Some Chinese tourists choose to spend their paid vacation by visiting natural areas in China and abroad thanks to lower prices and quality tours. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The National Day marked the last golden holiday this year, but the best is just beginning for those who have chosen to use their paid vacation later.

Many travelers are taking time off and traveling after the holiday to enjoy lower prices and quality tours.

"It would be a good time to travel from now to mid-December since most tourists will not choose to be on the road till the New Year and Spring Festival holidays," says Shao Jihong, senior director of air ticket department with China's biggest online travel agency Ctrip.

Flight and hotel costs have seen a free fall across the board after the National Day holiday.

Most flights to popular destinations have seen prices fall by more than 60 percent, while the costs were only down 20 percent during the holiday, Ctrip reports.

So, if tourists choose to travel between the period after the holiday and mid-December, they could save a fortune, says Shao.

Lin Limiao from Beijing has made a habit of traveling in the off season. He recently signed up for a group tour to Vietnam from Oct 21 to 29.