NOVEMBER: HAWAII

Lesson to Travel By: Look for value packages, not just lower rates.

The Deal: Head to Hawaii (view slideshow) when everybody else isn't, and the hotels are a bit desperate.

The Luxury Essentials: Since families make up most of Hawaii's tourists, the low season falls between November and Christmas, and from January to Easter. That's when the resorts start running promotions—typically adding amenities and extra nights rather than lowering the room rate. At the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua (view slideshow) on Maui, for instance, you'll get a fourth night free and a $250 credit toward food and drinks at the resort. The Fairmont Kea Lani (view slideshow), also on Maui, offers the fifth night free and complimentary breakfast. And the Three for Free deal at the Grand Hyatt Kauai (view slideshow) includes a fifth night free, a room upgrade, and breakfast for two daily. There are occasional rain showers this month, but they're brief and localized, so you can always find a sunny patch of beach nearby.

Artful Advice: Hawaii is one of the few destinations where flight/car rental/hotel combo packages are often cheaper than buying each element separately; check out Expedia and Orbitz for deals.

A Fair Fare: Book a flight on United from Chicago to Honolulu for $595 in November, compared with almost $1,000 in July.

Ritz-Carlton Kapalua
Tel: 800 669 6200 (toll-free)
Tel: 808 669 6200
Doubles from $600

Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
Tel: 800 492 8804 (toll-free)
Tel: 808 742 1234
Doubles from $293

Fairmont Kea Lani
Tel: 866 540 4456 (toll-free)
Tel: 808 875 4100
Doubles from $450

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