The package included round-trip airfare between Reykjavik and Boston, three nights in a stunning downtown hotel, a late-night Northern Lights cruise, and admission to the famed Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. Total cost: about $750 per person. How’d we get such a deal? The season. Winter is not generally when frostbitten New Englanders decide to head for Iceland.

For those willing to brave a little weather, offseason travel can be one of the most cost-conscious ways to have an adventure. Sure, the possibility of getting stuck in a tropical hurricane or landing in a town without any open restaurants can be daunting, but a little research can assure the perfect balance of self-indulgence and savings.

First, get informed. Subscribe to the Travelzoo newsletter, a weekly listing of the top 20 travel deals the company has recently hunted out. Recent offers include hotel rooms in Sonoma, Calif., for less than half price and a four-day, all-inclusive trip to Cabo for $649 per person. Even if none of the trips offered are for you, perusing the list can whet your wanderlust and give you a better sense of what is available at what price.

Second, consider traveling during the shoulder season — the period between the fully dead offseason and the most popular travel months. These windows generally mean decent weather, lower prices, smaller crowds, and plenty of amenities still open for travelers. Spring in Ireland might mean dodging some rain, but it also means copious rainbows and a better appreciation of cozy Irish pubs. An early October week in western Montana offers lush foliage, lower prices, and much smaller crowds.

Third, head to your computer and get bargain hunting. If you are dreaming of a ­destination served by its own airline — Germany has Lufthansa; the United Kingdom has British Airways — go right to the airline’s website. Some of the best package deals are offered by these airlines. If you aren’t booking a package, there are plenty of websites for comparing flight, hotel, and rental car prices; I find ­kayak.com indispensable.

And finally, open your mind to the possibilities. Remember: Paris in winter might seem drab, but you can shop the city’s famous sales, ice skate at the Eiffel Tower, and save ­hundreds of dollars, all at the same time.

Have a consumer question or complaint? Reach Sarah Shemkus at seshemkus@gmail.com.