Tips for Tuesdays: Shoulder Season - November

Today's Tip: Looking for great deals, fewer crowds, and near-perfect weather? Here's where you should go in the month of November:

• Tahiti, Fiji and the South Pacific: The water is crystal clear before cyclone season, making it a great time for snorkeling and diving.
• The Caribbean and Mexico's Riviera Maya: Before the holiday rush, beaches are empty and it's easy to find hotel deals. Go through mid-December to take advantage of the shoulder season before the holidays.

Tips for Tuesdays: Shoulder Season - May

Today's Tip: Looking for great deals, fewer crowds, and near-perfect weather? Here's where you should go in the month of May:

• Japan: Peak hotel rates have come down after last month's cherry blossom celebrations and the humidity has yet to kick in.
• Mediterranean cruising: The weather's warming, but prices remain as much as 20 percent lower than in the summer high season.
• The Great Barrier Reef, Australia: Airfares from the States are at their lowest, and in Australia's north, the days are full of sunshine. Go through August to take advantage of the shoulder season.