22 Hidden Travel Gems That Are Way Cheaper in the Offseason

And, of course, visit the grand Biltmore Estate, one of the biggest homes in America. Its extensive grounds, including the most visited winery tasting room in the country, are perfect any time of year. Winter offers the best rates of the year including at The Foundry, the luxury boutique hotel built within the city’s old steel foundry that forged the steel for the Biltmore Estate. While you’re here, you can embark on a one-on-one neighborhood tour with an on-site historian before heading to the hotel’s regionally-inspired restaurant Benne on Eagle, led by five-time James Beard nominee John Fleer.

With its lush palm trees, sparkling water, and laid back tropical vibe, Mile Zero often feels more like a Caribbean island than part of the mainland U.S.—one of the reasons it’s such a popular winter destination. But the shoulder seasons of spring and fall offer plenty of warm Key West sunshine and enough Margaritaville vibes that you’ll feel like you’ve landed in a Jimmy Buffet song.

In addition to classic Key West sites such as the Butterfly Conservatory, Hemingway House Tour, and Shipwreck Museum, Key West is also the launch point to visit the Dry Tortugas National Park, only accessible by plane or boat, with an unbelievably unique coastal environment and some of the country’s best snorkeling along America’s only living barrier reef. Stay at the historic Casa Marina Key West, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, for an indulgent escape nestled among palm trees at the Key’s largest private beach. Try your hand at sand sculpting workshops, kayak eco-tours, and fishing charters. Rates start at just $205, more than half off peak winter prices.

For a crowd-less getaway in the Southwest, the stunning landscape of Sedona beckons with glowing mountains and vast deserts. Although summer brings crowds on the way to the Grand Canyon, that’s also when temps soar. The rest of the year, you’ll be able to hike, dine, and explore outdoors without fear of heatstroke. And be sure to leave time to take in the landmark Bell Rock, perfect for exploring nearby rock temples and vortexes. Take advantage of the off season to stay in the secluded L’Auberge de Sedona, where fall packages include a $50 daily resort credit. The resort is the perfect jumping off point to explore Sedona’s spectacular natural settings and to try special outdoor-centric experiences like sound healing, stargazing, and fresh air yoga.

And the beautiful beaches here aren’t just for summer. In the fall and winter, you can relax and unwind on the shore or explore Bermuda’s pink sand on horseback. Bermuda’s famed Hamilton Princess & Beach Club is welcoming guests back with a reopening package, ‘Bermuda Bliss,’ where travelers receive up to 40 percent off the best available rate and a $100 resort credit. Starting at $229 per night for a Fairmont King Room, guests can enjoy the hotel’s elegant rooms and relax at the iconic Pink Palace overlooking Hamilton Harbour.

Discover the natural beauty and rugged coastline of one of Maine’s most picturesque beaches in the hidden gem beach town of Ogunquit. The charming streets are best enjoyed after the crowds of August have left; in September, the average temperature is 55 to 68, making it the perfect time for long walks on the beach, rounds of golf, seasonal spa treatments, lobster rolls, and hot toddies by the fire pit. October is leaf-peeping season and the southern coast of Maine is usually at peak during mid to late October. Stroll along the scenic Marginal Way and gaze at the millennia-old Bald Head Cliff on your way to check-in at the 150-year-old Cliff House in Ogunquit. Perched on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic, you’ll pay top dollar for an overnight at the hotel in July or August, but come September and October, nightly rates are cut by up to 50 percent, and by early November you can snag a room for just $225.

It’s been more than 50 years since the Summer of Love, and although the festival spotlight is no longer on this quiet corner of New York State’s Catskills region, it’s still the perfect area to visit in the fall, after the summer vacationers head home and before the area ski resorts pick up. Base yourself at the stylish Emerson Resort and Spa in nearby Mt. Tremper. Located only two hours north of New York City, the sybaritic resort features a variety of free hiking and walking trails on-site along the Esopus Creek, as well as Catskills-themed outdoor activities nearby for nature enthusiasts. Emerson has a special off-season Stay & Play package: stay three nights and get a Thursday, Sunday, or Monday night free.

