shoulder season

American  

noun

1. a travel season between peak and off-peak seasons, especially spring and fall, when fares tend to be relatively low.

---

Etymology

Origin of shoulder season

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

For now it remains lower-demand “shoulder” season, and airlines are better able to rebook passengers, especially the larger carriers that offer multiple daily flights to major destinations, and those whose fleets include both big and smaller aircraft.

From MarketWatch

My ideal vacation is renting a villa in the Mediterranean during shoulder season when it’s cool and breezy, eating elaborate meals and driving to offbeat museums and hidden beaches.

From Salon

“This might mean traveling somewhere during the off-season or shoulder season. Or driving instead of flying. Or taking an early flight or a late flight or a connecting flight.”

From Salon

Another solution is to encourage people to avoid peak season travel and come in the “shoulder season”.

From BBC

She said she had been advised to travel during the shoulder season, but couldn’t because her children were in school.

From Seattle Times