Holidaying during 'shoulder season' can help reduce your travel costs

Between peak and off-season lies a window of opportunity, called shoulder season, that helps reduce your travel costs.

ET Wealth lists five such summer destinations that are not only beautiful but will also help you save a package.

1.Periyar National Park, Kerala 

LOCATED IN THE mountainous Western Ghats, Thekkady, Kerala, is a national park and wildlife sanctuary famous as an elephant and tiger reserve. It is also home to rare lion-tailed macaques, sambar deer, leopards and Indian bison. The park covers 357 square miles and the best

Shoulder season: May

Weather: Average temperature is likey to be 29 degree in May. Monsoon starts by month-end.

Why now?: May is a good period between heat and rains. You can land hotel discounts of around 30%.

How to get there: Madurai in Tamil Nadu (140 km) and Kochi in Kerala (200 km) are the nearest airports, while Kottayam, 114 km away, is the closest railway station. Kumily, the nearest town, is serviced by state and private buses from Kottayam, Ernakulam and Madurai.

2. Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

LOCATED IN THE Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is famous for its Hindu, Buddhist and Jain temples, which form the Unesco World Heritage Site. The original 85 temples, now reduced to 25, were built between 950 and 1050 by the Chandela dynasty, and are divided into Western, Eastern and Southern spheres. The best time to visit is in the winters between September and March, as the summer temperatures in May and June can go up to 45 degree Celsius. However, the shoulder season of July presents a good opportunity to explore the region.

Shoulder season: July

How to get there : Khajuraho has its own airport, connecting it to all major cities, while the railway station links to major metros via Jhansi. You can also take a bus from Jhansi or Satna, though a taxi is preferable as it is more comfortable.

Weather : An average of 30 degree in July interspersed with showers and thunderstorms.

Why now?: Heat reduces considerably and showers are welcome. Also get discounts of 30-40% on flights and hotels.

3. Pondicherry

THIS FORMER French colony is now a Union Territory and has a quaint cosmopolitan charm with its old-world streets, cafes, churches, and colonial buildings. It’s famous for Auroville, Shri Aurobindo Ashram, and beautiful beaches. October to March is the best time to visit, with summer from April to June. August is not too hot and you can get a break from the rains.

Season: August

How to get there : The airport in Pondicherry is connected to Bengaluru by daily fl ights except Wednesday. Villupuram is the nearest railway station and linked to Trichy, Madurai and Chennai

Weather : Temperature ranges from 25-32 degree in August and is accompanied by rains

Why now? : Since peak season hasn't kicked in yet and foreign tourists avoid the heat, avail of 40-50% discounts.

4. Coorg, Karnataka
COORG OR KODAGU is known as the Scotland of India and is famous for its forest-covered hills and coffee plantations. Located in the Western Ghats, its attractions include Talakaveri, Abbey Falls, Dubare, Nagarahole National Park, Iruppu Falls, and the Tibetan Buddhist Golden Temple. Madikeri is the district headquarters and you can opt for trekking, wildlife safari, boating and camping.

The best time to visit Coorg is between October and April, with temperatures ranging from 15-20 degree Celsius. It is a good idea to avoid it from June to September due to heavy rains.

Shoulder season: May

How to get there: The closest airport is at Mangalore, 160 km away. The nearest railway station is Mysore, about 140 km away. If you want to take the road, the KSRTC bus service connects it to main cities like Mysore, Mangalore, Bengaluru, etc.

Weather: In May, the temperature is around 25 degree, with thunderstorms or showers.

Why now?: You will get good deals on hotels with discounts of 25-30%. The place is more beautiful with mist and clouds over hills.

5. Goa
GOA NEEDS no introduction, but the one thing you need to know is that it is as good in off season as in the peak. Monsoons, lasting from June to August, give it a clean, green look. Though you may not be able to enjoy the seafood from beach shacks or indulge in too many water sports, the beaches will be less crowded.

You can also opt for treks, visit Dudhsagar Falls and the churches. North Goa will be more active with shacks and foodstalls still open.

Shoulder season: June

Weather: Average temperature is around 30 degree Celsius in June, while the average rainfall is about 850 mm

How to get there : It has an international airport connected to all major cities. If you are in the South, a road trip— bus or car—will be a good option.

Why now? : Big discounts on everything from fl ights and hotels to food is a good enough reason to visit Goa. At Rs 6,500-7,000 for return trip from Delhi, you can get discounts of 40-50% on fl ights, while hotels can be 30-50% cheaper. Less expensive food, water sports (whatever is available) will also cost much less and bikes can be rented for Rs 200 per person. June is the right time as you may get a few days without rain, with low temperatures.

Source:-https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/spend/holidaying-during-shoulder-season-can-help-reduce-your-travel-costs/articleshow/64039214.cms