Tucked into the Rockies just past better-known Vail, Beaver Creek is a charming community with myriad outdoor activities. Winter is prime season here, with a variety of snow-covered slopes drawing ski and snow boarding enthusiasts, but the pre-ski season in fall is technically the off season for Beaver Creek, and yet no less beautiful. With Aspens transforming into golden bowers, crisp fall temperatures, biking and hiking trails almost all to yourself, and great deals to be had at restaurants, shops, and hotels, it might become your favorite mountain season. Even during prime leaf-peeping weeks in September, rates at this chic Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, right at the epicenter of Beaver Creek village, start at $254, and in October they drop well under $200. By comparison, prices soar to $900 a night at the height of the holiday ski season.

Located an hour north of Nashville, Bowling Green is a quieter, more outdoorsy alternative to the Music City. With turning leaves and cooler weather, the city is a fall destination steeped in Southern charm for an affordable price. While you’re here, you can experience a bit of entertainment for just a little cash. For just $12, explore the National Corvette Museum, the only place in the world where Corvettes are produced, with exciting exhibits and even the chance to race real corvettes on the neighboring Motorsports Park. Leave time to explore the longest underground cave system in the world at nearby Mammoth Cave National Park (entrance is free), with acres of fall foliage and numerous cave trails. Book a stay at the boutique Kentucky Grand Hotel & Spa, with eight luxury suites overlooking downtown Bowling Green and rates starting at just $165 per night in the fall.

The Jersey Shore might not be on your radar for a fall list of must-visits, but that’s about to change. The warm autumn months are the perfect time to take a dip in the Atlantic Ocean (although note that lifeguards will no longer be on duty, so swim with care). After the summer crowds depart, you’ll have the 4-mile boardwalk and 6-mile beach of the newly rejuvenated Atlantic City pretty much all to yourself. Easily accessible from the New York and Philadelphia metro areas, the city is within driving distance of one-third of the country’s population. Check into the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City; the super cool new hotel features amazing headline entertainment, free live music every day in the lounge, an incredible array of dining options, and rooms for just $69 a night through most of the fall (down from a high of $469 on Labor Day weekend).

Yosemite and the Redwoods get most of the outdoor attention (and crowds) in Northern California, but there are other natural wonders to explore, including in Shasta County. You will want to stop and soak in the view at Burney Falls, a massive 129-foot, fern-draped waterfall within McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park. This spectacular waterfall is one of the most beautiful in the state and flows year-round to offer endless views and photo options no matter what time of year you visit. Nicknamed the “eighth wonder of the world” by President Theodore Roosevelt and declared a National Natural Landmark in 1954, the falls are a hidden outdoor gem. And you can stay for bargain prices at the nearby Gaia Hotel & Spa in Redding for $105 a night (save even more at camping sites near the park, too).

Miami gets all the attention for super stylish hotels and hopping nightlife, but just an hour up the coast is Southern Florida’s hidden gem, Fort Lauderdale. Before the holiday season kicks up, fall is a great time to find savings at the city’s swanky hotels, including The Dalmar. The design-driven hotel offers rates as low as $152 a night to experience its 1950s and 1960s golden age of travel vibe; don’t miss Sparrow at the Dalmar, the 25th-floor rooftop bar (the only one in the city), and the lobby lounge where live music kicks it up on the weekends. If you can make it to Fort Lauderdale during Restaurant Month in September, you’ll experience some of the city’s best restaurants with $35 three-course gourmet dinners.

Despite its 1,000-year-old history, Taos has a modern art scene that draws a savvy creative crowd to this hidden New Mexico gem. Over the past few years, Taos has become a place where you can view and appreciate centuries-old pieces, while also experiencing the future of art in the same day. Not bad for a small town with a population of 5,000. Come in September to experience The PASEO; the interactive arts festival brings projection, installation, and performance art to Taos and is completely free. Stay at the El Monte Sagrado for 20 percent off during the fall and experience the eco resort’s lovely gardens, waterfalls, aquariums, and onsite art galleries by locally renowned artists, all just a third of a mile from Taos Plaza.

Island retreats see prices rise through the fall until they hit peak levels by the holidays. But you can enjoy the same warm waters, golden sands, and unique history of culture of Old San Juan in the nearly empty fall months. Amble along the cobblestone streets, watch the sunset from the centuries-old walls of the city, and explore the fort of El Morro (part of the U.S. National Parks system). Then check into the beachfront San Juan Marriott Resort where you can enjoy a piña colada on the beach and dip your toes in the turquoise water for around $225 a night, less than half of what it would cost during prime season. And since Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States, you don’t need to pay to exchange money, bring a passport, or run up expensive cell phone bills. Speaking of the Caribbean, check out these resorts that are actually affordable.