If you're vacationing on a budget, off peak travel can open up a world of opportunities that would ordinarily be beyond your reach. Off season, holiday resorts will be anxious for your business and may offer you all sorts of extra incentives; airline companies eager to fill up planes may offer you cheap seats.

Staff won't be as busy and will have more time to attend to you. Lines for things such as theme park rides won't be nearly as long. You might not get the best of the weather, but you'll find so much else to enjoy that you may just find yourself wanting to travel in the off season on a regular basis.

To find the best rates, you'll want to avoid school holidays, when everybody wants to go on family vacations, as well as national holidays, which frequently occasion family get-togethers, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. And you'll probably want to avoid June, July and August altogether.

It's important to plan your off peak vacation well in advance so that you can also take advantage of early booking discounts. Be aware that off peak times can vary depending on the type of vacation you want to take. You won't find cheap rates during the winter months, for example, if you're going to an area that is popular with winter sports fans.

For those looking at traveling off peak for discounts to Mexico, the best times to go are from early September to mid November. You'll catch the tail end of the Mexican summer and, depending on where you go, there will still be some summer festivities to participate in. You'll find that accommodation is also cheaper at this time. Alternatively, if you're looking for a vacation that will please the kids, Disney World tends to be cheapest in January (except New Year's Day) and early February or in the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas. However, bear in mind that some rides may be closed during these quieter periods.

If you're looking for an off peak vacation with lots of different things to offer, consider flying to Hawaii in September, October or early November. At this time of year you'll find the weather as pleasant as ever, perfect for relaxing on the quiet beaches. Activity options (such as visiting volcanoes) remain open and you can enjoy several major cultural festivals with music and parades. Though Hawaii is always expensive, off peak prices with some airlines and hotels are slashed by almost half.

Traveling off peak for discounts is a great way to enjoy bargain vacations and to get access to destinations that you've previously only dreamed of being able to afford. It's also a great way to avoid the crowds and get a more authentic experience of the places you visit. Traveling off peak for discounts may just change the way you think about vacations.