits at restaurants, shops, sightseeing attractions and whatever else tickles your fancy.

A strong appeal of globetrotting when others don't is that a city's cultural season often coincides with its country's low period for tourism. This is the season for the residents to enjoy. Although as a visitor you'll miss special outdoor festivals staged for summer travelers, you will be able to attend sparkling musical, ballet and theater productions that may be presented only during winter months. And winter festivals, such as the spectaculars held in Japan, Scandinavia and Russia in the tourist off-season, are reason enough to pack up your overcoat.

Beach and spa resorts in tropical locales are ideal low-period vacations where you can enjoy all the best features of the destination without sharing the sand with elbow-to-elbow beach buffs. Although it may seem like a "coals to Newcastle" suggestion, sun-and-surf vacations around the globe are not all alike. The waters, islands and cultures of the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean, for example, represent much more than a geographical world apart from Hawai'i. If you've seen one island, you definitely ain't seen 'em all.

The price breaks promoted by many seaside resorts off season can be absolutely head-turning. The Caribbean Tourist Association is one of the most aggressive organizations, offering superb deluxe vacation packages at hugely discounted tabs. Since these diverse isles tend to have balmy weather year-round, summer visitors can indulge in sun-and-surf activities amidst compelling historical and scenic environs at a fraction of steep winter rates.

Call your travel agent to discover all the available cut-rate opportunities for first-class destinations.

Irene Croft Jr. of Kailua, Kona, is a travel writer and 40-year veteran globetrotter. Her column is published in this section every other week.